
Tower of London served historically as a royal palace, a political prison, a place of execution, an arsenal, a royal mint, a menagerie, and a public records office. It is located on the north bank of the River Thames.
It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest. The White Tower was established by William the Conqueror in 1078 and was a resented symbol of domination, inflicted upon London by the new ruling elite. The castle was also used as a prison from during the centuries.
A curious fact is that the kingdom and the Tower of London will fall if the six resident ravens, which live there, ever leave the fortress.
The fortress was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988