You would certainly get a wonderful view of London from Big Ben, but sadly we have to disappoint you. Is it possible to go on a tour of Big Ben? Like so many other historic towers, the London clock tower leans slightly: it now has a 0.26° tilt and an 18-inch overhang. Like the adjacent Houses of Parliament, the first 200 feet of Big Ben consist of brickwork with limestone cladding. Standing at a height of 3.159 feet, Big Ben is a landmark you can’t miss! And since a big tower needs a big clock, the latter’s dimensions are similarly impressive: each of the four clock dials measures 23 feet in diameter, and the 14-foot minute hand alone weighs a good 220 pounds. However, according to other sources, the bell takes its name from the heavy-weight boxer Benjamin Caunt. It is thought that Big Ben may have been named after Sir Benjamin Hall, who was the First Commissioner of Works of the British Parliament when the bell was installed in 1859. The 13.5-ton bell chimes every hour on the hour and is affectionately referred to as the “Voice of Britain”. The name Big Ben is really a nickname for the heaviest bell that chimes inside the clock tower. In 2012, this tower on the Thames, previously known as The Clock Tower, was renamed in honor of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. When people talk about Big Ben, they’re almost always referring to the entire tower, although the latter is officially called the Elizabeth Tower. We’ll miss your familiar chimes, Big Ben! This historic site is nevertheless worth a visit. We would also like to point out that, according to a parliamentary announcement, the clock will remain silent for the next four years. What about the Big Ben renovation?īig Ben has been undergoing restoration work since 2017, so if you’re planning on visiting London in the near future, you’ll find the tower covered in scaffolding.

It has reportedly developed a tilt that increases by an average of around 0.04 inches per year, and the deviation from the perpendicular is now even visible to the naked eye. However, its condition has suffered somewhat over the past ten years due to tunneling for the subway lines. This explains why Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament were both built in the neo-Gothic style of the mid-nineteenth century.įortunately, this object of national pride survived the wars. The famous clock tower was erected as part of a new palace after the original Palace of Westminster was destroyed overnight by a fire in October 1834. Big Ben – London’s Pride and Joy in 5 Questionsīig Ben – London’s Pride and Joy in 5 Questions 1.

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