Big Ben
Big Ben is the nickname for the 96-meter-high Elizabeth Tower, part of the Parliament buildings of the Palace of Westminster on the banks of the River Thames in central London. Its informal name was derived from the Great Bell, which was cast for a tower clock and weighs nearly 14 tons. It is mistakenly considered the heaviest bell in Great Britain. In the eleven-story tower, there are other four smaller bells that ring every quarter of an hour. Big Ben is well-known especially for its precise clock.
The first chime every hour is able to strike with an accuracy of one second. It is made of hollow copper and is situated at a height of 55 meters above the ground. The clock has four dials with a diameter of 7.5 meters and a minute hand of 4.25 meters long. At that time, the clock tower was the tallest in the world. It was built according to a design by Charles Barry in Victorian-Gothic style after the fire of the Palace of Westminster. Big Ben is now considered one of the symbols of London.
Useful information for visitors
Public transport connections
The nearest public transport stop at Big Ben is:
- underground station and bus stop Westminster
- bus stop London Eye (behind the Westminster Bridge)
- bus stopSt Thomas’ Hospital / County Hall (behind the Westminster Bridge)
Opening hours and admission
Big Ben is currently closed to the public due to reconstruction, and tours are likely to be renewed in 2021. The interior can only be viewed online here. Up-to-date information is available on the official website .
Interesting facts about Big Ben
The original bell for Big Ben weighed 16 tons. Since it was cast before the tower was completed, it was placed in the New Palace Yard. Until now, it is not clear by whom the bell got its name. According to one theory, it was named after the master builder Sir Benjamin Hall. According to the second version, the bell got its name after the heaviest wrestler Benjamin Caunt. The clock tower stands on unstable subsoil, so it tilts approximately 220 mm to the northwest. On the underside of the dial is the Latin inscription O Lord, save our Queen Victoria the First.