Which of these famous landmarks once served as a prison?

Which of these famous landmarks once served as a prison?

The correct answer is The Tower of London. Built in the late 11th century by William the Conqueror, the Tower of London has served many purposes over its 900-year history — including a royal residence, armory, treasury, menagerie, and most famously, a prison.

From the 12th century onward, the Tower became synonymous with political imprisonment. It held monarchs, nobles, and traitors alike — from Anne Boleyn and Sir Thomas More to Guy Fawkes and even Elizabeth I before she became queen. Prisoners were often brought through the Traitors’ Gate from the River Thames, and many were executed on the nearby Tower Green or Tower Hill.

The Tower’s grim reputation was immortalized in British folklore, yet its historical significance extends beyond its dungeons. It has also safeguarded the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom since the 1600s, making it a powerful symbol of monarchy and endurance.

Today, the Tower of London is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Britain’s most visited landmarks, attracting over three million visitors a year who come to explore its haunting past and see the legendary Yeoman Warders (Beefeaters) who still guard it.

Fun fact: The Tower even held two ravens during wartime, following the superstition that “if the ravens ever leave the Tower, the kingdom will fall.”