“Today’s the day: we’re lowering the drawbridge,” the Tower of London announced on Twitter on Friday, July 10, as it reopened for the first time since the pandemic struck. “We’re delighted to be open once again. We can’t wait to welcome you back, and as a self-funded charity we’ve never needed your support more,” the message continued. The tower's red-clad Beefeaters were on hand to welcome guests back, with a few additional additional safety measures in place. Tickets for the attraction can now only be booked in advance, in accordance with timed entry slots. Reduced capacity is being implemented to allow visitors to keep a distance of 2 metres from each other, and there are "hygiene standards fit for a king or queen with enhanced cleaning regimes", according to the tower's website. The 1,000 year old fortress, where Henry VIII's second wife Anne Boleyn was famously executed, had been closed since the end of March.