The Tower is officially known as Elizabeth Tower and the bell inside is called Big Ben. The tower was built between 1843 and 1859.
Big Ben has been in operation since May 31, 1859. Towering over the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben is one of the best known landmarks in London. Completed in 1859, the famous clock tower is actually named Elizabeth Tower and the bell inside has been called “Big Ben” since 2012. The clock tower was inspired by August Pugin, who also designed many elements of the Houses of Parliament
The tower is officially known as Elizabeth Tower and the bell inside is called “Big Ben”
You might know Big Ben as the name of the bell inside of the tower, but it’s actually a nickname. The official name is Elizabeth Tower, after Queen Elizabeth II. The tower itself was built to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s accession to the throne, and it was completed in 1859 and has been in operation since then.
Big Ben is perhaps London’s most famous landmark, and certainly its most famous clock tower
Big Ben is perhaps London’s most famous landmark, and certainly its most famous clock tower. It’s named after Benjamin Hall, a former mayor of London who oversaw the rebuilding of Westminster Palace following the fire of 1834. The original bell was named Big Ben after Ben Caunt, a heavyweight boxer and local celebrity; however, it was later renamed Great Tom in an attempt to avoid confusion with another famous bell. After being disconnected from the clock mechanism in 1976 due to cracks that were caused by a heavy hammer strike (the cause of which remains unclear), Great Tom can no longer toll—but it still rings out every hour on the hour from within Elizabeth Tower (which contains both Big Ben and its chime).
Big Ben stands at 316 feet tall and weighs 13 ½ tons! Its chimes consist of two bells: one larger than the other—and yes, these are indeed called “giant bells.” They’re rung by ropes pulled down on pulleys rather than struck with hammers like other bells: hence why they produce such beautiful tones!
Originally designed by Augustus Pugin in a neo-Gothic style, the tower was built between 1843 and 1859
Originally designed by Augustus Pugin in a neo-Gothic style, the tower was built between 1843 and 1859. It was built as part of the Houses of Parliament. The clock’s pendulum weighs over 7 tons (6,350 kg), it takes 24 hours for Big Ben to chime the full hour, and no one knows what time it is when Big Ben chimes 13 o’clock because everyone can’t agree on whether or not there are 13 o’clock bells!
In addition to being an architectural masterpiece, Big Ben is also a beacon of British pride—a symbol of our nation’s rich history and heritage.
Big Ben has been in operation since May 31, 1859
Big Ben has been in operation since May 31, 1859. It was first used to mark the new year and then later as a timepiece for the duration of the London Olympics. Big Ben was also used to mark many important events in British history, such as when King George V died in 1936 and when he abdicated from his throne in 1936.
Big Ben is an interesting structure to visit in London
Big Ben is a famous landmark in London, and one of the most famous clock towers in the world. It is located on the north side of the Palace of Westminster, between Parliament Square and Victoria Tower Gardens. The tower was designed by Augustus Pugin in a neo-Gothic style, and built between 1843 and 1859.
Big Ben stands at 96m high (316 ft), with an hour bell weighing more than 13 tons (28000 lbs).
Towering over the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben is one of the best known landmarks in London
Big Ben is a clock tower located in the Houses of Parliament, London. It is one of the most famous landmarks in London and a symbol of Great Britain.
The name Big Ben comes from the bell that hangs within it, which rings every hour at full capacity with an additional toll at the New Year and other special occasions. The tower stands at 316 feet tall and has four faces; each has an ornate clock face on it (the largest atop). There are also four smaller dials inside each face so that you can tell time without having to look up!
Completed in 1859, the famous clock tower is actually named Elizabeth Tower and the bell inside has been called “Big Ben” since 2012
Completed in 1859, the famous clock tower is actually named Elizabeth Tower and the bell inside has been called “Big Ben” since 2012. The name Big Ben was given to the bell in 1856, but not because it’s big—actually quite small compared to other bells. Rather, its sound was said to be similar to that of Saint Stephen’s Church’s “great bell,” or Great St Mary le Bow’s Bell (also known as St Mary-le-Bow).
The clock tower was inspired by August Pugin, who also designed many elements of the Houses of Parliament
The clock tower was inspired by August Pugin, who also designed many elements of the Houses of Parliament. Pugin was an architect and designer who worked on the Houses of Parliament between 1835-1836. He was a Catholic, who designed the clock tower in a neo-Gothic style.
Pugin also designed the interior of the Palace of Westminster – including its paintings and woodwork decoration – making him responsible for much more than just Big Ben!
Standing at a height of 316 feet, it is one of the tallest structures in London
Big Ben is the name of the bell, not the tower. The tower is called Elizabeth Tower. It was designed by Augustus Pugin and built between 1843 and 1859. The clock was installed in 1859, but it wasn’t until May 31st that year that Big Ben first chimed in celebration of Queen Victoria’s birthday.
The clock tower was built as an annex to the houses of parliament. It contains five bells, with Big Ben being the largest — and most famous — one
You may have heard of Big Ben, but do you know why it’s called that? The name is actually a nickname for the largest bell in the clock tower at Westminster Palace. It’s so named because it strikes every hour at regular intervals, which led to people referring to the sound as “Bong!” (or “Big Ben”).
The clock tower was built as an annex (or extension) to the Houses of Parliament, which are located across the river from St. Stephen’s Tower. The original building had four bells — two smaller ones and two large ones called “Great Tom” and “Great Henry” — but these were removed during World War I because they could alert German ships in case an air raid began near them. Only Great Tom remains today; however, Big Ben has been used since 1859 when it was repaired after being damaged during repairs on another bell. Its chimes are now played regularly on BBC Radio 4’s Today program every morning between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM GMT time
The face on each side of the tower measures 23 feet across and is composed from 312 pieces of glass
The face on each side of the tower measures 23 feet across and is composed from 312 pieces of glass. The two clock faces were manufactured by Edward John Dent, who had previously made clocks for Westminster Abbey.
The large dials are illuminated by a total of 1,972 gas jets (one for each number) which burn at 6 pounds per hour. Red in colour, they are protected by green-tinted lenses to reduce glare at night time.
Big Ben’s chimes are a British icon but also a standard navigation tool for sailors along the river Thames, who set their chronometers by them as they entered port
You can hear Big Ben’s chimes every day at noon and again at midnight, as well as on the hour. The tower is open to members of the public for free from Monday through Friday from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm (except Bank Holidays).
Since 2012, only authorized visitors can go up to see Big Ben’s inner workings due to health and safety regulations on working at height and fire safety
If you’re looking to get up close and personal with Big Ben, it’s not too late! The clock tower is now open to the public. Visitors must book in advance, and they cannot go inside the tower during bad weather or winter months.
The tour includes a trip up to the roof of St Stephen’s Tower—the building that houses Big Ben—and takes about an hour and a half. You’ll learn about how it all works before heading back down for a guided tour around Westminster Palace.
Big Ben stands as an iconic symbol of London
Big Ben stands as an iconic symbol of London. Here are a few things to know about the clock and its namesake:
- Big Ben is one of London’s most famous landmarks
- Big Ben is among the best known landmarks in London
- Big Ben stands out as an emblem of British identity
Big Ben is a British icon The name Big Ben is used to refer to the bell inside the clock tower at the Palace of Westminster in London. The bell was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, who oversaw its casting in 1856.
After exploring the city of London, we took a boat ride up the Thames River to see Big Ben and Parliament. This was one of our favorite parts of the trip! We got to see all sorts of different animals on our way back down, including seals swimming around underneath us.
