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Martin Tower 4 min read
The morning Colonel Blood stole the crown
In 1671 a man dressed as a parson flattened the crown of England with a mallet and walked out with it under his cloak. Then the king gave him a pension.
Inner ward
Martin Tower
The north-east corner tower where the Crown Jewels were kept in 1671 when Colonel Blood tried to steal them. It now ends the wall walk with a display of crown frames.
- Time here
- 10–15 min (our estimate)
- Access
- Not step-free · Some steps
- Where
- Inner ward · indoors
What you can see
- 'Crowns and Diamonds': empty crown frames showing how stones were reused
- The room where the 1671 theft began
- Ravens often gather on the grass below
Practical considerations
- Not step-free
- Some steps
- Reached along the wall walk or by stairs from the inner ward
- Toilets nearby in the Brick Tower behind the Jewel House
Checked 10 Sept 2026
Access details from Historic Royal Palaces' accessibility page. Time estimates are ours unless marked official.
Stories at this place
Book
Tickets that suit a visit built around Martin Tower
- Viator Early access
Early-access tour: Opening Ceremony, then the Crown Jewels before the crowds
Peak-day visitors who missed out on the official Opening Ceremony tickets (50 a day)
From €82 per adult, EUR · seen 10 Sept 2026
Who needs it, who doesn't, and the small print - Official Official extra
Opening Ceremony experience (official early entry)
Peak-season visitors who want the Crown Jewels without the queue
From £62.00 adult · seen 10 Sept 2026
Who needs it, who doesn't, and the small print
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