Year 8 visit to the Tower of London and a river cruise on the Thames

On Friday 16^th December, a group of Year 8 pupils left Cardiff very early for a history trip to London.  It was lovely to see a wintry London after recent snowfall, but it was very cold. 

We started our tour of the Tower of London with a visit to the Crown Jewels and it was interesting to see a space where St Edward’s Crown is normally on display.  A note advised that the crown had been taken to get it ready for the coronation next May.  We looked around the medieval apartments and the Bloody Tower before meeting a costumed guide for a talk entitled ‘What makes a martyr?’  Year 8 pupils have been learning about religious changes in history lessons. 

Following our talk, we explored the White Tower, Beauchamp Tower and also had a look in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula.  The pupils were fascinated to hear that this chapel has been called the saddest place in England because it is where the remains of many famous executed people have been laid to rest, Sir Thomas Moore, Bishop Fisher, Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey and Thomas Cromwell (to name a few). 

After the Tower we had a quick look around the South Bank Christmas stalls before boarding our Thames River Cruise.  It was bitterly cold on the Thames but undeterred, the Year 8 pupils sat on the open upper deck so that they could enjoy seeing London lit up. 

The pupils had a lot of fun and also enjoyed being immersed in so much history and tradition.