Tower visit header showing Line of Kings

Tower of London

The Royal Armouries is located in the White Tower, which is its historical home.

The Armouries is one of the ancient institutions of the Tower of London. Its origins may be traced back to the working armoury of the medieval kings of England.

The first recorded paying visitor to the Armouries was in 1545 when a visiting foreign dignitary viewed the personal armoury of Henry VIII in the White Tower.

The Restoration of Charles II in 1660 saw the establishment of two permanent public displays: the Line of Kings and the Spanish Armoury.

All these displays can still be seen in the White Tower, along with more modern weapons and armours. Our latest exhibit is Hands on History which is a series of interactive displays on the top floor of the White Tower.

Scary Horned Helmet

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Firearms of the American Civil War Seminar

Martin Pegler, former senior curator of firearms at the Royal Armouries, looks at the development of small-arms in the United States during the first part of the 19th century.

11 October

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Did you know?

America opens Japan in 1853

Gifts included: 15 rifles, 3 muskets, 12 cavalry swords, 20 army pistols, 2 carbines, 2 telegraph instruments, a model steam locomotive and tender, 4 volumes of John James Audubon’s Birds of America and 1 barrel of whiskey for the Emperor.

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