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| Yeoman of the Guard
If you are a history buff who loves ceremony you will want to see the Ceremony of the Keys held at the Tower of London at 9:30 every night. This ceremony has been taking place for the last 700 years. The tour is conducted by the Yeomen Warders who are required to have a minimum of 22 years of military service, have obtained the position Warrant Officer or higher and have been awarded a good conduct medal. They are salaried and as a perk of the job, get to live on site. As retired military personnel, they are relatively young and the job offers security and the ability to meet people from all over the world. Even if you take the regular daylight tour, you will be able to be led by one of these experienced "Beefeaters." Being a member of the Yeoman Warder’s drinking club while being surrounded by bottles of Beefeater Gin is a unique experience. The new Yeoman Warders have their own welcoming ceremony on Tower Green. Each is given a special goblet. A toast is then given at the Yeoman Warder’s club; "May you never die a Yeoman Warder." The positions originally were not prestigious and could actually be sold.
Badge of the Yeoman of the Guard
Some apartments even overlook tower green where Anne Boleyn lost her head! The Ceremony of the Keys lasts about half an hour and tickets are free, but need to be booked months in advance. Tickets and information for the Ceremony of the Keys can be obtained at the following web site: http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/WhatsOn/theceremonyofthekeys
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