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The Tower of London is one of the most famous buildings in the world and with over 2.6 million visitors per year, is one of the UK's top 5 attractions.

William I of England (better known as William the Conqueror 1066-87) began building a castle, which was to be a forerunner to the Tower of London, on the north bank of the river Thames in London, only three months after conqeuring the Anglo-Saxons. It began life as a simple timber and earth enclosure tucked in the south-east angle formed by the joining of the original east and south stone walls of the old Roman town of Londinium Augusta.

The White Tower was added later and was then known as The Great Tower. Additional towers, buildings and walkways were added over the Tower of London's 900 year life to make it suitable for use as a castle, fortress, prison, palace, and as we know it today; a museum.

The Crown Jewels have been on public display at the Tower of London since the 17th century in a number of locations including the Martin Tower and the Wakefield Tower. Today they are housed in the Waterloo Barracks.

Attractions near Tower Of London include Watford, HMS Belfast at Southwark, Design Museum near Southwark, Tower Bridge at Southwark, Winston Churchills Britain At War Museum near London, Bank Of England Museum at London, Whitechapel Art Gallery near London.