In Shakespeare's day, Londoners believed Julius Caesar built the Tower of London. He didn't, but the myth tells you how ancient the place has always felt. William the Conqueror raised it after 1066 to control the Thames and remind the city who was boss.

Since then, the Tower has been a palace, prison, armoury, mint, and menagerie. Henry III kept a polar bear here, a gift from Norway, that fished for salmon in the river. The Duke of Clarence was reportedly drowned in a barrel of wine within these walls. Two young princes vanished here, almost certainly murdered by their uncle. Anne Boleyn was executed inside, too important to die in public.

VoiceMap's self-guided audio tours place the Tower in its wider context, connecting it to London's Roman ruins, medieval lanes, and riverside history at your own pace.