Tower of London

Located on the north bank of the River Thames in the extreme western portion of the borough of Tower Hamlets, on the border with the City of London. It dates from the reign of William the Conqueror in the 11th century and in the past 900 years it has been as a fortress, royal palace, zoo, state prison, place of execution, arsenal, royal mint, and public records office. The central keep is the White Tower; it is surrounded by 2 'curtains' and a moat. The inner curtain has thirteen towers, of which the best known are the Bloody Tower, the Beauchamp Tower, and the Wakefield Tower. Sir Thomas More, Anne Boleyn, and Lady Jane Grey were among those executed here. Black ravens (with clipped wings) live at the tower and the tradition dating back to Charles II (reigned 1660-1685) says that if they ever leave, the kingdom will fall. The British crown jewels and regalia are kept at the Tower.