 On our first day in London,
we visited the Tower of London, which was originally built as a symbol of
authority by William the Conqueror in 1078, but later served as a prison and
place of execution for many famous people. Henry VIII married his
second wife Anne Boleyn at the Tower of London, and later executed her
there. Queen Elizabeth I was imprisoned in the Tower by her
half-sister Queen Mary (as depicted in the movie Elizabeth). The Crown
Jewels of England, including the world's largest diamond (The Cullinan I,
which is 530.20 carats), are stored here.
During our visit, we listened to the audio tour which described many of the stories surrounding the Tower. The narration made the visit much more interesting because it was informative, and delivered in a very British deadpan style. If you visit, you should strongly consider the audio tour. Among the highlights of the tour were the chopping block upon which Anne Boleyn was beheaded, the display of the Crown Jewels and the Ravens.
Just outside of the Tower of London is the Tower Bridge. Here's a picture of Agnes in front of the Tower Bridge:
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The Tower of London
Around the Tower,
one can find six large ravens. A local legend says that as long as the
ravens reside at the Tower, it will not fall. These days, the ravens
are cared for by one of the Tower Wardens called the Raven Master, who feeds
them and keeps their wings clipped to prevent them from flying away. The ravens really add to the wet,
gloomy atmosphere of the place.