by Emily Ser

Created on: March 15, 2007   Last Updated: April 17, 2007

The Tower of London is famous because it houses the Crown Jewels of England. Many other things have occurred on this site throughout history, however, and each building houses a museum to commemorate this. One tower educates the visitor on torture methods the English employed against prisoners throughout its history. Another houses historical rifles, ammunition, and military uniforms.

King Charles II believed that if the ravens left, the kingdom would fall. He decried that ravens be kept at the Tower of London always, so today they are tagged and restricted to the grounds.

To see the Crown Jewels, one must wait in long line, not much shorter than the lines for popular roller coasters at Busch Gardens. A video plays in an attempt to distract the visitor from the hours he must stand in line. When his turn comes to see the jewels, he steps onto a conveyor belt and is rushed through his viewing. Unless you have a particular interest in crowns or the cutting of precious and semiprecious stones, this is a waste of a day in a city filled with so many wonderful things to do.

My advice: Do not spend the money on the entrance fee to the Tower of London but do go see the area surrounding it, including the Tower Bridge.

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