8 Secrets of the Tower of London

Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London has guarded the River Thames since the 12th century. High-profile figures such as Anne Boleyn were imprisoned and executed behind its walls. 

Hundreds of years after its founding, the former royal residence and notorious prison now teems with tourists, not enemies of the monarchy. There, in addition to famous sites like the Crown Jewels, in-the-know visitors will find pockets of peculiarities waiting among the more popular attractions. From the ravens that legend says will keep Britain from falling to a 700-year-old nightly lock-up ceremony, here are eight secrets of the Tower of London.