This is the Tower of London, commissioned by William the Conqueror soon after the Norman Conquest. Having seized the English throne, he wanted a mighty fortress to control London, protect the nearby river, and remind his new subjects who was in charge. Over the centuries, the Tower served as a royal palace where monarchs stayed before their coronations, a prison for nobles and queens accused of treason, and an execution site where figures such as Anne Boleyn and Lady Jane Grey met their end. It also housed the Royal Mint, where England's coins were produced for centuries, an arsenal storing the kingdom's weapons, and even a royal menagerie filled with exotic animals presented as gifts to the Crown. Today, the Tower is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the priceless Crown of King Charles the Second, the Scepter of King Edward the Confessor, and the Koh-i-Noor diamond, which was once the largest diamond in the world. Do you see that arched doorway to your right? Beyond it is a low, dark archway at the water's edge, with a heavy grille. That is Traitors' Gate. Prisoners accused of treason were rowed here in silence and brought in through this arch, often on their way to lose their heads. One of the Tower's most famous prisoners was the young Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen Elizabeth the First. In the mid-sixteenth century, her half-sister, Queen Mary the First, ordered her arrest after Wyatt's Rebellion, a failed uprising against Mary's planned marriage to the Catholic Prince Philip of Spain. Although there was no proof Elizabeth had taken part, Mary feared she might become the focus of future Protestant rebellions. Elizabeth was brought here by barge to avoid any rescue attempt. She reportedly refused to step ashore, declaring, "I am no traitor." After nearly two months in captivity, no evidence against her was found, and she was released. Just four years later, she became Queen of England and began one of Britain's greatest reigns. If you want to go inside the Tower of London and see the Crown Jewels and the whole complex, you will need a ticket. If you enter, opt for a guided tour with one of the Yeoman Warders, also known as "Beefeaters," who are the ceremonial guardians of the Tower. They'll tell you all about the history of the Tower and its famous inhabitants. Inside these walls live the famous ravens, and here the legend is officially maintained. Six ravens are kept at all times, plus a spare, tended by a Yeoman Warder with the marvellous job title of Ravenmaster. The belief is that if the ravens ever leave the Tower, the Tower and the kingdom itself will fall. So they are cared for devotedly, and fed, among other things, on bread soaked in blood, called raven bread. And here’s a caper to rival any today. Long ago, Colonel Thomas Blood very nearly stole the Crown Jewels straight out of this fortress. He was caught, flattening the crown to hide it and sawing at the sceptre to fit it in a bag. Surprisingly, rather than being executed, Blood talked his way to a royal pardon and a pension. Now, let’s move on to the finale of this tour. Follow the map to get there.