The Tower of London was England's first stone fortress. It has borne witness to some of the most dramatic and gruesome events in British history. Three English Queens were executed on Tower Green and Sir Walter Raleigh, Thomas Moore and Elizabeth I were all imprisoned here.

The fortress dates back to 1067 when William the Conqueror built a simple enclosure. The famous White Tower (named so as it was white-washed inside and out) is now a world-famous landmark on the London skyline. It was completed by William's son Rufus towards the end of the eleventh century.

The present layout of the Tower of London is a fairly accurate representation of how it would have appeared during Edward I's reign. Edward completed the outer curtain wall with its six flanking towers and built a new entrance from the city through Lion Gate on Tower Hill.

A visit to the Tower is a journey through 900 years of royal history. Walk in the footsteps of Edward I and Henry III and visit their sleeping quarters. Take the steps up to Beauchamp Tower and read the inscriptions carved into the wall by the many prisoners held captive here and witness the many armoury displays boasting historical treasures such as Henry VIII's suit of armour.