#Big ben tower location full#
#Big ben tower location tv#

The two most likely Bens for which the bell earned its nickname are Sir Benjamin Hall (an engineer who oversaw the installation of the clocktower) or Benjamin Caunt (a famous boxer at the time). That explains the “Big” but the “Ben” part is open to interpretation. The bell weighs over 13 tons and was the largest bell in the UK when it was built. The nickname Big Ben originally referred to just the largest bell, the Great Bell, which is housed inside clocktower. It was a fitting honor given that the largest tower is already called Victoria Tower after Queen Victoria. Stephen’s tower.” It was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 for the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II. The official name of Big Ben is actually Elizabeth Tower. The clocktower itself was previously named “Clock Tower” or “St.

#Big ben tower location tv#

This new technology quickly became the gold standard for future clocktowers around the world.īig Ben is one of the most iconic film locations in UK and is often seen in establishing scenes of films and tv shows set in London. In fact, an entirely new mechanism was invented and built for the clock inside Big Ben. The clock itself is renowned for being one of the most accurate clocks in the world, especially notable at the time it was built. It is currently the third tallest clocktower in the UK. The largest bell (known as Big Ben) chimes every hour, while the smaller bells chime every 15 minutes. The chiming clocktower has four clock faces and houses five bells. The clocktower is one of the three main towers at the Palace of Westminster. In this post, I too will use the term Big Ben to refer to the whole clocktower.īig Ben is the nickname given to an iconic gothic clocktower in Central London. By extension, many people use the nickname Big Ben for the entire tower. Then we’ll share some practical information for visiting Big Ben during your trip to London.īefore I go too far in this post, I want to clarify that Big Ben technically refers to only the large bell inside the clocktower. In this brief but thorough guide, we’ll explain everything you never knew you didn’t know about Big Ben. To get stories and breaking news from around London and the UK tailored to your preferences, sign up for one of our custom newsletters here.įor more news in and around London, visit the MyLondon homepage.Picture London and you’ll probably picture the famous clocktower known as Big Ben. Public tours are expected to start in the Spring of 2023, according to the Government's website, but until then, here's the inside of Big Ben in photos.

The inside has also undergone a period of restoration, and the building has been redecorated, and a lift and a toilet have been installed.ĭespite the lengthy process, there is one piece of the clock that hasn't been moved it's biggest bell, Big Ben. Meanwhile, several hundred pieces of stone have been replaced, cracks in the masonry have been mended and the effects of erosion and rusting have been repaired. The clock's iconic dials have been restored to their original colour of Prussian blue and the lights behind the clock face, one powered by gas, have now been switched with energy efficient LED bulbs.

The five-year restoration of the Elizabeth Tower involved extensive scaffolding, 500 workers and ended up running £51 million over budget. READ MORE: Incredible pictures show Canary Wharf before it was filled with skyscrapersīack in 2017, Big Ben underwent an £80 million makeover, restoring the world's most famous clock face to its original Victorian glory. Located in Westminster at the northern end of the Palace of Westminster, Big Ben attracts millions of tourists each day, all of whom are eager to grab a snapshot of one of London's most iconic landmarks.ĭespite it's popularity, many people don't know what Big Ben looks like from the inside, but incredible photos from inside the Elizabeth Tower reveals what the amazing clock faces and the huge bells look like. The name was changed to the Elizabeth Tower in 2012 in honour of the late Queen to symbolise her 60 year reign. Just one of these is the world-famous Elizabeth Tower, originally referred to as the Clock Tower, but more popularly known as Big Ben.

#Big ben tower location full#

London is full of historic landmarks and monuments that make our capital city great.