The bell made a brief comeback and chimed on November 11, to mark Armistice Day centenary commemorations.Įven covered in scaffolding Big Ben is still one of London's most recognised landmarks and draws millions of visitors every year. Major repairs to the clock tower meant the bell wouldn't chime again until 2021.īut due to popular demand and public outrage it was decided Big Ben would be allowed to bong on important national events and holidays throughout the four-year conservation period. In August 2017, Big Ben fell silent for the first time in a decade and it's not set to regularly chime again for some time. Until 2017 that is, when they fell silent for what is going to be quite a while. Those bongs sounded over London for 158 years. The Big Ben nickname in fact refers to the giant bell responsible for said bongs.

Of course, the name Big Ben is commonly used to refer to the tower, though it's proper name is the Elizabeth Tower. The sight of the clock face and elegant gothic tower, as well as the amazing bongs of the Great Bell. The nearest train station is Waterloo, a 12-minute walk away.Two of the most iconic things in London are both encapsulated in the giant clock tower that dominates Westminster Palace. The nearest Underground station is Westminster, a 4-minute walk away, while a number of buses stop at Parliament Square on Victoria Street, directly opposite. Getting to Big Benīig Ben is located in Westminster in Central London. Inside the tower, 334 stone steps may be climbed to the top from which stunning views of the city can be observed, as well as the famous bell itself!įor foreign visitors, the adjoining Houses of Parliament may be explored, which provide a fascinating look into the heart of Britain’s government, while the surrounding area also features of host of London’s most interesting sites – Westminster Abbey, Parliament Square, the Cenotaph and 10 Downing Street to name a few. Tours inside the tower itself are available to citizens of the UK, who are required to contact their local MP in order to get tickets and must arrive on a scheduled day. Thousands of visitors flock to Westminster to view its stunning design and vast proportions, widely considered a marvel of Victorian architecture. Today Big Ben is one of the most recognisable symbols of London in the world, with the catchy nickname now encompassing the clock tower as a whole. Another popular, although less likely, theory is that it was named after Ben Caunt, a champion heavyweight boxer of the mid-19th century who also went by the nickname. While it is unclear exactly where the name Big Ben originated, it is thought to have been named after Sir Benjamin Hall, the man in charge of commissioning the structure. When it was unveiled, it was the largest and most accurate four-faced striking and chiming clock in the world, and on each of its sides is represented one of the four nations of the United Kingdom – a rose for England, thistle for Scotland, shamrock for Northern Ireland, and leek for Wales. The tower itself is named Elizabeth Tower and, along with its collection of bells and four vast clock faces, was constructed between 18 in the neo-Gothic style. Though the name ‘Big Ben’ is often attributed to the entire clock tower attached to the Houses of Parliament, it is actually the nickname of its largest bell – also known as the Great Bell. Big Ben is one of the United Kingdom’s most iconic landmarks, and has for almost two centuries towered over Westminster’s busy streets to the awe of Londoners and tourists alike.

Bigben parliament