The Tower of London is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central
London. It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England.
The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror
in 1078. The castle was used as a prison from 1100 until 1952, although that was not its
primary purpose. A grand palace early in its history, it served as a royal residence. As
a whole, the Tower is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings
of defensive walls and a moat.
The Tower of London has played a prominent role in English history. It was besieged several
times and controlling it has been important to controlling the country. The Tower has
served variously as an armoury, a treasury, a menagerie, the home of the Royal Mint, a
public records office, and the home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.
The peak period of the castle's use as a prison was the 16th and 17th centuries, when many
figures who had fallen into disgrace were held within its walls. This use has led to
the phrase "sent to the Tower". In the First and Second World Wars, the Tower was again
used as a prison, and witnessed the executions of 12 men for espionage. After the Second
World War, damage caused during the Blitz was repaired and the castle reopened to the public.
Today the Tower is one of the world's most famous and spectacular fortresses. Discover
its 900-year history as a royal palace and fortress, prison and place of execution, mint,
arsenal, menagerie and jewel house. The Tower contains enough buildings and exhibits to
keep a family busy for a full day, with plenty of both warlike and domestic contents.