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The Magic City of London

The list of appealing sites is almost endless but many people believe one of the most popular attractions if not the most popular is the Tower of London. Most visitors would probably agree that one can almost feel the history in its stones. Over the years, the Tower of London has served as a fortress, a prison and also a palace. It is believed that the construction of the Tower was begun by William the Conqueror following the Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest in 1066. The Tower was then later completed by William II. This ancient Tower, situated close to the River Thames, is steeped in fascinating history. The Tower is actually a complex of different buildings that are surrounded by walls and a moat, that were originally built as a means of defense.

Did you know that the Tower of London is the place where many people were executed? It sounds rather gruesome, but once upon a time, that was how the country was run. There were also famous historical figures that were executed in the Tower, such as Anne Boleyn (one of Henry VIII's wives) and Lady Jane Grey. This is also the place where Guy Fawkes, who had plans to blow up the Parliament, was interrogated. It is perhaps interesting to note that even today each year on November 5th bonfire night figures of Guy Fawkes are still placed on top of bonfires and burned.

In order to provide a balance for the information regarding beheadings, thoughts of jewels are probably appropriate. It may perhaps be surprising to note that one of the main reasons for the majority of visitors to the Tower of London is a wish to see the Crown Jewels. The White Tower used to be the home of these jewels until they were almost stolen in 1671 by Thomas Blood and his associates. At the last moment the plan was foiled and the Crown Jewels were fortunately kept safely at the Tower of London. They are today housed in the Jewel House at the Tower of London, which was opened by the Queen in 1994. This glittering collection that includes crowns, scepters, pearls and diamonds is on display and now remains under armed guard.

Tower Bridge

The Tower Bridge was built at a later stage. It took eight years and the hard work of 432 laborers to build the bridge and it was completed in 1894. The positioning of the bridge meant that large ships would not be able to pass under a standard bridge in order to enter the port. Due to this challenge, the Tower Bridge consists of a regular roadway that by the use of a traffic light system for cars and pedestrians opens up rather like a drawbridge of a castle. The Tower Bridge has an exhibition of its own which demonstrates the story and the fascinating history of the bridge.

Accommodation in the city of London has a reputation of being rather expensive. However, it should be noted that there are several different types of holiday accommodation available, whether it may be a hotel room, hostel or guest house. The choice is yours and the choice is certainly there.

London is a great place to visit offering a wide range of different sites and forms of entertainment. Out of all the options for tourists, the Tower of London is definitely one that should not be missed.

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