Tower of London

The site of political scheming, bloody beheadings, and the home of the Crown Jewels, the Tower of London is a terrific place to spend a fascinating - and slightly eerie - day.
There's plenty to explore here at the Tower of London. It's been, at various times, the royal residence, mint, menagerie, armory, observatory and as the holding place for the Crown Jewels - a function it still serves.
You'll obviously want to check out all that royal bling, but there's plenty more besides.
The White Tower holds, among much else, Henry VIII's XXXL suit of armor in the Royal Armories collection. St John's Chapel, on the first floor, dates back to 1080, making it the oldest church in London!
The best way to get oriented is to take a tour with one of the Yeoman Warders. These men and women (popularly known as 'Beefeaters') have been guarding the tower for hundreds of years. Their 60-minute tours leave every half hour from the main entrance.
Be prepared for tales of intrigue, imprisonment, execution, torture and other gruesome thrills.