What is it?
Big Ben is technically the name of the 13-ton bell that chimes the hours from the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. Since 2012, the tower itself has officially been called the Elizabeth Tower. And before that, it was known very unimaginatively as just ‘the Clock Tower’. Still, when most of us talk about Big Ben, we mean the whole thing –bell, clock, tower and all.
Designed by architect Charles Barry as part of the Palace of Westminster, the Clock Tower was completed in 1859. The Great Clock started on 31 May that year, with the chimes of the Great Bell (that is, Big Ben himself) heard for the first time on 11 July and the quarter bells first chimed on 7 September. The Victorian clockwork still keeps surprising accuracy, thanks to a counterweight that relies on the stacking of old pennies.
You may recall that the tower was shrouded in scaffolding and its bells went silent from 2017 to 2022. The clock underwent a major five-year renovation, marking the first time that it had been removed from the Elizabeth Tower during its 160-year lifetime. It emerged more glistening and golden than ever.
Why go?
So you can say that you’ve seen what is arguably London’s most legendary landmark in the flesh.
Don’t miss
The Big Ben tours. Sure, seeing it from the street is nice, but you miss out on so much of the structures details and intricacies if you never step foot inside. You climb 334 spiral steps from the bottom of Elizabeth Tower to the belfry right at the top, getting a closer look at the clock mechanism room, the clock dials and the enormous bell that’s heard throughout Westminster.
When to visit
You can admire Big Ben’s spectacular exterior any day of the week. But if you want to look inside, tours run Monday to Saturday.
Ticket info
Tickets for the tours are released the second Wednesday of every month. They’re £35 for adults and £20 for kids 11-15. Children under 11-years-old aren’t permitted.
Time Out tip
For a picnic with a view, head towards Parliament Square, directly across from the Houses of Parliament. From there, you’ll get a glorious unobstructed look at Big Ben, perfect for pictures.