Imagining Animals at the Tower of London

Imagining Animals at the Tower of London runs from 19 – 31 August 2026, excluding 25 August.

For two weeks this August, visitors arriving at the Tower of London in search of crown jewels, ravens, and Beefeaters will find their expectations delightfully upended—encountering a host of extraordinary creatures brought to life through puppetry, music, and movement. Imagining Animals will transform the London landmark to offer an unforgettable family experience, bursting with vibrant colour, surreal encounters and creativity.

Created by acclaimed artists Mervyn Millar and Suzy Willson, in partnership with Historic Royal Palaces, the independent charity that cares for the Tower of London, Imagining Animals is inspired by the rich history of creatures that once lived at the Tower — including the enormous range of animals kept in the Royal Menagerie for over 600 years.

Perfect for families looking for a memorable summer outing, Imagining Animals blends performance, sound, spectacle and playful audience engagement. Throughout the day, families will stumble upon enchanting moments: a gentle bear ambling through the parade ground, a sudden flamboyance of flamingos, or a fleeting animal sound. Butterflies will flutter by, whilst a giant serpent slithers in and out of view, and a tiny wolf cub explores its new playground. This is the Tower of London as visitors have never seen it before.

The transformation of the 1000-year-old fortress will also include a community art installation, created by local groups who have cast small birds for display, each representing a wish or hope for the future.

Following its run at the Tower of London, selected animal puppets will continue their journey into September. They will appear in the Tower’s neighbourhood in family-focused events as part of a wider public programme developed with East London cultural partners, including a joyful encounter at Whitechapel Gallery for the Backyard Biennial Festival finale on the 6th September.

Andrew Jackson, Resident Governor of the Tower of London, said: “It often comes as a surprise that for centuries the Tower of London wasn’t just home to kings and queens, but to animals too - visitors once passed lions on their way through the gates. This summer, we’re delighting in that unexpected side of the Tower, as fantastical creatures plod, flutter and slither amongst our historic walls and in between our visitors. It’s a playful twist on the London landmark people think they know, and a chance for families to experience the Tower in a way that feels a little more extraordinary—and perhaps a touch mischievous—than usual.”

Mervyn Millar, puppeteer and Artistic Director of Significant Object, said: “For two weeks, a visit to the Tower will be transformed. We'll be bringing a really wide range of large-scale puppetry that can exist side by side with visitors. Some will tower over you, others will create intimate, sensitive encounters. We'll bring a bit of a surreal edge to your day out.  There'll be colour, energy, beauty and poetry. And across the day you'll see a huge range of styles - from our mischievous monkey to the magnificent, strutting Secretary Bird.  It's a chance to combine a visit to the Tower with a very special experience full of atmosphere and life."

Suzy Willson, choreographer and co-founder of performance company Clod Ensemble, said: “In working with artists, with local communities, and the people who live and work at the Tower of London, we have felt the power of people’s connection with the natural world, and how important their own histories and geographies are to this relationship.   Imagining Animals, presented at such a significant historic site, is a rare opportunity for visitors from across the globe and from the local Borough of Tower Hamlets to acknowledge these connections, to celebrate them, and to imagine the world together.”

Alongside this striking interactive experience, visitors are also able to take in everything else the Tower of London has to offer. Yeoman Warders, or ‘Beefeaters’ will continue to lead their legendary tours of the Tower, included in the price of admission, sharing some of the most dramatic stories from 1000 years of history. Visitors are invited to roam the towers and battlements of London’s famous fortress, exploring stories of Kings, Queens and daring escapades, and to see the Crown Jewels, one of the Tower’s most famous displays, explored within the wider context of Britain’s history.

Imagining Animals is included in standard admission to the Tower of London, with £1 tickets available for families in receipt of Universal Credit and other means tested financial benefits.

https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/whats-on/imagining-animals/

Notes to Editors

For further information and images please contact Jessica England in the Historic Royal Palaces Press Office via press@hrp.org.uk / 020 3166 6166

Tickets: Adult / Concession / Child / Free for Historic Royal Palaces members. £1 tickets are available for those in receipt of certain means-tested financial benefits, and those who live in the London borough of Tower Hamlets.

Historic Royal Palaces is the independent charity that loves and looks after six of the most wonderful palaces in the world. The palaces are the setting for the stories that shape us all, and we’re bringing them to people in ways that mean more to them. We want everyone to find themselves in the spaces and stories we share. 

Registered charity number 1068852. For more information visit www.hrp.org.uk