Tower of London
The Tower of London is one of Britain's most fascinating treasures -a fact that has little to do with the treasures that are displayed there today. The Tower is nearly 1000 years old, and throughout its millennium of history it has been used for countless purposes: residence, stable, prison and museum. It is still technically regarded as a palace, even though no one has lived here for years. Nowhere else in London will you find such an intimate look at the history of the British Royalty. Or perhaps we should say, at the darker side of British Royalty.

The list of those who have been held as prisoners here is astounding. The tales of revenge, honor, deceit and cruelty are fascinating. You will be well-instructed on your tour by one of the famous "Beefeaters" who have guarded this place for centuries. Of course, Old World meets High Tech at the tower today - everything from a sophisticated system of handling crowds of curious tourists, to the state of the art security that protects the Crown Jewels. At the end of the day tradition wins out, however, with the historic Ceremony of Keys, which you can view for free by making arrangements in advance.