It is absolutely stunning, with loads of history. Tickets can be bought online from several places or from tourist information sites, so check around for the best deal. Depending on how in-depth you want to explore, allow anywhere from 2 to 3 hours to the entire day for this attraction.

When you first arrive, wait for the next tour by one of the "Beefeaters" to start. If you've come in the middle of one, you will end up at the back and it can be hard to hear and follow. They usually start at least every half- hour, more often during peak season. The Beefeaters are extremely knowledgeable about the history of the tower, and they are not just tour guides, as they actually live at the tower and perform official duties as well.

A tour will take about 1 hour, and then you will be on your own to explore further. It may be a bit hard if anyone in your party has difficulty with stairs or walking long distances, so allow extra time if this is the case. You'll probably want to see the Crown Jewels right after the tour, which takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes, as you're somewhat shuffled through there by moving walkways. It’s still very impressive, though.

Once you've done the tour and seen the jewels, you can safely leave with the knowledge that you've hit the best bits. There is a café if you're feeling a bit peckish, but it is somewhat overpriced and you'd be better off eating outside.

My strong recommendation is to hit this attraction early in the morning and stay for a few hours, and then have a go on the Big Bus Tour (see my entry on that). This way, you can relax a bit on the bus after trooping around the tower all morning, and you'll see most of the major sights and decide what you want to explore further.

The Tower of London was once a royal palace, fortress, prison, armory, and observatory built in 1675.

The oldest building called the White Tower was built in 1078. Here you can see instruments used for tortures and executions.

The entrance fee is $17.25 and, since it was a cold and rainy day in January, it was not overcrowded.

There are one-hour tours conducted by the yeoman wardens (also known as "beefeaters.") They dress in period costumes and are quite knowledgeable on British history.

The Bloody Tower is where Sir Walter Raleigh was imprisoned for 13 years and where the two sons of Edward IV were murdered by Richard III.

Moving on to the Tower Green, there is a plaque to show where both Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard were executed.

In the Jewel House, you will find the Imperial State Crown, known as the Crown Jewels. Made in 1837 for the inauguaration of Queen Victoria, it consists of 300 jewels and the Black Diamond. Queen Elizabeth wears it when she opens Parliament.

You will be moved along when you view this on moving sidewalks and cameras are not allowed.

In some of the towers you can see items preserved such as the King''s throne and a prayer room. There are students of history dressed in period costumes to offer information on the Tower.

The rooms in the Tower are cold and dreary, but make for a fascinatiing tour of what once housed the royal family of England.

As you enter or leave the tower, you may notice the ravens. They are official residents of the Tower and legend says that as long as they remain, the Tower will always stand.

Join one of the tours led by a beefeater, and you'll be in for a campy and morbid, but informative history lesson. After the tour, which recites the history of some of the tower's most famous inmates, you will have the freedom to wander on your own through some of the chambers that display instruments of torture and prison cells.

I came to London with no preconceived ideas whatsoever about this famous sight, so I was nearly overwhelmed upon seeing its size and scope. The only reason I visited was because it was included as part of my tour package, but I was not at all sorry I did! It is a must-see for anyone visiting London, especially if you're a castle lover. More than just the old tower I pictured it to be, the Tower of London has been a fortress on the Thames, a palace, a treasury, and a prison and execution site during its nine + centuries of existence.

Even though I am not particularly a history buff, I enjoyed the adventure of wandering up, down and around the many spiral staircases, hallways and wall walks throughout this network of ancient towers. It gave me the feeling of how it must have been to live in such a long-ago age. We saw rooms of all sizes, armor, weapons, prison cells of both commoners and the gentry, and even a prison privy.
Another interesting section was the crown jewel collection, an awesome sight!

There were many legends and ghostly stories to read about, and probably many more to be told; if your interest and time allow, you might wish to take one of the Beefeaters tours. Also, a sound guide called "Prisoners of the Tower" is available for a small charge. There are a few interesting gift shops—the Tower Shop, the Medieval Palace Shop and the Jewel House Shop—on the premises as well.

As a non-history buff, I was not sure how much I would enjoy touring the Tower of London. Just entering the gate I felt taken in by both its grandness and ‘oldness’. It was quite amazing to consider that I was walking on streets, and visiting building, that were fashioned before my country had even been ‘discovered’! Needless to say, I was very impressed and a little overcome even.We began by visiting the White Tower, the first known building to be considered the Tower of London. Next we moved on to the Jewel House (where the Crown Jewels are kept). I was astounded by the beauty and cost of the scepters and crowns kept there! After seeing the Queen’s crown I really wanted one of my own (if you knew me you’d understand!), I found a small replica in the Jewel House gift shop for £28 and bought it. I then found one similar in the Tower gift shop outside for £9!!! Oh well…We then moved on to the Chapel of St. Peter Ad Vincula, which houses many bodies of Tower prisoners. It was quite interesting and sobering to see the resting places of people like Anne Boleyn, Katherine Howard, Lady Jane Grey, and others I had learned about in British Literature classes. While I understand the reason for no photography in the chapel, it would have been cool to have pictures to show those back home.Outside of the Chapel we saw the Site of the Block. This was where seven famous prisoners (including Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard) were beheaded. I stood wondering how many prisoners peered from windows in the tower watching their peers be put to death and wondering if they were next! Flowers lay in front of the scaffold site and are replaced daily.We found the Bloody Tower to be more personally interesting to us. For thirteen years it housed Sir Walter Raleigh (a man who played a founding part in our state of North Carolina). His ‘room’ is done with period décor and holds many interesting books to explore.On our way out, we went past Traitor’s Gate. Just standing there imagining all of those prisoners being led up those stairs… some to their death… gave me chills. There were some places like this in the Tower where all you wanted to do was just stop and listen and think.Needless to say, I found the Tower quite fascinating and would recommend it as a MUST SEE!!! The admission is a bit steep at about £13 but worth it all the same. Just remember to buy your crown at the Tower gift shop on the way out! 