The notorious tower on the banks of the river Thames dates back to 1066 and the reign of William the Conqueror. William ordered the construction of the White Tower to protect London from invaders and serve as a spot to imprison his enemies.

The Circus in Piccadilly Circus refers to a simple circle -- as in traffic circle. The London landmark in the city's West End joins Regent St, Haymarket, Coventry St and Shaftesbury Ave.

The London Eye became the largest observation wheel in the world when it opened in 2000. The developers were originally given a 5-year permit, but it was expanded to 24 years in 2003.

With 32 cars carrying 25 people per car, the London Eye takes around 15,000 people each day soaring over the streets of London.

The Neolithic structure in southern England consists of around 100 stones. Scientists don't know exactly why it was built, but they do believe that it took around 1,500 years to construct.

Frustrated by the crowds at Stonehenge? Wish you could actually touch the stones instead of viewing them from a distance? Avebury is just 17 miles down the road from Stonehenge, and is older and larger than the more famous Stonehenge.

Big Ben rang out for the first time on May 31, 1859. The bell worked for two months before breaking and went silent for three more years before it was repaired.

The name Big Ben once referred only to the bell within St. Stephen's Tower, but is now used to refer to the entire bell tower and clock.

Made up of thousands of basalt columns rising from the ground thanks to ancient volcanoes, Northern Ireland's Giant's Causeway is one of Europe's most impressive natural wonders. Rumor has it that an Irish giant named Finn McCool created the stones during a battle with a Scottish giant.

Windsor Castle has served as the family home and official residence of the royal family for more than 1,000 years. Queen Elizabeth splits her time between Windsor, Buckingham Palace and her home in Scotland.

If you want to see Windsor Castle, you'll have to head out of the city. The Castle sits about an hour west of London in the county of Berkshire.

At around 1,000 feet high, the Shard is London's tallest habitable building. The tallest British building outside of London is Beetham Tower, which is located in Manchester.

After breaking ground in 2009, crews took just three years to build the Shard. The mixed-used tower, which extends into the sky like a shard of glass sticking out of the ground, is also known as London Bridge Tower thanks to its location next to the famous bridge.

Work on the Royal Albert Hall slowed after Prince Albert's death in 1861. To honor him, the name of the venue was changed from Central Hall to the Royal Albert Hall and construction began in earnest after Queen Victoria placed the cornerstone in 1867.

The crown jewels are stored at the Tower of London and are on display for the public to view -- except when in use by the royal family. One piece of the collection, a coronation spoon, is more than 800 years old.

Though 3,300 people, including 17 monarchs, are buried in the Abbey, it's more than just a tomb. It's been the site of royal coronations since 1066.

The Collegiate Church of St. Peter may have a humble name, but the gothic structure is one of London's most impressive sites.

The famous lake sits just outside of Inverness, Scotland. It may not actually contain a monster, but it's still worth a visit. Not only is it the largest freshwater body in all of Britain, but it's nestled among the beautiful backdrop of the Scottish Highlands.

Henry VIII used the land as his private hunting ground. It wasn't until 1637 that the land was opened for all to enjoy.

Queen Caroline added the artificial body of water known as the Serpentine in the 1730s. Today, brave swimmers take a dip into the area of the lake known as the Serpentine Lido, which is fed from bore holes beneath Hyde Park.

Trafalgar Square was officially named in 1830 and provided a way for people to travel from Charing Cross to Portland Place. Today, it's a popular landmark in London as well as the home of the National Gallery.

In the 1950s, the members of The Beatles met in their hometown of Liverpool before going on to change music forever. Today, Liverpool is a mecca for Beatles fans who wish to view the childhood homes of the band or visit some of their old stomping grounds.

The Romans built Aquae Sulis in 60 AD. The entire town is now known as Bath and has served as a UNESCO Heritage site since the 1980s.

More accurately, it's a bascule bridge, but it does get lifted around 1,000 times a year to let tall ships pass underneath. The iconic structure was built in 1894 to ease the traffic burden on London Bridge, which had been built in 1176 and really was falling down.

The gothic Palace of Westminster is home to Parliament, including both the House of Commons and House of Lords. The current structure was built over medieval remains in the mid 19th century.

The Rosetta Stone has been on display at the British Museum since 1802. Ancient Greek text on the stone helped historians decipher hieroglyphics for the first time, making Egyptian history more accessible.

The iconic museum displays around 1 percent of its collection at any given time. Out of 8 million owned items, the public can view only 80,000 works on an average day.

The 2011 royal wedding took place at Westminster Abbey. It was William's mother and father, Charles and Diana, who famously married at St. Paul's Cathedral in July 1981.

The famous structure has around 775 rooms, and hosts 50,000 official guests each year -- plus millions of tourists who come to see the palace and its famous guards.

The Duke of Buckingham built the palace to serve as his private residence in 1703. It was converted into a royal palace in 1826 by legendary architect John Nash.