Europe
England
London
Bell tower
Big Ben
Name:Big Ben (Elizabeth Tower)
Construction period:1843 – 1859
Commissioned by:British Parliament
Architects:Sir Charles Barry (overall design of the Palace of Westminster), Augustus Pugin (clock tower)
Architectural style:Neo-Gothic
Height:96 meters
Building materials:Brick (structural) and Anston sandstone (façade)
UNESCO World Heritage Site:since 1987

28 fascinating facts about Big Ben

  1. Location: Big Ben stands at the northern end of the Palace of Westminster, right in the heart of London. Its distinctive silhouette rises directly above the Thames and is visible from many parts of the city.
  2. Palace of Westminster: The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament, is the seat of the British Parliament and a prime example of 19th-century neo-Gothic architecture. It houses both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, together forming the core of British legislative power.
  3. Meaning: Big Ben is one of the most iconic landmarks in the United Kingdom. Its chimes accompany major events and are often used in films as an acoustic symbol of London.
  4. Predecessor structure: Before the current parliament building, a grand royal palace stood on this site, built by King Edward the Confessor around the year 1045. It served as the main residence of English monarchs for over 500 years until Henry VIII moved the court to Whitehall; the surviving Westminster Hall, built in 1097, still recalls the medieval grandeur of the former palace.
  5. Stephen’s Tower: The medieval St. Stephen’s Tower received one of England’s first public tower clocks in 1367. Its bell marked the hours and is considered the historical predecessor of today’s clock tower, which was destroyed in the fire of 1834.
  6. Seat of Parliament: As early as the 13th century, the English Parliament met regularly in the Palace of Westminster, initially in various chambers. After the monarchy moved out, the building became the permanent home of the House of Commons and the House of Lords in the 16th century, turning it into the political heart of the nation.
  7. Building history: On October 16, 1834, a massive fire broke out in the Palace of Westminster after old tax records were burned in the furnace of the House of Lords. Much of the medieval complex was destroyed, and a new neo-Gothic parliament building was constructed from 1840, designed by Charles Barry with detailed contributions by Augustus Pugin, who shaped the building’s elaborate interior and exterior; the iconic clock tower, now known as Big Ben, was built between 1843 and 1859.
  8. Architecture: Big Ben is a striking example of Victorian neo-Gothic architecture, featuring intricate stonework and rich decorative details. At 96 meters tall, the tower dominates the London skyline and reflects the refined elegance of 19th-century design.
  9. Bell crack: The first version of the bell cracked during testing in 1857 and had to be melted down. A new, slightly smaller bell was cast in 1858 using the same metal, but it also cracked shortly after being installed; instead of replacing it, the bell was rotated and fitted with a lighter hammer and remains in use today.
  10. Chimes and bell ringing: Big Ben chimes every 15 minutes, and depending on the wind, its sound can carry up to eight kilometers. The Great Bell is only rung on special occasions, such as the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games, and weighs an impressive 13.7 tons.
  11. Movement: Big Ben’s clock movement has run reliably since 1859 and is considered one of the most precise in the world. To fine-tune its accuracy, British pennies are placed on the pendulum—each coin speeds up the clock by 0.4 seconds per day.
  12. Clock faces: The four clock faces of Big Ben each measure an impressive seven meters in diameter and are made up of 324 pieces of opal glass. Every five years, trained specialists clean the dials with soap and water while suspended by ropes to keep them sparkling.
  13. Inscription below the clock face: Below each of the four clock faces is a golden inscription written in Latin. Translated into English, it means “Lord, protect our Queen Victoria the First” and refers to the time when the tower was built during her reign.
  14. Weight of the clock hands: The clock hands are just as impressive as the rest of the tower. The hour hand weighs about 300 kilograms, while the minute hand weighs around 100 kilograms.
  15. Clock maintenance by a special team: A dedicated team of five experts, known as the “Keepers of the Great Clock,” is responsible for maintaining Big Ben. They regularly inspect the mechanism, adjust the pendulum weight, and ensure the clock runs smoothly in all weather conditions.
  16. Major renovation: Between 2017 and 2021, Big Ben underwent extensive restoration, during which its chimes fell silent for long periods. The renovation uncovered asbestos, bomb damage, and lead-based paint, which drove costs up to nearly 80 million pounds. The original color scheme was also revealed, restoring the dials to their original dark blue from the 19th century.
  17. Slight inclination: The Elizabeth Tower leans slightly to the northwest due to the soft ground beneath London. The tilt measures about 230 millimeters and is changing so slowly that it is unlikely to pose any risk for millennia.
  18. Visit from the inside: Access to the interior of the Elizabeth Tower is limited to British citizens who are invited by a Member of Parliament. Climbing the 334 steps to the bell requires good physical condition.
  19. Ayrton Light: The Ayrton Light is located high up on the tower. It’s a lantern that lights up whenever Parliament is in session after dark and was originally installed so Queen Victoria could see from her palace whether the House of Commons was still working.
  20. Flag: Whenever Parliament is in session, the Union Jack is raised atop the Elizabeth Tower. This tradition makes the tower a visible symbol of active British democracy.
  21. Small prison: The tower once contained a small prison used to discipline Members of Parliament who violated House rules. The last known use was in 1880, when MP and atheist Charles Bradlaugh was jailed for refusing to take a religious oath; although the prison is no longer in use, the room inside the tower still exists.
  22. Bombing raids in the Second World War: During World War II, the Palace of Westminster suffered heavy damage, including the complete destruction of the Commons Chamber. The Elizabeth Tower, however, remained largely intact despite the air raids.
  23. Live broadcast: Big Ben’s chimes were first broadcast live on the radio in 1923, starting a tradition that continues today, especially on special occasions like New Year’s Eve. During World War II, the BBC suspended live broadcasts to avoid giving enemy forces information about the weather, instead playing a prerecorded version.
  24. Disturbance caused by birds: In 1945 and again in 1949, flocks of starlings landed on the clock hands and caused the mechanism to slow down noticeably. In 1949, the clock was at times almost five minutes behind schedule.
  25. Movie set: Big Ben is a popular filming location and has appeared in numerous blockbuster movies. In Mars Attacks! (1996), the tower is humorously destroyed, while in V for Vendetta (2005), it dramatically explodes.
  26. Name change (tower): In 2012, the Clock Tower was officially renamed the Elizabeth Tower to mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. Before that, it was simply known as the Clock Tower.
  27. Origin of name (bell): Big Ben is actually the nickname of the Great Bell inside the tower, not the name of the tower itself. The name likely comes from Sir Benjamin Hall, the official who oversaw its installation.
  28. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Since 1987, Big Ben, along with the entire Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey, has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.