Fido Field Trips

Today we are taking the Tube to do some sightseeing!!



The London Underground (also known simply as the Underground or by its nickname the Tube) is a rapid transit system serving Greater London and some parts of the adjacent home counties of Buckinghamshire, Essex and Hertfordshire in England.

The Underground has its origins in the Metropolitan Railway, opening on 10 January 1863 as the world's first underground passenger railway. The Metropolitan is now part of the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines. The first line to operate underground electric traction trains, the City & South London Railway in 1890, is now part of the Northern line.

The network has expanded to 11 lines with 250 miles (400 km) of track. However, the Underground does not cover most southern parts of Greater London; there are only 33 Underground stations south of the River Thames. The system's 272 stations collectively accommodate up to 5 million passenger journeys a day. In 2023/24 it was used for 1.181billion passenger journeys.

The system's first tunnels were built just below the ground, using the cut-and-cover method; later, smaller, roughly circular tunnels—which gave rise to its nickname, the Tube—were dug through at a deeper level. Despite its name, only 45% of the system is under the ground: much of the network in the outer environs of London is on the surface.

The early tube lines, originally owned by several private companies, were brought together under the Underground brand in the early 20th century, and eventually merged along with the sub-surface lines and bus services in 1933 to form London Transport under the control of the London Passenger Transport Board (LPTB). The current operator, London Underground Limited (LUL), is a wholly owned subsidiary of Transport for London (TfL), the statutory corporation responsible for the transport network in London. As of 2015, 92% of operational expenditure is covered by passenger fares. The Travelcard ticket was introduced in 1983 and Oyster card, a contactless ticketing system, in 2003. Contactless bank card payments were introduced in 2014, the first such use on a public transport system.

The LPTB commissioned many new station buildings, posters and public artworks in a modernist style. The schematic Tube map, designed by Harry Beck in 1931, was voted a national design icon in 2006 and now includes other transport systems besides the Underground, such as the Docklands Light Railway, London Overground, Thameslink, the Elizabeth line, and Tramlink. Other famous London Underground branding includes the roundel and the Johnston typeface, created by Edward Johnston in 1916.

Vincent/Vinny I bet that was FUN!!!

Mebbe he can, Toffee!

Vincent/Vinny we agree!!

How purrty dat is at night!

Good morning Happy Thursday
Tango what a beautiful night view of the Tower Bridge
Daisy and Josey everything very nice here
Foofy yes it is pretty
Willy yes we all wish we were with Vinny and the bridge is pretty lit up at night

We hope everyone had fun last night! Today we are going on a tour of the Tower of London!



Mighty fortress. Royal palace. Infamous prison.
When William the Conqueror built a mighty stone tower at the centre of his London fortress in the 1070s, defeated Londoners must have looked on in awe. Now nearly 1000 years later, the Tower still has the capacity to fascinate and horrify.

As protector of the Crown Jewels, home of the Yeomen Warders and its legendary guardians, the pampered ravens, the Tower now attracts over three million visitors a year. Here, the Ceremony of the Keys and other traditions live on, as do the ghost stories and terrible tales of torture and execution.

But the Tower also has a richer and more complex history, having been home to a wide array of institutions including the Royal Mint, the Royal Armouries and even a zoo.

Aerial view of the Tower of London from the north west with Tower Bridge and the River Thames in the distance.
Image: Aerial view of the Tower of London from the North West with Tower Bridge in the distance. © Historic Royal Palaces / High Level Photography Limited.

Fortress. Palace. Prison.
As the most secure castle in the land, the Tower guarded royal possessions and even the royal family in times of war and rebellion.

But for 500 years monarchs also used the Tower as a surprisingly luxurious palace.

Throughout history, the Tower has also been a visible symbol of awe and fear. Kings and queens imprisoned their rivals and enemies within its walls. The stories of prisoners, rich and poor, still haunt the Tower.

Mid-length portrait of a man wearing a crown with a beard holding a sword
Image: King William I ('The Conqueror') by an unknown artist, © National Portrait Gallery, London.

William the Conqueror's fortress
In the 1070s, William the Conqueror, fresh from his victory but nervous of rebellion, began to build a massive stone fortress in London to defend and proclaim his royal power. Nothing like it had ever been seen in England before.

William intended his mighty castle keep not only to dominate the skyline, but also the hearts and minds of the defeated Londoners.

The Tower took around 20 years to build. Masons arrived from Normandy, bringing with them stone from Caen in France. Most of the actual labour was provided by Englishmen.

The fortress expands
Throughout history, the Tower has been adapted and developed to defend and control the nation.

Henry III (1216-72) and Edward I (1272-1307) expanded William’s fortress, adding huge 'curtain' (defensive) walls with a series of smaller towers, and enlarging the moat.

They also transformed the Tower into England’s largest and strongest ‘concentric’ castle (with one ring of defences inside another).

Inside, the medieval kings built magnificent royal lodgings.

Did you know?
In 1240, Henry III had the Tower’s great keep painted white, making it the White Tower.

Reconstructed aerial view looking down on the Tower of London surrounded by fields, trees and small buildings
Image: Illustration of how the Tower may have looked, c1300 by Ivan Lapper © Historic Royal Palaces.

Tower of strength
Kings and queens used the Tower in times of trouble to protect their possessions and themselves. Arms and armour were made, tested and stored here until the 1800s.

The Tower also controlled the supply of the nation’s money. All coins of the realm were made at the Tower Mint from the reign of Edward I until 1810. Kings and queens also locked away their valuables and jewels at the Tower and even today, the Crown Jewels are protected by a garrison of soldiers.

Did you know?
The Tower’s defences failed once. During the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381, rebels ran in through the open gates!

