This unassuming alcove in London’s famous Tower Bridge once served to capture, store, and display dead bodies from the River Thames.

A memorial for public executions that dates back to the 14th century.

The ritual has been performed uninterrupted for nearly 700 years.

These wire animal sculptures commemorate the exotic inhabitants that once called the Tower of London home.

Richard III supposedly disposed of his nephews' bodies here in an effort to seal his claim to the throne.

Graffiti from the 16th and 17th centuries cover the walls of this part of the Tower of London.

The watery entrance for condemned prisoners heading to the Tower of London is still visible along the Thames.

Tucked away in the Tower of London is the weapon once used to execute high-profile prisoners.

Six ravens are kept captive (but well-fed) at the Tower of London to prevent the fall of the Crown.

These abandoned coal mine towers near Sherwood Forest might soon boast the U.K.’s longest zip-line.

Scotland's oldest medieval bridge is also among the last reminders of early medieval Aberdeen.

This effigy was crafted to annoy a neighbor after a civil dispute over a foul smell.

A dozen cast iron leopards stand guard along the length of Aberdeen's Union Bridge.

Harry Potter’s Hogsmeade Station is also a charming blast from the past situated in North Yorkshire.

These 20-foot jaw bones honor a time when the leviathan bones were a sign that whalers survived the hunt.

The gloomy ruins that inspired Bram Stoker to bring Dracula to life.

80 years of the Battle of Peasholm on a small English lake.

The storied English village that pretended to be insane inspired NYC's nickname and the fictional namesake in the DC Comics universe.

This romantic, decaying 13th-century ruin on the edge of Sherwood Forest is reputedly one of England's most haunted places.

This English medieval castle is where King John died of dysentery.

This once private residence is now a popular wedding venue and training center for trade union officers.

In the 19th century, this pit housed a fully grown black bear for the entertainment of visitors. Today there is a sculpture in tribute to the poor creature.

This house was home to a succession of park keepers for more than 90 years, but in all that time, it never had a toilet.

This restored 17th century "conduit house," often mistaken for a watchtower, actually supplied water to nearby Bolsover Castle.