Last week, before the current ridiculously hot spell kicked in- my London Shoes ventured out to one of the capital’s most popular historic landmarks – the ‘Tower of London’ – but not to visit the Tower, as that would not be within the remit of Shoes ethos of only covering off the lesser known and more unusual aspects of London’s history.
No – Shoes visit to the Tower, was to experience and walk amongst the “Superbloom” that has now taken root throughout the Tower’s historic moat.
The Tower of London’s Superbloom is the beautiful new floral landscape within the moat that has been planted to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen.
It’s not the first time that the Tower’s globally famous moat has been used for something other than a water defence.
In Queen Victoria’s reign, the moat was drained, and used the land for the grazing of livestock.
During WW2 the moat was transformed into allotments. 
In 1977 the moat took the form of a botanical garden to mark Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee.
In continuation the moat’s long history of it being used for something other than its original purpose – and to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee – 20 million seeds, that included cornflowers, poppies and marigolds, were sown into the Tower’s moat earlier this year (2022) – so that come summer the entire landscape would be rammed with an array of wild flowers – transforming the globally famous 13th Century defence moat into a colourful “Superbloom” – that would also attract pollinators plus other insects and seed eating birds. 
The whole spectacle has been designed by ‘Historic Royal Palaces’ – and the floral display of whites, blues, pinks and oranges follows a path of that weaves its way through this historic site.
It takes about 30/40mins to amble along the path that starts at the main entrance to the Tower and ends just opposite Tower Bridge – and whilst ambling along, you are accompanied by some chilled vibe music coming out of speakers hidden away in the undergrowth. There’s even a four lane Superbloom slide to ride down, if you fancy queuing up with all the school kids. 
The “Superbloom” display will run until September 2022 – by which time most of the blooms would have died off anyway – but it has been decided that this Superbloom display, will now become a permanent annual fixture of the moat – which is great stuff.
Entry to the Superbloom costs about £6 – and is well worth a visit if you are in the vicinity and have an hour to spare – as it’s not every day you get to chance to walk this historic part of the Tower – especially with it looking so magnificently pleasing on the eye. 
After a stroll through the Superbloom, me and my accomplice for the day (eg the good lady wife) – were feeling rather peckish and thirsty, and so made our way to the massive “Liberty Bounds” pub – a Weatherspoon’s, situated just opposite the main entrance to the Tower.
The Liberty Bounds pub is located just outside the boundary of the area, or the “Liberty”, as it is called – that is controlled by the City of London.
The ‘Liberties of the Tower’ or the ‘Tower Liberty’ is actually a small neighbourhood surrounding the Tower of London – and was defined as far back as 1200 when it was created to provide an open area around the Tower to ensure its defensibility. This Liberty was an independent administrative unit from then right up until 1900.
The huge Liberty Bounds Pub building used to be ‘Freight Hall’ an administrative centre for trade, because of its close proximity to the ‘Pool of London’ – once one of the largest and most important trading sites in the world.
This extremely busy pub stands very close to the site of the scaffold where many prisoners from the Tower of London were executed in the 16th and 17th century – and it was an ideal place of interest for Shoes to neck down a couple of ‘cheeky’ ones and have a nosebag – before heading off back home, after an enjoyable little jaunt out.
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See below the entire gallery of photos taken to support this “Superbloom” blog
“Superbloom” in the Tower of London moat – from June to Sept 2022
“Superbloom” is made up of 20 million flower seeds
London Shoes accomplice for the “Superbloom” visit – the good lady wife – Angela
One of the Tower of London’s famous Beefeaters – answering ‘Superbloom’ related questions – deep in the Tower’s globally famous ‘moat’.
Me – amongst the ‘Superblooms’
Shoes accomplice for the day – amongst the ‘Superblooms’ in the Tower’s moat
One of the Tower of London’s famous Beefeaters – providing ‘Superbloom’ info to the many parties of school children walking the ‘Superbloom’ path within the Tower’s moat
Me – & my accomplice – walking the Superbloom path in the Tower of London moat
Some ‘Superbloom’ poppies – in the Tower of London moat – with Tower Bridge in the background
Me & my Shoe’s accomplice for the day – at the conclusion of the Tower’s “Superbloom” path
The “Liberty Bounds” pub – a Weatherspoon’s, situated just opposite the main entrance to the Tower. The Liberty Bounds is located just outside the boundary of the area (or the “Liberty”, as it is called) – that is controlled by the City of London.
Me – necking down a ‘cheeky’ beer in the ‘Liberty Bounds’ pub – just across the road from the Tower of London – following a really enjoyable amble through the “Superbloom” display in the moat of the Tower of London.
Excellent blog Geoff. Some lovely photos and great to your “accomplice” joining you for the stroll through the flowers 👍🏻
Thank you for your kind comments Reggie – hope all is going well in your world, me old mate
Awesome coverage again. Nice to see your lovely accomplice Angela too. Looks fantastic as always
We went there a month ago when it opened and again last week – what a different a month makes!
Great photos Geoff. From certain angles you would think the Tower was in the countryside rather than central London 🤔👍
Bloomin Luvverly!!!
Lovely Geoff! Brilliant photos..x
Beautiful Geoff