A photograph featuring the painted timber screen and stained-glass window with a view looking through the doors of The King's Private Chapel at The Wakefield Tower Throne Room at the Tower of London.
Image: Henry VI was supposedly murdered while at prayer in the King's Private Chapel in the Wakefield Tower.

Henry VI and the Wakefield Tower
The Tower of London has also been the infamous setting for stories of royal tragedy and death.

During the Wars of the Roses, Henry VI was murdered here in 1471 and, later, the children of his great rival Edward IV – the Princes in the Tower - vanished within its walls in 1483.

In 1674, two skeletons were unearthed at the Tower.

The bones were re-examined in 1933 and proved to be those of two boys aged about 12 and 10, exactly the same ages as the princes when they disappeared.

Yeoman Warders at the Tower of London
The famous Yeoman Warders, recognised as symbols of the Tower all over the world, have been here for centuries. They were originally part of the Yeomen of the Guard, the monarch’s personal bodyguard who travelled with him.

Henry VIII (1507-47) decreed that some of them would stay and guard the Tower permanently.

Did you know?
Henry VII's personal guards were the first 'Beefeaters', so named as they were permitted to eat as much beef as they wanted from the King's table.

Ceremony of the Keys showing the Chief Yeoman Warder posing with soldiers. The Tower of London looking south towards the Bloody Tower.
Image: Chief Yeoman Warder Peter McGowran poses with Coldstream Guards infantry soldiers © Historic Royal Palaces.

Ceremony of the Keys
Today the Yeomen Warders or the 'Beefeaters' guard the visitors, but still carry out ceremonial duties, such as unlocking and locking the Tower every day in the Ceremony of the Keys.

They wear their red state ‘dress uniforms’ for important occasions at the Tower, and also for special events such as the firing of the huge cannon on the Wharf, known as the Gun Salutes.

Close up portrait of a woman wearing a hat with pearls and jewellery marked with a 'B'.
Image: Portrait of Anne Boleyn. © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Royal life and death
Medieval kings and queens lived in luxurious apartments at the Tower. They worshipped in the Chapel Royal, kept a menagerie of exotic animals (which lasted until the 19th century) and welcomed foreign rulers at magnificent ceremonial occasions.

Although long since vanished, there was once a splendid royal palace to the south of the White Tower. Henry VIII modernised the rooms inside in preparation for the coronation of his new bride, Anne Boleyn in 1533. She and the King feasted here in splendour the night before Anne processed in triumph through the City of London to Westminster Abbey.

Three years later Anne was back at the Tower, this time accused of adultery and treason. She was held in the same luxurious lodgings before being executed by sword on Tower Green.

A woman facing out of a window with two women next to her, one sat in a chair leaning against another with a man stood behind the chair. Various furniture pieces can be seen around the room.
Image: The Last Moments of Lady Jane Grey, Hendrik Jacobus Scholten (1824-1907). © Historic Royal Palaces.

Sent to the Tower
For over 800 years, men and women have arrived at the Tower, uncertain of their fate. Some stayed for only a few days, other many years.

During the Tudor age, the Tower became the most important state prison in the country. Anyone thought to be a threat to national security came here.

The future Elizabeth I, Lady Jane Grey, Sir Walter Raleigh and Guy Fawkes were all ‘sent to the Tower’. Even in the 20th century, German spies were brought here and shot.

The Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula
The Chapel is perhaps best known as being the burial place of some of the most famous Tower prisoners. This include three queens of England: Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Jane Grey, all of whom were executed within the Tower in the 16th century.

Henry VIII's wives were accused of adultery and treason. Lady Jane Grey was an unfortunate pawn in a plot to replace Mary I and was executed for high treason in 1554, aged only 17.

Did you know?
After their execution, the headless bodies of the queens were buried quickly and carelessly under the Chapel without any memorial.

View of the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula with flowers pictured in the foreground and trees on a green space to the right.
Image: The Chapel Royal of St Peter Ad Vincula © Historic Royal Palaces/Richard Lea-Hair.

Resting in peace
In 1876, when the Chapel was restored, the remains unearthed in the chancel, including those of Anne Boleyn, were reburied beneath a marble pavement, inscribed with their names and coats of arms.

St Thomas's Tower and the Wakefield Tower at the Tower of London, viewed from Tower Bridge at night.
Image: St Thomas's Tower and the Wakefield Tower at the Tower of London, viewed from Tower Bridge at night © Historic Royal Palaces.

Legends and ghosts
The Tower has been a visitor attraction since the 18th century, but numbers of tourists increased dramatically in the 1800s. Visitors were fascinated by the stories of England’s turbulent and sometimes gruesome history.

Stories of ghosts haunt the Tower. Anne Boleyn is said to stalk the site of her execution on Tower Green.

Arbella Stuart, the cousin of Elizabeth I who starved while under arrest for marrying without royal permission, is said to frequent the Queen’s House still.

Two smaller ghosts are thought to be the 'princes in the Tower', and the Yeomen Warders even tell a chilling tale of a huge bear who occasionally appears to frighten visitors to death.

The Tower Ravens
One of the most famous legends of the Tower surrounds the ravens. The story goes that should the ravens leave the Tower, both it and the kingdom will fall.

The ravens at the Tower today are cared for by a dedicated Yeoman Warder known as the Ravenmaster.

Did you know?
These highly intelligent birds have one flight feather trimmed to stop them flying away.

The Tower today
The Tower of London is still one the world’s leading tourist attractions and a world heritage site, attracting visitors from all over the world.

And when the gates are locked and all the visitors have gone, the Tower embraces a thriving community within its walls. The Tower of London is still home to the Yeomen Warders and their families, the Resident Governor, and a garrison of soldiers. There is a doctor and a chaplain. And there is even a pub!