Tower of London

Built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror, the Tower is the current home of the Crown Jewels, but ou'll have to visit in person to see this royal exhibit as no photography was allowed this highly-secured portion of the castle. You are free to walk the grounds and tour the restored royal palace at your own pace. The original fortress was completed by King Edward I in the late 1200's with successive kings fortifying the structures and expanding the complex to make additional space for soldiers servants and nobles. Audio tours are available, be we opted for a tour led by one of the traditionally-dressed Beefeaters who gave us a history of the palace and details of the many historic events that occurred there -- from coronations, to executions, to the signing of the Magna Carta. Our guide was a jolly chap and peppered our tour with humor making it entertaining and not just a dry history lesson.

Soldiers guard the entrance to the Crown Jewels - a lot for show but the guns were real.

Our Beefeater tour guide. All Beefeaters must be retired military personnel with at least 20 years active duty and a retiring rank of at least Sergeant Major. One of their perks is that they get to live on-site.

Changing of the guard at the entrance to the Crown Jewels -- a very pompous ceremony, designed for the tourists.

This ornately decorated five and a half ton canon was built in the Low Countries in 1607 by the Knights of Maltra. It was brought to England in the 1800's.

Great displays of the massive armour collection housed at the Tower.

Saint John's Chapel inside one of the Tower's many towers.

It is hard to grasp that kings and knights once walked these very corridors.