William the Conqueror began building the White Tower in 1078 and was the first of 10 kings to occupy it. Since the mid-1500s, kings and queens have lived at Buckingham Palace, ending the Tower of London's function as a royal residence.
The White Tower was the first building constructed, with the entire structure completed in 1097. The complex consists of a moat surrounding two circular walls of defense, which shield the central buildings.
The first prisoner at the Tower of London was a bishop found guilty of extortion in 1100. The complex housed a prison on and off until 1952. During this long period, both public and private executions took place.
The beefeaters, as they are nicknamed, are the royal guards of the Tower of London. To serve in this post, an applicant must have at least 22 years of honorable armed-service experience.
The Jewel House at the Tower of London houses the Crown Jewels, which are regularly displayed for the public to view and guarded by the yeomen warders.
