Jobs In The Tower Of London

So, the other day, I’m watching a documentary about the Tower of London, and they cut to a guy in a red tunic polishing a giant medieval cannon. He’s chatting about the weather, then casually mentions he once found a human skull in the moat. I nearly choked on my tea. That’s not a normal Tuesday, is it? But that’s exactly the point—working at the Tower isn’t your typical 9-to-5.

We all know the legends: beheadings, ghost stories, the Crown Jewels. But what’s it actually like to clock in there? Forget the corporate ladder; try the bloody tower stairwell. (Sorry, had to.) These jobs are weird, wonderful, and surprisingly varied—ranging from ceremonial pageantry to gritty archaeology.

The Yeoman Warders: The Ultimate Tour Guides (With Extra Attitude)

You’ve seen them—the famous “Beefeaters” in their navy and red uniforms. But here’s the kicker: they’re not actors. Every single one is a retired military veteran with at least 22 years of service. They live on-site with their families, which means their kids grew up having sleepovers in a 900-year-old fortress.

Their main job? Giving the “Yeoman Warder Tour,” which is basically a stand-up comedy routine wrapped in history. They’ll crack a joke about Anne Boleyn and then point out the spot where two princes were allegedly murdered. Dark humor, anyone? (You’d develop it too if you lived with ghosts.)

One warder told me his toughest challenge isn’t the tourists—it’s the ravens. Yes, the birds. Legend says if the six ravens leave, the kingdom falls, so these guys are literally responsible for the fate of the monarchy. No pressure.

The Jewel House Custodians: Sitting on a Billion-Dollar Collection

Now imagine your job is to stand next to the Crown Jewels—worth over £3 billion—and make sure no one tries to pocket the Koh-i-Noor diamond. You’d think it’s all stern faces and laser eyes, right? Wrong. The custodians I’ve met are incredibly chill. They’ll tell you the funniest things tourists ask, like “Is that a real diamond?” (Nope, it’s painted plastic, mate.)

But the job has its intense moments. Every evening, a military escort takes the jewels to a secret vault with a nuclear-grade door. The custodians don’t talk about the details, but one did whisper to me: “The alarms are… sensitive.” So no sudden sneezes, please.

The Ravenmaster: Part Bird Psychologist, Part Meteorologist

This is the job I’d sell a kidney for. The Ravenmaster is a Yeoman Warder with a very specific side gig: looking after the Tower’s ravens. These are not your friendly park pigeons. These birds are massive, with beaks that can crack a walnut—or your finger.

The Ravenmaster must check their health daily, clip their flight feathers (to stop them escaping), and—get this—read them bedtime stories. I’m not joking. “They like the sound of your voice,” he told me. “But they prefer The Hobbit over Shakespeare.” The birds also have favorite treats: biscuits soaked in blood. (You walk away from that lunch break feeling a bit lightheaded.)

The worst part? If a raven dies, it’s your problem. You have to bury it, report it to the Queen, and hope the prophecy doesn’t kick in. So yes, that guy has the nation’s future resting on his avian-care skills.

The Ceremonial Staff: Walking Dress Rehearsals Every Day

Then there are the people in medieval costumes who aren’t actors—they’re actual guards. The “Beating the Bounds” ceremony, the “Ceremony of the Keys”… these rituals happen daily, rain or shine. One guard confided that the worst part is the tights in winter. “Your legs go blue, but you can’t shiver because the tourists film you.”

The Hidden Jobs: Stonemasons, Archivists, and Rat Catchers

Most people don’t know the Tower has its own stonemason. He spends his days carving replacement gargoyles and patching up walls that are literally crumbling. What’s his coffee break view? The spot where traitors were executed. He said, “I try not to think about it while I’m eating a scone.”

There’s also an archivist whose job is to handle documents from the 13th century. She told me she once found a note from a prisoner that read: “Please send more bread. And red wine.” Some things never change.

And yes, there’s a rat catcher. Because a medieval fortress attracts rats—especially one with a moat. “It’s not glamorous,” he laughed. “But I get to say I’ve caught rats in the Bloody Tower.” Total power move at parties.

So, what’s the common thread in all these jobs? Duality. You’re a tour guide but also a guardian of history. You’re a birdkeeper but also a legend-defender. And every single person I spoke to said the same thing: “You never get used to it. Every morning you walk through the gates and think, ‘I can’t believe they pay me for this.’” It’s not just a job—it’s a vibe. And between you and me, I’d trade my desk for a raven who doesn’t judge my life choices any day.