As Buckingham Palace enters the final stage of its £369million resurfacing project, another iconic royal home is set to undergo a significant update. The Tower of London will be the subject of a £70million upgrade that will see two large new learning centres, dedicated spaces for community use, an archive study centre, and a “green classroom” installed in the tower’s moat.
Historic Royal Palaces, the charity that is responsible for running the tower, has said the enormous project will boost learning capacity by 250%, meaning school visits can increase from 125,000 to 200,000 pupils annually by 2030. It will also allow areas of the ancient site to be open to the public for the first time.
Officially known as His Majesty’s Palace and Fortress, the Tower of London has, for centuries, been lived in by Kings and Queens, from William the Conqueror to Henry VIII.
While the last monarch to stay the night was King Charles II during his coronation in 1661, it has also served as a high-security prison for everyone from Guy Fawkes to the Kray Twins and was famously the site of a menagerie from 1100 until 1828, when many of the animals were moved to London Zoo.
As part of the new plans, the Waterloo Block – which currently houses the Crown Jewels – would be converted into a large three-storey learning centre, with hands-on learning spaces, a sensory room and a broadcast studio.
These will support workshops led by costumed presenters and creative activities exploring the Tower’s 1,000-year history.
For the first time, the Tower’s architectural archives will be opened to the public in a dedicated space, bringing together more than 25,000 drawings, showing over 200 years of design, building and conservation work across the Tower and other royal palaces.
Speaking of the update, Brigadier Andrew Jackson, governor of the Tower of London, said the new facilities would build on the tower’s existing legacy.
“For over a thousand years, the Tower has been many things — fortress, palace, prison and garrison – but throughout its history it has always brought people together.
“By opening up new spaces for learning, community and discovery, we are ensuring the Tower’s stories continue to resonate, reaching more classrooms, more communities and the millions of people from around the world who visit each year, while carefully protecting what makes this extraordinary place so special.”
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