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A selection of images of the various types of animals that were once kept in the Royal Menagerie
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African elephant
Henry III’s biggest animal gift was a male African elephant, which he received from King Louis IX of France in 1255.
Copyright: The Board of Trustees of the Armouries
Explore the history of the Royal Menagerie
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Animals on the move
Uncover the majesty, tragedy and spectacle of the Royal Menagerie.
Copyright: The Board of Trustees of the Armouries
Explore the history of the Royal Menagerie
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Bear baiting
Under James I, the bloody sport of baiting became very popular and a platform was built over the dens so that the King and his courtiers could watch lions, bears and dogs being made to fight each other to the death.
Copyright: The Board of Trustees of the Armouries
Explore the history of the Royal Menagerie
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Bengal lion
In 1828, a Bengal lion called George arrived at the Tower of London. The lion cub and his sister were a present to George IV from General Watson.
Copyright: The Board of Trustees of the Armouries
Explore the history of the Royal Menagerie
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Caracal
A caracal was amongst the different types of animal that were kept in the Royal Menagerie.
Copyright: The Board of Trustees of the Armouries
Explore the history of the Royal Menagerie
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Emus
Emus were amongst the vast array of animals once kept at the Tower of London.
Copyright: The Board of Trustees of the Armouries
Explore the history of the Royal Menagerie
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Grizzly bear
In 1811, the Hudson Bay Company gave a grizzly bear named Martin to George III. It was the first seen in England.
Copyright: The Board of Trustees of the Armouries
Explore the history of the Royal Menagerie
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Interior of the Lion Tower
Life for the animals in the Royal Menagerie was not easy. Animals were usually kept in cramped cages and often fed with food that was not part of their natural diet.
Copyright: The Board of Trustees of the Armouries
Explore the history of the Royal Menagerie
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Jaguar
A jaguar was one of the many animals kept at the Tower of London as part of the Royal Menagerie.
Copyright: The Board of Trustees of the Armouries
Explore the history of the Royal Menagerie
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Kangaroos
Kangaroos were amongst the many exotic animals housed at the Tower of London.
Copyright: The Board of Trustees of the Armouries
Explore the history of the Royal Menagerie
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Leopard
A leopard at the Tower was well-known as she seized umbrellas, parasols and anything else that she could snatch ‘with the greatest quickness … tearing them into pieces almost before the astonished visitor has become aware of the loss.’
Copyright: The Board of Trustees of the Armouries
Explore the history of the Royal Menagerie
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Lion at the New Armouries
Images of lions can still be found around the Tower today.
Copyright: Historic Royal Palaces
Explore the history of the Royal Menagerie
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Lion on gun carriage wheel
Images of lions can still be found around the Tower today.
Copyright: Historic Royal Palaces
Explore the history of the Royal Menagerie
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Monkey
In the 1780s, the Tower monkeys lived in a furnished room where visitors would be amused at their antics and humanlike behaviour.
Copyright: The Board of Trustees of the Armouries
Explore the history of the Royal Menagerie
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Polar bear
Henry III received ‘a white bear’ from King Haakon of Norway in 1252. It is believed that it was a polar bear however this cannot be confirmed as no images of the animal are available.
Copyright: Tim Archbold
Explore the history of the Royal Menagerie
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Zebra
A zebra was ‘particularly fond’ of ale and would run off to the soldiers’ canteen to have a drink.
Copyright: The Board of Trustees of the Armouries
Explore the history of the Royal Menagerie
