Free Tickets Available to Ceremony of The Keys at The Tower of London

Free tickets to Ceremony of the Keys at Tower of London offered by Popos Travel. Very few have seen this event, as it is conducted at night after visitors have left the Tower.

(PRWEB) December 24, 2006 -- Free tickets to Ceremony of the Keys at Tower of London offered by Popos Travel.

The Tower of London is on every tourist's top places to see. It was founded nearly a thousand years ago and has protected, housed, imprisoned and been for many the last sight they saw on Earth.

It has been the seat of British government, living quarters of monarchs, it has housed lions and bears and home of the Crown Jewels.

But there is one facet of the Tower that very few people have witnessed, and that is the Ceremony of the Keys.

The Ceremony of the Keys is the traditional locking up of the Tower of London conducted at night after all the tourists have left.

It is one of the oldest and most colorful ceremonies of its kind, having taken place for the last 700 years in much the same form as it is seen today.

Every night at exactly seven minutes to 10 o'clock, the Chief Warder emerges from the Byward Tower wearing his long red coat and Tudor bonnet, carrying in one hand a candle lantern and in the other hand the Queens Keys.

The Chief Warder moves along Water Lane to Traitors Gate, where his escort, provided by one of the regiments of Foot Guards, awaits him. He hands the lantern to an escorting soldier and the party moves to the outer gate. En route, all guards and sentries salute the Queens Keys.

After locking the outer gate the Chief Warder and escort retrace their steps. The great oak gates of the Middle and Byward Towers are locked in turn. They now return along Water Lane towards Traitors Gate, where in the shadows of the Bloody Tower archway a sentry waits.

When the party approaches the sentry challenges, "Who goes there?" The Chief Warder answers: "The Keys." "Whose Keys?" the sentry demands. "Queen Elizabeth's Keys." "Pass Queen Elizabeth's Keys. All's well" is the sentry's final rejoinder.

The party then proceeds through the Bloody Tower archway and up towards the steps where the main guard is drawn up. The Chief Warder and escort halt at the foot of the steps and the officer in charge gives the command to present arms.

The Chief Warder moves two paces forward, raises his Tudor bonnet high in the air and calls "God preserve Queen Elizabeth." The guard answers "Amen" just as the clock chimes 10 and the bugler sounds Last Post.

The Chief Warder takes the keys to the Queens House and the guard is dismissed.

Every night a small group of tourists are escorted into the Tower to witness the Ceremony. If you are visiting London and would like free tickets to see The Ceremony of the Keys, please go to http://www.ytb.com/PoposTravel or call 909 240 8715.

Popos Travel specializes in providing clients with best available rates for cruises, airfare, hotels and much more. Unlike other online services, Popos Travel adds personalized service when required.

###