Overview
At its heart stands the White Tower, the Norman stone keep from which the whole castle takes its name, ringed by later walls and towers built out to the river over the following centuries. It has housed the Royal Mint, the royal menagerie, and, since the 17th century, the Crown Jewels.
Description
For centuries it was a state prison and place of execution; Anne Boleyn and many others were held or died there. Guarded by the Yeomen Warders and its resident ravens, it became a symbol of royal power and, later, of the nation’s history.
History and legacy
The Tower of London is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Britain’s most visited monuments, still home to the Crown Jewels. It stands as an emblem of nearly a thousand years of English history.