TOWER OF LONDON
The Americana Hotel is an ideal base from which to visit the Tower of London. Take the Circle Line from platform 5 at Baker Street station directly to Tower Hill underground station. The entrance to the Tower is right next to the exit from the station.
The Tower of London is a landmark in central London-in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets-just outside the City of London.
The White Tower, the square building with turrets on each corner that gave it its name, is actually in the middle of a complex of several buildings along the River Thames in London, which have served as fortresses, armories, treasuries, zoos/menageries, mints, palaces, places of execution, public records offices, observatories, shelters, and prisons (particularly for upper class prisoners). This last use has led to the phrase "sent to the Tower" meaning "imprisoned". One well known example was Elizabeth I who was imprisoned for a time in the Tower during her sister Mary's reign.
According to Shakespeare, in his play Richard III, the Tower of London was built by Julius Caesar. This supposed Roman origin is, however, just a myth. Its true foundation was in 1078 when William the Conqueror ordered the White Tower to be built.
Lower-class criminals were usually executed by hanging at one of the public execution sites outside the Tower. Several high-profile convicts, such as Thomas More, were publicly executed on Tower Hill. Nobles (especially ladies) were sometimes beheaded privately on Tower Green, inside the complex, and then buried in the "Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula".
The Queen Anne Boleyn, beheaded in 1536 for treason against King Henry VIII, is said to be occasionally seen walking around the tower carrying her head under her arm.
Crown Jewels
The Crown Jewels have been kept at the Tower of London since 1303 after they were stolen from Westminster Abbey. The Crown Jewels are kept in a part of the Tower known as Jewel House, where armed guards defend them.