Big Ben
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No visit to London is complete without having seen the Elizabeth Tower with its largest bell Big Ben inside. It chimes together with the other bells regularly on the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament. During a tour, you will get to know the British cultural icon and learn more about its history, which goes back to the Victorian era.
By Jessica Donev
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5 tips for visiting the Big Ben
Big Ben | Photo: hams Nocete CC-BY-SA 2.0
1
The best photo spotsThe best photos of the clock tower can be taken from the other side of the river - on the South bank - or from Westminster Bridge. As an alternative, you can also try to take a snapshot from Parliament Square, where maybe even the statue of Winston Churchill fits into a picture.
Big Ben | Photo: Nick Amoscato CC-BY 2.0
2
A light shines brightThe Ayrton Light was installed in 1885 at the request of Queen Victoria. It shines atop the Elizabeth Tower when one of the Houses of Parliament is still sitting after the onset of darkness.
3
ToursThe view of Big Ben remains concealed from visitors. However, an experienced guide or a digital audio guide will explain to you the history of the Elizabeth Tower and its famous bell from the outside. Visits to the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, or the Palace of Westminster are however possible.
4
Hop-On-Hop-OffBig Ben can also be seen as part of one of the many Hop-On-Hop-Off tours through Central London: e.g. authentically from one of the famous double-decker buses!
5
Visit at nightWhen it gets dark, the Elizabeth Tower as well as the entire Parliament building are illuminated with golden lights. Countless spotlights make your visit in the darkness a very special experience.
Elisabeth Tower and Palace of Westminster | Unsplash: Maxim Melnikov
‘Short Facts’ about the landmark of London
What is there to know about the famous bell and the associated Elisabeth Tower?Elisabeth Tower | Unsplash: Jurica Koletic
Part 1
The Elisabeth Tower has it's name since 2012. Before that, the tower was known as The Clock Tower. In honor of Queen Elisabeth, on the occasion of her Diamond (60th) Jubilee, it was renamed.It is said that the melody played on the bells is a variation of the four notes from bars 5 and 6 of the aria 'I Know That My Redeemer Liveth' from the oratorio Messiah by Georg Friedrich Händel. With Messiah, Händel set the Christian creed to music in the summer of 1741.
Big Ben always rings! For the British, it was very unusual to not her its meldony in the last few years due to the restoration of the tower. Usually, the bells only remain silent when a funeral of famous personalities take place (such as those of Winston Churchill or Margaret Thatcher).
To this day it is not entirely clear why the bell itself is called Big Ben. Officially, the bell is only called Great Bell. The consensus is that the bell got its nickname from Sir Benjamin Hall, whose name is engraved on the bell, and who coordinated the installation of the bell. According to a modern legend, however, the bell was named after Benjamin Caunt, a 19th-century boxer. He, too, bore the nickname Big Ben, after becoming the heavyweight champion of England in 1841.
Close-up of clock with inscription | Unsplash: Marlon Maya
Part 2
Big Ben is the second large bell, as the first one broke during the dress rehearsal. Even Big Ben itself has a crack, which occurred upon commissioning. The bell was then rotated, and the weight of the striking hammer was reduced.‘Domine salvam fac reginam nostram Victoriam primam’ is the Latin inscription under each of the four clock faces. This translates to: ‘God save our Queen Victoria the First’.
The fine-tuning of the pendulum is done by penny coins. Throughout its history, it has often happened that the clock does not show the correct time. Due to very low temperatures, the mechanics froze on New Year's Eve 1962, causing the year to be rung in 10 minutes after midnight. In 1949, too many starlings sat on the hands, causing almost a 5-minute delay.
Big Ben is a celebrity. The tower appears in almost every movie or series setting that takes place in London. From Doctor Who to the Simpsons, V for Vendetta, Peter Pan, Mary Poppins, and many more, the Elizabeth Tower is an icon and stands representative for the city of London. The tower is also the focal point of the New Year's celebrations in London, when the bell strikes of Big Ben at midnight are broadcast worldwide amidst fireworks.
View of the Elisabeth Tower and Westminster Bridge from the South Bank | Unsplash: Jamie Estevez
Big Ben in numbers
Large, heavy, and leaningThe clock of the Elizabeth Tower | Unsplash: Nick Fewings
Old, heavy, and large
The bell in the clock tower first rang on July 11, 1859.Big Ben weighs 13.5 tons.
The diameter of the clock is 7m (23ft). The minute hands are 4.3m (14ft) long and the hour hands are 2.74m (9ft). The pendulum is 3.9m (12.8ft) long and has a total weight of 299kg.
Elisabeth Tower | Unsplash: Dara Esh
High and leaning
The Elisabeth Tower is 96.3m (315.9ft) tall. The first 61m (200ft) are made of bricks with a limestone facade, and the rest, the top, is made of cast iron.The tower is leaning. It has an overhang of 46cm (1.5ft), resulting in a lean of 0.26°. That is not nearly as much as the Tower of Pisa. It leans at 3.97°, resulting in an overhang of 3.9m (12.8ft).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to visit the bells?
It is possible for citizens residing in the United Kingdom to book a tour to Big Ben through a local member of Parliament or the House of Lords. However, tourists are denied access due to possible terrorist attacks. The security checks for guests from other countries are unfortunately too elaborate. Read more.
Are the renovation works completed?
Yes, the several years long renovation works were completed in 2022. The original budget of 28 million pounds was significantly exceeded. Read more.
How far can the bell ring be heard?
On good weather conditions, the sound can be heard for over 14km (8.7 miles) Read more.
General information
opening hours
tickets
address
Palace of Westminster
Westminster
London SW1A 0AA
website
how to get there
Written byJessica DonevJessica is the definition of Jack of all trades. When she wants to do something, she just does it. That's why Jessica is an event manager, professional dancer, trainer, content creator, speaker / presenter in training and much more. Having traveled the world a lot, she knows what's important when traveling and shares it with you here on TicketLens.
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