I loved getting to visit the Tower of London because everything felt so surreal to me. I’ve never experienced a place or history like this before, so to see this stuff in real life was extremely beneficial. My favorite parts were definitely the Crown Jewels and the prisons. These are vastly different, but they were both so impactful to me. Looking at all of the pieces in the crown jewels was crazy to me because when I think of that stuff, it just seems like a fantasy. Especially because the day before we went, some of the things were taken out and worn. It’s so impressive how it’s all lasted so long and still looks so fresh. Which are obviously preserved inside of safe doors and are only used for coronations and similar events. The prisons were fascinating to me because I had no clue how many people were imprisoned and killed. Also, how the spaces were used to become prisons, like the Bloody Tower. That space wasn’t made to be a prison but, actually, a grand room. The two princes that died and were found many years later really hit me, and I carried it with me throughout the whole tour. Our group found it shocking that the last beheading was in 1941. On the topic of beheadings, Anne Boleyn’s story really stuck with me. She was the first queen to be beheaded, which is what started kings thinking they could behead their queens. I love how all of the people’s names that were beheaded in the same spot are honored there. I enjoyed this so much, and I’m so glad I got to go explore this and learn about it with my friends!
Theatre in London U of A 