Tower of London

Overview

The Tower of London is a massive, fiercely intimidating 1,000-year-old fortress plunged deeply into the center of modern London. It is a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage site possessing an incredibly dark, blood-soaked history as a royal palace, a brutal prison, and an execution site.

Highlights

• The Crown Jewels: The staggeringly opulent, heavily guarded collection of exactly 23,578 deeply precious gemstones, including the legendary, massive Cullinan I diamond.
• The White Tower: The intimidating, utterly impenetrable original central keep built by William the Conqueror, currently housing an incredible, sprawling collection of royal armor.
• The Yeoman Warders: The famous "Beefeaters" who flawlessly lead highly entertaining, wonderfully macabre guided tours revealing the castle's darkest, most violent secrets.

History

Founded firmly in 1066 by William the Conqueror explicitly to violently subdue and terrorize the hostile citizens of London. Over the centuries, it functioned dynamically as a royal residence and a notorious prison where high-profile figures like Anne Boleyn, Sir Thomas More, and Guy Fawkes were brutally imprisoned and executed within its thick stone walls.

Visitor Tips

• The Crown Jewels Queue: The line to see the jewels can become impossibly, frustratingly long by midday. Absolutely sprint there immediately when the gates open deeply early in the morning.
• The Ravens: Notice the resident ravens fiercely guarding the grounds; legendary superstition dictates that if they ever leave, the tower and the kingdom will completely fall.