Jewel Tower

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  • Address
    Abingdon St, Westminster, SW1 P3JY
  • Show map Close map
  • Phone
    7222 2219
  • Transport
    underground rail: Westminster
  • Apr-Sep 10:00 - 17:00 ; Oct-Mar 10:00 - 16:00

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Lonely Planet review

The Jewel Tower was built in 1365 to house the treasury of Edward III and is one of the last vestiges of the medieval Palace of Westminster. Today it houses exhibitions about the history and procedures of Parliament. There's a 25-minute explanatory video (when it works) and this is a useful first stop before a visit to the House of Commons.

Otherwise, it's a stocky and handsome building with a few interesting exhibits, like a 12th-century Saxon sword.

The moat that originally surrounded the structure was drained in the 17th century. The Tower has had various functions over the years, although storing the crown jewels was never one of them.