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Throughout its history, the tower was used to imprison a lot of prisoners.

There were two princes who were imprisoned, Edward and Richard, ages 12 and 9, who were the sons of Edward IV (died in 1483).

Two of Henry VIII’s wives, Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard, were both imprisoned and later executed.

Another notable prisoner was Guy Fawkes, who in 1605 attempted to blow up the House of Lords and the monarch by detonating gunpowder in the cellars below. He was imprisoned in the tower and tortured.

The history of torture at the Tower of London is a popular subject but for many historian the majority of the prisoners, particularly those of noble birth, were treated well.

In the late 18th and 19th centuries, the tower was used less commonly for prisoners. The last prisoner of note to spend time in the tower was Rudolf Hess, Hitler’s deputy, who fled to Scotland in 1941 and was sent to the tower briefly until he was transferred.

Today, the crown jewels are one of the most popular attractions at the Tower of London. The jewels include the crowns worn by the monarch at coronation and at the opening of Parliament.

The use of the tower as a repository for royal treasure began in earnest in 1303, when a number of treasures were stolen from the Abbey of St. Peter at Westminster. The remaining treasures were brought to the tower, which was the most heavily fortified spot in London, for safekeeping. A new jewel house was built against the south side of the White Tower in 1508.

Much of the royal regalia were destroyed in the mid-17th century when England became a republic for a brief time. “The oldest piece of the Regalia that « surviving today » is from the 12th century

The tower also contains an impressive collection of armor, which is a treasure unto itself.

The bearded Yeoman Warders, also called “Beefeaters,” guard the tower today.

First mentioned about 500 years ago the Warders “or ‘Waiters,’ as they were often referred to, formed and acted likely a friendly society, sharing, by way of dividends, the rewards of their official and unofficial duties.

A group of captive ravens lives at the tower, cared for by the Yeoman Warder Ravenmaster. A legend says that the tower and the monarchy will fall if the six ravens ever leave the fortress.  The group of ravens at the Tower comprises at least seven individuals (six required, with a seventh in reserve).

Charles II is said to have been the first monarch to insist that the ravens be protected.

The history of the tower as an attraction goes back at least as early as the 17th century when the “Line of Kings” exhibition was first set up. The tower had other attractions that drew non-military visitors to it. For instance, the royal menagerie, in essence an early zoo, had a wide range of animals until it was closed in 1835, including lions, an ostrich and even a polar bear.

These animals were given as gifts to various monarchs.

The tower’s history as a prison for some of England’s most famous individuals attracted visitors.

In the 19th century, the tower’s medieval history so intrigued England that the tower was “restored” in such a way that its medieval aspects were magnified.

Today, the Tower of London is one of the most famous castles in the world and is now a World Heritage Site attracting more than 2 million visitors a year. The main threat to the site today is not falling bombs (bomb damage happened during World War II) but rather the exhaust of cars. It’s a problem that threatens to turn the White Tower into a yellow color.

Underneath, an interesting movie that talk about the different aspect of the Tower of London