 The Tower of London , officially Her Majesty 's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London , is a historic castle located on the north bank of the River Thames in central London . It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets , separated from the eastern edge of the square mile of the City of London by the open space known as Tower Hill . It was founded by William the Conqueror in 1066, and was a residence of the royal family, an armoury and a prison until the 19th century. Unterscheidung zwischen Tower Hill und Tower Hill Hill Hill Hill. Inhaltsverzeichnis. 1