Founded in 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England, the Tower of London has seen plenty of ups and downs in the years since. It has fulfilled a number of roles (including a stint as a zoo, of all things), but it is perhaps best known for the more gruesome elements of its history. The Tower acted as a prison for many years, and a host of notable Brits spent time in its dank cells, among them Elizabeth ! and Sir Walter Raleigh, and is famous for being a place of torture, death and despair. Sounds like the perfect tourist attraction to us.