Big Ben in London is actually the affectionate name given to the very large bell inside the clock tower at Westminster Palace, but the name “Big Ben” has commonly been used to refer to both the bell and the tower itself. It is truly one of the most universally recognized symbols of both London and Britain in general.

The clock tower has been watching over the city since its construction more than 150 years ago and is one of the most cherished and visited landmarks in London. The tower is 316 feet tall, of which 200 feet are a brick shaft and the remaining 116 feet are cast iron spire.

The clock in the tower is the largest in Great Britain with a diameter of almost 25 feet and clock hands ranging from 9 to 14 feet long. The clock has very rarely failed to chime; its first breakdown was not until 1976 some 100 years after it was started.

The clock’s mechanism was designed by Edmund Beckett Denison and George Airy and built by clockmaker Edward John Dent. Its accuracy is astounding, especially when you consider it is maintained by a simple system of penny coins that are added or subtracted from the shoulder of the pendulum mechanism in order to keep the clock in good time.

The Great Bell, also known as Big Ben, was quite a marvel at the time of its installation. The first Great Bell forged for the tower was 17 tons and required 16 horses to pull it to the tower, unfortunately it was cracked during testing and had to be forged again. The final Great Bell was 13.5 tons and it took 18 hours for it to make the 200 foot journey to the tower’s belfry.

Big Ben was also cracked shortly after installation due to an overly heavy hammer, but the bell was simply turned a bit, the proper hammer was installed, and this slightly flawed chime is what we now hear ringing out over the city with the change of the hours.

A visit to Big Ben in London is a must as it is still the world's largest four-faced “chiming clock”.

Visiting Big Ben

Parliament Square, St Margaret Street, Westminster, SW1A 0AA

Telephone: 020 7219 3000

Opening Times

Tours Monday to Friday 9.30am, 10.30am, 11.30am & 2.30pm | Max number: 16 people per tour

Photo courtesy: rudolf_schuba

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