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Commissioned by Edward III around 1365, Jewel Tower was originally built to house the King’s personal treasures – hence the name – and had a moat dug around it for extra protection. It was also known as the King’s Privy Wardrobe.

It remains virtually unaltered today and is one of the only two complete buildings remaining from the medieval Palace Of Westminster (the seat of parliamentary power in England for hundreds of years) the other being Westminster Hall.

Located right across the road from the Houses Of Parliament, the Jewel London is right in the middle of one of the key tourist locations for London visitors with Westminster Abbey and Big Ben both only minutes away by foot.

Today the Jewel Tower is administered by English Heritage and houses the permanent exhibition Parliament Past And Present, an informative look at the history of the English and more recently British Parliament.

Jewel Tower is just one of many historic buildings accessible for free with London Pass – whether you’re an amateur (or professional!) historian or just curious to find out more about the architecture and heritage of the city then London Pass can save you a small fortune on entry prices. Other historic buildings in London include Hampton Court Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower Of London. All of these places are well worth your sightseeing time while you’re in London.