Dover Castle, founded by Henry II in the 1160s, stands on a site fortified since the Iron Age. From Norman keep to Tudor artillery fortress and World War II command centre, it has guarded England’s narrowest frontier for two millennia. Few sites better embody Britain’s defensive history.
While many castles boast a history of kings and queens, the Tower of London has been a royal residence with a difference. Fact and myth intertwine when it comes to the grisly reputation of the Tower. Tales of torture, execution and imprisonment attract those seeking a darker side of British history.