Tower Of London Tourist Guide - London

The Tower Of London is not only one of the iconic landmarks of the capital city of England, but also a place that enjoys a rich, long, and often dark history. Often referred to simply as The Tower, this is a place that should be visited by anyone with an interest in history. The Tower of London enjoys a central location in London, and is located on the north banks of the River Thames, making it easy and convenient to get to.

The Tower of London has been used for many purposes, and this includes as a royal palace, a fortress, and a prison for high profile prisoners such as royalty. The Tower has been the site where people have been tortured, executed, and imprisoned, and has also been a treasury, an armory, an observatory, and a mint. Since the 1300s it has been home to England's Crown Jewels. However, the Tower will probably be best remembered by most for its more macabre uses.

Founded in 1078 by William the Conqueror, the walls of the Tower have many tales to tell, and those interested in learning more about the history of this fascinating landmark will be thrilled when they visit. This is a place that is shrouded with myth and legend, as well as the macabre, but has also enjoyed a lighter and more simplistic history from the days that it was used for various other purposes such as an armory or mint.

Many high profile prisoners have been held in the Tower of London, including a variety of Royals, Sir Walter Raleigh, Guy Fawkes, and most recently the notorious London gangsters, the Kray twins. There have also been a number of executions at the tower, including Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, and Lady Jane Grey. Indeed, the ghost of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, is said to still haunt the Tower.  

Despite its dark history, the Tower of London remains a royal palace in nature, and because of this is still guarded by sentries during the hours that it is open. This is a truly fascinating place to visit for those visiting London, and is an attraction that should definitely be added to your itinerary if you really want to delve into the rich history that this city enjoys. The original Norman White Tower that was ordered by William the Conqueror still stands at the centre of the Tower of London, and there are also thirteen other towers in the curtain wall that defends the inner ward. The Tower has been home to the Crown Jewels since 1303 after a robbery from their last location, which was Westminster Abbey - most of the jewels are said to have been recovered after the incident.

You can enjoy taking a guided tour of the Tower of London when you visit this city, and this is an excellent way to make the most of your visit to this attraction and to really learn about the rich and diverse past of the Tower.