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The Ravens

'If the ravens leave the Tower, the kingdom will fall...'

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Meet the famous ravens at the Tower of London and learn more about why they are known as the guardians of the Tower, at their lodgings on the South Lawn.

The names of our current Tower ravens are Harris, Jubilee, Poppy, Edgar, Georgie, Chaos, Henry and Poe. 

Ravens are intelligent birds and each of ours has its own personality; they can mimic sounds, play games and solve problems. See if you can spot some of their fascinating behaviour on your visit as they explore the Tower grounds.

The legend of the Tower ravens

It is said that the kingdom and the Tower of London will fall if the six resident ravens ever leave the fortress.

Charles II is thought to have been the first to insist that the ravens of the Tower be protected after he was warned that the crown and the Tower itself would fall if they left.

The King's order was given against the wishes of his astronomer, John Flamsteed, who complained the ravens impeded the business of his observatory in the White Tower.

Ravenmaster Barney Chandler on Inside the Tower. He is perched on the grass, smiling at the camera. A raven is feeding next to him, looking away from the camera. White Tower wooden staircase can be seen in the background.

Image: Ravenmaster Barney Chandler with a raven at the Tower. 

See the ravens at the Tower of London

Our ravens preside over four different territories within the Tower's walls. You might even be lucky enough to witness them snacking on your visit — but please be careful and do not feed the ravens yourself, as they can bite if they feel their territory is being threatened.

These magnificent birds respond only to the Ravenmaster and should not be approached too closely by anyone else.

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Resident Ravenmaster, Chris Skaife shares stories about the Tower ravens.

Caring for our ravens

Discover the stories of the ravens at the Tower of London as told by our former Ravenmaster, Chris Skaife.

A close view of the upper three-quarters of a resident Tower raven. According to legend, the kingdom and the Tower will fall if the six resident ravens ever leave the fortress. Traditionally, King Charles II first decreed that the Tower ravens should be protected.
A box cage structure with black birds in them. A viewing area is in the foreground with a fence, information signs and grass in front of the cages.

Image: Ravens Cages at the Tower of London.

Why are the ravens' wing feathers trimmed?

The Ravenmaster occasionally trims some of the ravens' primary and secondary flight feathers to encourage them to stay at the Tower. All the Tower ravens are able to fly but, with careful feather management, plenty of food and a comfortable new enclosure, they are happy to call the Tower their home.

However, some ravens have gone absent without leave in the past and others have even been sacked. Raven Munin flew off to Greenwich and was eventually returned by a vigilant member of the public after seven days. Raven George was dismissed for eating television aerials and Raven Grog was last seen outside an East End pub.

A diet of meat, biscuits and blood

The ravens are fed twice a day by our Ravenmaster and dine on a special diet of mice, chicks, rats and assorted raw meats. As a special treat, they are given biscuits soaked in blood.

Four baby ravens born at the Tower

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Meet the four raven chicks that were born as part of the Tower of London's breeding programme in 2019, in this short video.

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Shop online

Shop Ravens

It is said that if the six ravens were ever to leave the Tower of London then the Tower and the kingdom will fall. Naturally, to preserve the kingdom six ravens are kept to live and protect the Tower of London.

From £2.50

Raven Pin Badge

This raven pin badge is beautifully enameled and is a must have for any fan of the Tower of London.

£3

Tower of London Navy Raven Sweatshirt

Inspired by the infamous ravens of the Tower of London, this sweatshirt will keep you warm on those chilly days.

£38.00