What can you say? The Tower is one of London's top attractions, and for good reason. There is so much history to explore. It's well worth it to arrive early in the day to avoid crowds. On a related note, you'll want to visit the Crown Jewels early to avoid the crush. There are also tours available and these are very interesting. Wear comfortable walking shoes!

Tantalize a visitor with tales of intrigue and torture, throw in a dash or two of grisly humor now and then, and later let the visitor be dazzled by a circuitous display of some of the largest, most splendid jeweled items in the world -- such is the "recipe" for entertaining history presented at the Tower of London. Our tall, violently red-haired Scotsman Beefeater guide was excellent; by the luck of timing, as we arrived just before the site opened, we drew a real ham, an actor with relish for his job, whose sense of dramatic emphasis was impeccable. What a weaver of tower tales he was!

Our son on his first visit to London followed most of our recommendations; his first stop was THE tower, which he could have walked to, across the Tower Bridge, from where we were staying in South Bank, in about an hour. But, he took the Tube to Tower station, of course. What fascinated him (ex-"Dungeons and Dragons" player) most about this storied landmark? The ancient weapons in the Armory, the walls, especially of the Norman White Tower, perforated at crucial points by slits, the immense expanse of this impressive fortress- sometimes it was even the home of monarchs who imprisoned rebellious subjects expeditiously within its confines, and, if needed, signed royal writs of execution that ended their subjects’sinister sojourns here.

Within its impressive precincts, the royal wives Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, out of favor with King Henry VIII, (at different times, of course), died on the block. The Tour includes Sir Walter Raleigh’s cell, and that of Sir Thomas More, the "Man for all Seasons", the Lord Chancellor who dared to question King Henry VIII’s divorce, and paid for his dissent with his life. The Beefeaters relay tales of the "nine-day queen" Lady Jane Grey and her husband, Dudley, who lost their young, ambitious lives, and of the young nephews of Richard III, rumored to have been dispatched as obstacles to Richard’s kingly ambitions, as well as those about the ill-fated Mary Queen of Scots, so reluctantly executed by Elizabeth I.

Today, the splendid Yeomans of the Guard, the "Beefeaters," conduct their daily tours of about an hour, from 9:30am to 3:30pm, with this plethora of historic horrors to relate. Afterwards, visitors can gape as they glimpse Victoria’s Imperial State Crown, worn by the current monarch when she opens Parliament, the 530 carat Star of Africa that embellishes the Royal Sceptre with Cross, and other dazzlers as they whiz by the gems on their (the visitors’, not the jewels’) moving walk. No lollygagging here!

No visit is complete without seeing the six ravens whose presence mythically "guarantees" the existence of the Tower. Indeed, the ravens are prisoners; their wings are clipped to prevent escape. Although pricey, the Tower is definitely worth the visit, our tightwad son felt. For families, it’s still only 34 pounds, cheaper than admissions to many American amusement parks.

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.

If you''ve ever sat thorugh somebody else''s pictures of their vacation in Britain, you''ve doubtless seen pictures of The Tower of London (or, more correctly, Her Majesty''s Royal Palace and Fortress, The Tower of London, as one of the Yeoman Warders who guide you through the Tower will inform you). It seems to be a required visit for anyone who sets foot in the UK.

Unsurprisingly, it''s usually busy with tourists. Surprisingly, it''s actually worth braving them to see what''s inside.

Your admission fee entitles you to a tour with one of the Yeoman Warders (a.k.a. Beefeaters), who were probably featured in those vacation pictures. They give an amusing and informative tour of the Tower that lasts about 45 minutes. The Warders both take you to some of the Tower''s more notable areas --the spot where Anne Boleyn was executed, for instance -- and will point out others, like the famous Bloody Tower, that you can explore on your own.

You''ll learn all sorts of cocktail party trivia with which to amaze your friends, like the strange story of the Duke of Monmouth''s portrait. (Sorry, you''ll just have to go and take the tour to hear it.)

Once the tour is over, check out the Crown Jewels, housed in the aptly named Jewel Tower. Ride by on the conveyor belt (no, I''m not kidding) and hear the same comments that have doubtless echoed through the Tower since the Jewels first went on display -- "Are those real?" "No, they can''t be. They''ve gotta be fake . . ."

The Bloody Tower is also interesing -- it contains both a suite of rooms that Sir Walter Raleigh stayed in during his imprisonment (not too shabby) and a copy of the book he began while in the Tower (but never completed), his History of the World.

Before you leave the Tower, be sure to follow the stairs to the right of Traitor''s Gate. They lead to the Medieval Palace exhibit, which both documents how archaeologists found evidence of the Tower''s medieval palace rooms and decoration, and contains several rooms that show what the Tower may have been like in the 13th century.

As a bonus, when you leave the Medieval Palace rooms, there''s a great view of Tower Bridge -- be sure to snap a picture.

The best time of day to go is the morning. It''s less crowded, and if you go, as I always do, first thing after you get off your overnight flight, it has the merit of being outside. This helps keep your jetlagged body awake until you can get into your hotel room or hostel in the afternoon.

Admission isn''t cheap at £12 per adult, but if you search the web you can often find deals (especially in the off-season), which provide 2-for-1 admission. (Check out the London Underground, which ran such a promotion in 2002/2003.)

There are also discounted student tickets available if you have an ISIC card -- you may be able to get in on a regular US college ID, as my friend did, but I wouldn''t bank on it.

If you can only pick on thing to see in London, you should choose the Tower of London tour. Each tour is led by a Yeoman Warder (Beefeater) who brings tales of history to life as he leads you through the tower. Make sure to see the Crown Jewels while here too - they are truly breathtaking. Admission is very reasonable and you get a discount if you have a Youth or Student Travel card.