Tower Of London Poppies Spectacularly Displayed At Dusk As Boris Johnson Fights For Them To Stay

These May Be The Most Stunning Pictures Of The Tower Of London Poppies You'll Ever See

These might be the most magnificent pictures of The Tower Of London poppies you will see before the poignant display is taken down in a week's time.

The breathtaking art project, titled "Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red," has been photographed in all its glory, stunningly lit up at dusk.

The installation brings 888,246 ceramic poppies to the property of Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, but many have been left unhappy that the display will soon be disappearing.

Others, however, have argued that the transience of the artwork is apt, given what it represents.

Appearing like a blood-red moat around the castle, the poppies pay tribute to the Great War's fallen troops and have so far drawn huge crowds who are keen to view the event.

Stunning Pictures Show Swathe Of Poppies Lit Up At Dusk

An online petition has now been set up to keep the poppies at Tower of London, and the memory they evoke, for another year.

Each poppy has been sold to the public, with a share of the proceeds going to six charities - but they are only due to be kept on display until Armistice Day.

If the e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures it will be eligible to be debated in the House of Commons.

Boris Johnson has even waded into the debate and called for the field of ceramic poppies to remain at the Tower beyond Armistice Day.

The London mayor said the huge popularity of the exhibition meant he wanted to explore whether it could be kept at the site for longer than originally planned.

Up to four million people are expected to have visited the installation, Blood Swept Lands And Seas Of Red by ceramic artist Paul Cummins, before it is dismantled on November 12.

Mr Johnson said: "The poppy field at the Tower is a unique and poignant focus of remembrance in this centenary year.

"It has grown rapidly in popularity, to such an extent that it is now a global visitor attraction.

"I'm keen to explore whether we can keep the exhibition open for longer, to give as many people as possible the chance to glimpse something so incredible, whilst easing the pressure on numbers."

A spokeswoman for the mayor said he was in discussion with Historic Royal Palaces, the agency which runs the Tower of London, about extending the exhibition for a further week.

But Historic Royal Palaces said today that it was always the intention to begin sending the poppies - which have been sold to raise cash for charity - to their new owners after Armistice Day on November 11.

A spokeswoman said it has always been intended that the poppies will be in place until November 11 and after this time they will be cleaned and sent out to all those that have purchased them.

"The transience of the installation is key to the artistic concept, with the dispersal of the poppies into hundreds of thousands of homes marking the final phase of this evolving installation," she added.

"We are currently planning further ways in which the Tower of London will be marking the coming years of the centenary and the legacy of the poppies in the moat."

Royal British Legion said it hopes the sale of the poppies - which were available to buy for £25 each - will raise in excess of £15 million.

The public were urged to postpone their visits to the poppy field last week due to overcrowding during the school half-term holiday.

Phil Hufton, London Underground's chief operating officer, said Tower Hill station near the memorial had been "extremely busy" and occasionally the station was being closed on police advice.

Transport for London has urged visitors to the Tower of London to travel to nearby Tube stations Aldgate or Aldgate East or take the DLR to Tower Gateway.

Commuters have also been asked to consider travelling to London Bridge and then walk, cycle or take a bus. Motorists have also been advised not to drive in the area.

See how the poppies were made.

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