Imagining Animals FAQs

Imagining Animals is an arts project exploring our relationship with animals through puppetry, music and movement. Unfolding across the Tower of London over two weeks of live performances in August 2026, it invites audiences to reflect on animals and imagine. It is supported by a community participation programme and a wider public events programme.

Wednesday 19 - Monday 31 August 2026* 
*Except Tuesday 25 August, when there are no performances.

Performances will take place at various times and locations around the Tower between 11:00 - 16:00.

The programme is weather dependent. In the event of inclement weather, it may be changed or cancelled at short notice.

Imagining Animals takes place across the historic Tower site, which includes cobbled surfaces and uneven ground in some areas. Many performances are roaming and outdoors.

For full accessibility information, including step-free routes and accessible facilities, please see our Accessibility page.

We aim to make the Tower of London accessible to all visitors. It is a historic site and building with difficult stairs, passageways and spiral staircases. There are many steps with cobbles laid in some of the surfaces and pathways and some low doorways. Wheelchair access is limited.

See our Accessibility page to find out more about the following:

• Accessible travel
• Accessible toilets/Changing Places toilet
• Quiet times
• Access for visitors with limited mobility
• Deaf/hard of hearing visitors
• Blind or partially sighted visitors
• Lighting and sound

Yes, visitors are welcome to take photographs and short videos for personal use. We’d love you to share them with us on social media. Please tag us using the handles listed below. Please also be mindful of other visitors, including children and vulnerable adults, and avoid obstructing performances.

Instagram: @historicroyalpalaces
TikTok: @historic.royal.palaces
X: @TowerOfLondon and @HRP_palaces
Facebook: Tower of London and Historic Royal Palaces

Yes, it is suitable for children, and we hope that adults will be delighted too.

Yes. Imagining Animals is a highly visual and sensory experience that uses puppetry, movement, music and live encounters to communicate across languages and cultures. Visitors do not need historical knowledge, or a strong understanding of English to enjoy the performances.

The Tower is located within easy walking distance of London Underground and national train stations including:

• 5 mins from Tower Hill Underground station – served by the District and Circle lines and step free access to street level. 
• 10-15 mins from Monument, Bank, Aldgate, Aldgate East London Underground stations
• 10-15 mins from London Bridge and Fenchurch Street stations
• 20 min from Liverpool Street station
• 25 mins from London Charing Cross station

See our Getting here page

Accessible travel

Tower Hill (Underground), Bank, (Underground) London Bridge, London Fenchurch Street and Tower Gateway (DLR) stations are fitted with lifts to street level.

Imagining Animals is part of your Tower of London admission ticket. No separate booking is needed to see the performances.

You can book a ticket in advance online or purchase tickets on the day at the ticket office. During busy times such as holidays, we advise booking online in advance.

An admission ticket to the Tower of London is required for Imagining Animals.

While there are no real, live animals, the performances are inspired by historical research about animals across the globe, including those that were part of the 600-year Royal Menagerie. Some puppets will be recognisable animals from the Menagerie plus other animals from around the world. These are performances, rather than historical reenactment.

You can learn about the Royal Menagerie through our website and podcast and public programme. Talks and events will explore themes including animals, empire, power, animals in the human imagination and how humans co-exist with animals.

The Tower’s famous ravens are not part of the performance, but we have drawn inspiration from the myths and symbolism surrounding them.

As you wander through the Tower, you may encounter puppets, roaming performers, live music, movement and soundscapes inspired by real creatures - and also creatures that may not look like anything you recognise.

Across the day a company of 30 world-class puppeteers, musicians and performers will bring the experience to life across the site, with appearances unfolding throughout the day in unexpected places.

You may spot a suspended sculpture, a flock of birds created with local communities, or encounter celebratory gatherings bringing animal puppets, costumed performers and visitors together.

No, performances will take place throughout the day at various times and locations around the site, with animals appearing and disappearing in their own time and way. We cannot guarantee what you will see on your visit, but we are confident that you will see several animal puppets and/or groups of performers.

There is no set starting point. Imagining Animals unfolds across the Tower site throughout the day, from 11:00 - 16:00, so we encourage you to explore at your own pace and discover encounters as they happen. Just like real animals, the creatures will be unpredictable and often appear in unexpected places, so enjoy your day at the Tower, slow down, keep your eyes peeled and see what crosses your path!

This experience is not like a standard show, with a beginning, middle and end. Each animal will appear and disappear multiple times across the Tower site throughout the day, between 11:00-16:00.

Some performances include live music, soundscapes, large-scale puppets and roaming performers, at varying scale, who may appear unexpectedly around the site. None of the creatures are intended to be frightening, but you may prefer some encounters more than others due to their scale and appearance.

Some performances may invite interaction, while others are designed to be watched from a short distance. Please follow any guidance from performers and staff and avoid touching puppets and the performers.

A whole host of creatures will be roaming the Tower of London as part of these performances, including some which are larger-than-life. These will include a snake and a spider, plus some other insects including a praying mantis, and performers representing butterflies. If you are worried about a particular encounter, please speak to a member of staff for guidance.