Make an historic assault on the Tower of London from the weekend of 26/27 July and get to grips with attacking and defending the UK’s premier fortress with many different interactive new displays, replicas and exciting events. The opening weekend will go with a bang with the riotous ‘Attack the Tower’ event where everyone can have a go at battering the Tower gates!

Mark your arrival at this mighty fortress with the sight of banners, full size working siege weapons in the moat, and a metalwork garrison of six full sized steel soldiers stationed on the battlements. Inside the Tower, help medieval soldiers fire the siege weapons, hear the cries of the angry Peasants as they Revolt, explore the new fighting platform on the East Wall Walk and meet the metal garrison, based on real soldiers who defended the Tower in the past.

During its many years the Tower has been used as a royal residence, prison, armoury, zoo, treasure house and storehouse but every one of these uses stems from its might as a fortress and symbol of royal power. And today it is still a working fortress with a military presence, daily ceremonies including the Ceremony of the Keys to secure the Tower for the night and the community of Beefeaters and Tower officials that live here with their families.

There are also lots of other events and exhibitions at the Tower this summer exploring attacking and defending the Tower as a Fortress:
• The Hands on History exhibition on the top floor of the White Tower, will be enhanced with new hands-on activities, opening 24 July 08
• An original cannon from a shipwreck off the coast of Alderney, probably manufactured at the Tower, will be undergoing conservation work onsite over July and August
• The popular mudlarking event on Tower Beach will be taking place on 26/27 July for National Archaeology Weekend with a chance to find evidence of attacking and defending the Tower