Visiting the Tower of London feels like stepping straight into the pages of a history book. Standing tall beside the River Thames, this fortress has been many things over the centuries. A royal palace, prison, treasury, armory, and even a menagerie for exotic animals. Historically, menageries were typically aristocratic or royal collections. Today, it remains one of the most iconic historic sites in England—and a must-see when exploring London.
A Fortress of History
Built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, the Tower has been at the heart of English history for nearly 1,000 years. Monarchs added to it, prisoners feared it, and legends continue to haunt it. Some of the most famous stories tied to the Tower include the imprisonment of Anne Boleyn, the Princes in the Tower, and tales of ghosts that still wander its halls. There are many stories to be told but do you dare enter the premises.
The Crown Jewels 👑
Perhaps the biggest highlight is the dazzling Crown Jewels. Safely guarded inside the Jewel House, these treasures are still used in royal ceremonies today. The sight of the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign’s Sceptre up close is unforgettable.
Beefeaters & Ravens
No visit is complete without meeting the Yeoman Warders, also known as Beefeaters. They’ve guarded the Tower for centuries and share fascinating (and often chilling) stories on their tours. And don’t forget the ravens—legend has it that if they ever leave, the kingdom will fall! We’ve seen so many documentaries about the Tower of London but it is something else to see it up close and personal.
Tips for Visiting the Tower of London
Arrive early to avoid the biggest crowds, especially at the Crown Jewels.
Join a Beefeater tour—it’s both informative and entertaining.
Set aside at least 3 hours to explore everything, from the White Tower to the medieval walls.
Buy tickets in advance online to save time (and sometimes money).
Why We Loved It
For us, walking through the Tower was like walking through time. The mix of grandeur and grit, the sparkle of royal treasures alongside the shadows of prison stories—it’s the kind of place that makes history feel alive.
Whether you’re a history buff, a lover of royal stories, or just curious about one of London’s most famous landmarks, the Tower of London is well worth a visit.
✨ Have you ever been inside the Tower of London, or is it on your travel wishlist?
Tucked away just off the High Street in Skipton, The Castle Inn is the kind of place that feels like home the moment you walk in — all warm wood, stone walls, and the gentle hum of conversation. A cheery welcome for locals and visitors alike.
On our recent trip to Yorkshire, this pub quickly became one of our favourites. We ordered:
🥧 Beef & Ale Pie – tall, flaky, and filled with rich, slow-cooked beef. Served with chunky chips, seasonal veg, and a pot of thick gravy.
🥩 Yorkshire Pudding Roast – slices of roast beef tucked into a giant Yorkshire pud with mashed potatoes and proper pub gravy.
🍺 Local pints – because no visit to a Yorkshire pub is complete without one. Just ask Richard, it’s his goal to sample them all.
Richard gave it a 10/10 — and judging by the empty plates, it’s safe to say we both left happy.
If you find yourself in Skipton, we wholeheartedly recommend a stop here after exploring the castle or canal. It’s everything we love about pub dining in the UK: generous, cozy, and made with heart. Feels like home away from home.
➡ Watch the Reel over on instagram @travellingwilbys for a peek at our plates!
Puffins have long intrigued me. Their clown like antics and charismatic allure, hard to resist. Little birds with such big personality.
For years, I’ve enjoyed watching and admiring them from my television. Hopeful to one day see them up close, but never quite thinking it possible. Travel changes that, making the impossible possible, Creating magical experiences, and opening your eyes in new ways.
During a trip to Scotland, this finally became a reality. We were staying on the Isle of Mull and took a day trip to Iona. From Iona, it is possible to take a boat to Staffa. An opportunity too good to pass up.
The Isle of Staffa, off Scotland’s west coast, is home to Fingal’s Cave and a large Puffin colony. Its hexagonal columns were formed millions of years ago by volcanic eruptions. Staffa and Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway are linked in myths. Tales of two Giants, Finn MacCool (Irish) and Fingal (Scottish), who built a bridge between them. Later destroying it during a dispute. Believer of the myths or not, both locations are worth visiting. Having seen the Giant’s Causeway, this trip allowed us to explore the other side of the myth.
A tour boat picked us up from Iona. The trip to Staffa takes about 45 minutes, allowing you to enjoy the scenery. A short pier has been built for docking. Once docked, you can independently explore the island but remember the return time. It’s easy to get lost in the sites and lose track of time. We first visited Fingal’s Cave before heading to the clifftop to see the puffins.
The climb involves ascending a steep stairway, which requires a reasonable level of mobility. If you need more time, it is advisable to wait for the crowds to pass before making a slower ascent. Once at the top of the stairs, you can proceed at a leisurely pace to the area where puffins may be visible.
As we hiked towards the clifftop, I could feel the excitement building. Would this be the day I finally got to see my favourite little bird? I held my breath in anticipation as we reached the top, slowly peering over. And then, there they were, those magical little birds full of character. Emerging from their dens and parading around like the comical little characters they are.
Visitors are instructed to sit quietly at a distance outside the roped area and observe without making loud noises. Do not disturb the birds. It is important to respect these guidelines to ensure that everyone can enjoy the experience. It is a privilege to be this close to them, don’t ruin it for others.
I sat down quietly to take it all in. The once in a lifetime experience. To my delight, they put on quite the show. Not bothered by the visitors. They engaged in their mating rituals such as rubbing beaks and wing flapping. Flittering about, being very social with each other, and occasionally returning from the sea with a beak full of fish. A true delight. I could have spent an entire day sitting there watching my beloved little bird. We were privileged to see so many as sometimes they are mostly out at sea. Puffins are loved by all that see them. You only had to look around at the smiles on the faces of the people around me. Each person lost in their own experience.
