Big Ben

Big Ben – the most important information

Big Ben is one of the symbols of London and it’s probably the world’s most famous clock. It is best known for its accuracy and its massive bell. The clock is located at the north end of the Palace of Westminster.

About Big Ben

Big Ben is actually the nickname for the Great Bell on the Elizabeth Tower, originally the Clock Tower. The tower was designed by Augustus Pugin and it was completed in 1859. At that time, the clock was the largest and most accurate four-faced striking and chiming clock in the world. The tower is 96 meters tall, while the dials of the clock are 6.9 meters long. There are shields on the tower representing all four nations of the UK: a rose for England, thistle for Scotland, shamrock for Northern Ireland, and leek for Wales. The bell weighs more than 13 tons. One interesting fact is that the chimes of Big Ben were first broadcasted by the BBC on 31 December 1923, and that tradition continues to this day.

Tickets and opening hours of Big Ben

Sadly, the tours of Big Ben and the Elizabeth Tower are paused because of the conservation works, and only the residents of the United Kingdom are allowed to go inside the tower. Until they reopen it, you can take a virtual tour on the UK Parliament website.

How to get to Big Ben?

Big Ben is located in the City of Westminster in the heart of London, so it’s fairly easy to get to it. You can get to Westminster station by: