“Pass Queen Elizabeth’s Keys and all’s well!” The cry goes out from the Queen’s Guard at the Tower of London, as it has for more than 700 years. It’s the nightly Ceremony of the Keys, an off the beaten path London attraction which draws lucky visitors long after the tourists have left this riverside attraction. Not one night has been missed in conducting this centuries’ old ceremony.
The moon’s light casts eerie shadows on the Tower, a violent bastion of British history, and a Beefeater Guard ushers guests behind the giant gates. We are locked inside, keeping the Tower and us safe for another night.
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It’s truly a ceremonial event (no cameras allowed) and tickets are limited in number. The Historic Royal Palaces website advises requesting the free tickets at least two months in advance (three in the summer) and they mean it. It took me several tries before acquiring the lucky ducat and the wait was well worth it.
While the Tower of London may no longer house monarchs or prisoners, it does contain the Crown Jewels and many other historic valuables. Being locked inside, tucked in for the night, is an experience not to be missed.