Puffins, often called “clowns of the sea” or “sea parrots,” are black and white birds with bright coloured beaks. You can see why they are referred to as a parrot. They breed in cliff-top burrows and spend winters at sea. Flapping their small wings frantically allows them to fly but underwater these wings become powerful flippers. They can catch small fish one by one until their beak is full.
Their bills turn vibrant orange in the breeding season but fade to duller shades after, as the outer layer sheds in winter. Puffins are most visible from late spring to early August when they return to the clifftops.
Fun Facts:
Puffins lay just one egg a year.
They mate for life.
They can dive up to depths of sixty metres.
Puffins are excellent flyers. They flap their wings up to four hundred times a minute and speed through the air at up to 88km an hour.
A baby Puffin is called a Puffling. Now how cute is that!
Skipton is only a hop, Skip, and a jump away from Leeds via the Northern Rail line. It takes approximately 42 minutes to travel the distance between the two. Making it the perfect, scenic destination for a day trip.
Leeds train station can be busy. A little chaotic with people rushing about to find their platform. Give yourself enough time, and it’s no problem. That’s my anxiety speaking. Check your platform departure number on arrival and hop on board for a day of adventure. An excellent outing and chance to explore somewhere new.
We love train travel in England. An easy way to get from place to place. A novelty we do not have at home. Perfect for exploring and adventuring. I think if we had this at home, you might never see me. You would find me riding the rails in search of new places, and new adventures.
Skipton Train Station
That being said, there has been an ongoing issue with rail strikes. Two years in and they do not seem to be going away. This requires a little more planning and flexibility on your part. Two weeks notice is required in advance of strike action. Our best advice, keep an eye on the strike dates and plan around them where possible.
A BritRail pass is the best bet for international travellers. They must be purchased from your home country. Simply buy the pass online, load it onto your phone, and off you go. Paper tickets are available. These require a little more time to arrive.
Enough said, time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the amazing scenery. No need to rush. North Yorkshire does not disappoint!
Rolling green hills, quaint villages, lovely little train stations, and historic sites pass by your window. With each new station, you are given a peek at other places you may wish to explore. There is no shortage. I think our list of things to do gets longer every time.
We were there in May, and it was lambing season. It is hard not to smile at their cuteness as they play happily in the field. That is, until the big, scary train comes. Then it is off to mom they run. Now PLEASE do not tell me where most of them are destined to end up. I prefer to live in denial and picture them living out their lives in those beautiful green fields, providing the odd woolen sweater.
The train trip from Leeds gives you splendid views of the Leeds to Liverpool Canal with its many canal boats. The towpath running alongside the canal provides for great walking and biking trails. You can walk the entire towpath from Leeds to Liverpool in about two weeks. There is a lot of history to the canals. A post for another time. I could see us doing a trip via a canal boat or a walking holiday.
A market town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, Skipton is known as the Southern Gateway to the Yorkshire Dales. Its proximity to the Yorkshire Dales National Park makes it a great starting or stopping point for exploration of the Dales. It began life when the owners of Skipton Castle acquired a market charter in 1204. It then thrived as a trading centre for sheep and wool. Today, there is a population of approximately 15,000 people. It has been listed as one of the best and happiest places to live in the UK. I believe I could be quite happy living here.
Rich in history and outstanding natural beauty, it is hard to resist this market town. The 900-year-old Skipton Castle stands high and proud as its centrepiece, and the historic cobbled High Street makes for perfect browsing of its shops, bakeries, and eating establishments. With the husband in tow, there is always a pub high on the list of things to do. Of which, there are many.
Skipton Castle high above Castle Woods
Suggestions for the Perfect Day in Skipton:
Skipton Castle – one of the most complete and best-preserved medieval castles in England. At over 900 years of age, it is well worth a visit rain or shine. Enjoy a walk through the castle and its grounds. Below it, you can see the beautiful walking path for Skipton Castle Woods.
Woodland Trust’s Skipton Castle Woods – we discovered this beautiful walk on our most recent visit. It is hard to believe you can escape from the business of High Street to the tranquility of this rare ancient woodland within seconds. Perfect for those who want to unwind in the peace and tranquility of nature. It has a fascinating history dating back a thousand years.
Peruse the shops and eateries on High Street. I love quaint little gift shops and exploring little alleyways to see what I can find. Skipton Market operates Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday throughout the year. Always worth checking out, never know what you might find.
Enjoy a pint at one of the many pubs. One of our faves is the Castle Inn. A traditional pub with great cask ales, and an excellent food selection. Seating can be found inside or outside. This is by no means the only pub, there are many lovely ones to choose from. We just need to try a few more of them. If you are in Skipton on a Sunday, do not forget to book in somewhere for a traditional Sunday Roast. A Sunday must for us.
Walk the canals around the city. Stop at one of the little pubs on the canal and do some people watching. We checked out the Boathouse Bar which was a great little spot for watching the canal boats. They were coming and going right in front of the bar. There is seating inside and outside. It was kind of nice to sit outside on a sunny day.
Take a canal boat tour. They range from 30 minutes to two hours. Depending on how much time you have, you should be able to find one to fit your schedule. It is a wonderful way to explore the area from the water.
These are just a few ideas for a day out in Skipton and by no means a full list. A list of some of our personal favourites. There is much more to explore depending on your wants. We left wishing we were spending a couple of nights there. This would have allowed us more time to fully enjoy all that Skipton has to offer.
Day trips are a great way to get away from it all. The perfect opportunity to explore somewhere new. We quite often find it nice to find a central location, base ourselves there, and do day trips. While it may seem the time passes all too quickly, you can always come back. You’ve had a taste of what it has to offer. I know we would be very happy to return to Skipton!
