The Tower Raven
Fed and counted every day · Keeper of the Tower of London
Legend says the Crown will fall if the ravens ever leave the Tower of London. So at least six are always kept there, with one to spare.
The legend
Legend says that if the ravens ever leave the Tower of London, the Crown will fall, so at least six are always kept there, with one to spare, cared for by a Ravenmaster. A tale credits Charles II with the rule, but no one can prove it, and some historians think the legend is much younger.
“I'd count them twice, just to be sure.”
Where it comes from
The Tower's birds are common ravens. Wild ravens once nested in London too; the last wild nest was recorded in Hyde Park in 1826. At the Tower, the birds live on a diet of raw meat, usually liver, lambs' hearts and beef or pork trimmings, with a boiled egg every other day. The feathers on one wing are trimmed so they can only fly short distances, and each bird wears a different coloured leg band.
Captive ravens here have lived for more than 40 years. During the Blitz all but three died, and Winston Churchill ordered new birds to restore the flock. Not every raven has kept its post: Raven George was sent to the Welsh Mountain Zoo in 1986 for attacking television aerials. A breeding programme began in 1987, and in 2019 four chicks hatched at the Tower, the first there since 1989. In 2025 there were 8 ravens.
Where to see it
The ravens roam four territories inside the Tower walls and can be seen on any visit. Staff ask visitors not to feed them, as they bite when they feel their ground is threatened. On some mornings the Tower runs a talk before opening at the ravens' cages, led by a Yeoman Warder from the Ravenmaster's team. Barney Chandler became Ravenmaster in 2024.
In the game
The raven cocks its head, tips its hat and stares at the plane. The raven hops sideways, ruffles its feathers and stays put. The raven folds its wings and bows. The ravens are staying.
