Next drive by on the bus tour was the Tower of London. The Tower of London is home to the Crown Jewels and is still a royal palace although it is not a royal residence. It was built by William the Conqueror in the 1070s as a fortress and was a luxurious royal palace before it became a prison and site of executions where traitors were hung, drawn and quartered. It also where many of King Henry the 8ths wives were executed for adultery, including Anne Boleyn. The palm trees are the site of the original execution spot.
After you were executed your head would be placed on a spike on London Bridge and the rest of your body was sent around the country. Everyone who came to London had to cross London Bridge to get into the city and it served as a warning to all who entered of what happened to traitors who challenged the king.
We crossed Tower Bridge over the Thames for a great view of the skyline behind us (sorry on the other side of the bus so no picture!).
The Shard is the tallest building in Western Europe.
In the river is the HMS Belfast, a retired warship that served in D-day. It is now a museum.
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