Castles in London
There is really only one castle remaining in London, but what a castle! The Tower of London is steeped in history and should be on everyone's 'must-see' list.
The core of this most famous (and infamous) of English castles is the stern, square White Tower, begun by William the Conqueror immediately after his conquest. William wanted a "statement" to intimidate the unruly Londoners, and he got it. 90 feet tall, with walls 15 feet thick and a single door reached by a temporary stair made for strong defenses. The original tower was added to and surrounded by a succession of outer defenses over the centuries. The complex has served as a palace, a treasury, a menagerie, and the royal mint. Sadly, its reputation was made as none of those things, but as the place where important prisoners spent their final days before meeting a bloody end. Give yourself plenty of time; there is a lot to see, and the Tower is generally crowded.
Tower Hill,
London,
Greater London,
England, EC3N 4AB
Heritage Rating: 
Photos
of Tower of London
Nearest: Self Catering
