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Big Ben

✨ The timekeeper

Big Ben is one of London’s best-known landmarks, although the name technically refers to the great bell inside the Elizabeth Tower at the Palace of Westminster. The tower was designed by architect Charles Barry, with Augustus Pugin responsible for much of its Gothic decorative design, as part of the rebuilding of the Palace after a major fire in 1834. Construction of the clock tower began in 1843, and the clock became operational in 1859.

Each of its four clock faces is more than seven metres in diameter, while the Great Bell weighs about 13.7 tonnes. The tower was originally called the Clock Tower and was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. Although people often use “Big Ben” for the whole tower, the name properly belongs to the bell. The clock mechanism is renowned for its accuracy, while the bells have become a familiar sound associated with British public life.

The Great Bell strikes the hour, and four smaller bells mark the quarter hours. Their chimes have been broadcast on radio and television during important occasions, giving them an international audience. The tower and clock have undergone several repairs and conservation projects. From 2017 to 2022, Elizabeth Tower received a major restoration covering its stonework, clock faces, mechanical systems, and protective features.

The work also improved maintenance and visitor facilities while preserving the historic structure. Today, Big Ben remains closely associated with London and the United Kingdom. It stands beside the River Thames as part of the historic Palace of Westminster, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.

💡 Did you know?

Did you know that technically, the tower's name isn't Big Ben but 'Elizabeth Tower'? Big Ben is only the nickname for the enormous bell at the very top! It weighs over 13 tons, which is as heavy as a huge elephant. In fact, it took 18 horses to transport it to the palace when it was made!

The tower's four clocks are incredibly precise, but do you know how they are adjusted? No computers are used, but old copper coins (old pennies). By placing or removing a small coin from the giant pendulum, the clock's speed changes by less than a second per day. It's high-precision adjustment, old-school style!

The numbers on the clock faces are gilded in pure gold. Each minute hand is over 4 meters long, which is longer than a bus! Once, in the summer, the clock had to stop because it was so hot that the metal had expanded. Fortunately, it was quickly repaired to continue telling the time to Londoners.