
The Tower of London, an imposing fortress was built around the White Tower (the massive keep at its heart) by William " the Conqueror". Successive monarchs enlarged its defences and added more buildings. In its long history, the Tower of London has been a fortress, palace and prison, royal treasury and the kingdom's main arsenal.
The evidence for the use of the Tower as a prison is plentiful, many of the towers have inscriptions carved by former inmates. Persons beheaded inside the Tower for treason include the following William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings (1483), Anne Boleyn (1536), Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury (1541), Catherine Howard (1542), Jane Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford (1542), Lady Jane Grey (1554) and Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (1601). Not surprisingly, the Tower of London has the reputation of being the place most frequently haunted in London
State prisoners were usually admitted through Traitors' Gate in St. Stephens Tower and executions took place on Tower Hill and inside the Tower on Tower Green.
Although it is no longer occupied by the Royal Family, the Tower officially remains a royal residence and as such, maintains a permanent Guard. Two sentries are maintained during the hours that the Tower is open with one stationed outside the Jewel House and one outside the Queen's House.
Henry VIII was the last monarch to use the Tower as a royal residence but monarchs continued to go in procession from the Tower to Westminster for their coronation. This tradition continued until 1661 after the coronation of Charles II.
The tower is manned by the Yeomen Warders (known as Beefeaters), who act as tour guides, provide security and are something of a tourist attraction in their own right. Every evening, the warders participate in the Ceremony of the Keys, as the Tower is secured for the night.
The Tower is located at the eastern boundary of the City of London financial district, adjacent to the River Thames and Tower Bridge.
Open 9 am-6 pm Mon-Sat, 10 am-6 pm Sun. Nov-Feb: 9 am-5pm Tues-Sat, 10 am-5 pm Sun and Mon.
The nearest public transport locations are: Tower Hill tube station (London Underground District and Circle lines), Tower Gateway DLR station (Docklands Light Railway), Fenchurch Street railway station (National Rail), Tower Millennium Pier (River cruise boats) and St. Katherine's Dock (Thames Clipper commuter boats).