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The Ravens & the Yeoman Warders

Two of the Tower’s most beloved traditions live side by side: the ravens whose presence, so the legend says, protects the kingdom, and the Yeoman Warders — the “Beefeaters” — who care for them.

The ravens

Charles II is said to have decreed that at least six ravens should be kept at the Tower of London at all times. Should they ever leave, the story goes, the Tower will fall and the kingdom with it. To be safe, the Tower keeps seven — six on duty and one spare.

The current flock lives in spacious enclosures near the White Tower and are cared for by the Ravenmaster, a Yeoman Warder with the enviable job of feeding them raw meat and biscuits soaked in blood.

The Yeoman Warders

To become a Yeoman Warder, you must have served at least 22 years in the armed forces and reached the rank of warrant officer. Thirty-seven live inside the Tower walls with their families — yes, it’s a residential fortress.

Their free guided tours leave the main entrance every 30 minutes and are, without question, the best way to see the Tower for the first time. Funny, sharp and full of stories the guidebooks miss.

Why “Beefeaters”?

Nobody is entirely sure. The most likely explanation is that in centuries past a Yeoman Warder’s ration of beef was famously generous — a perk of guarding the monarch’s home.