Big Ben, London Travel Guide

The Elizabeth Tower and the Great Bell

The structure officially named the Elizabeth Tower houses the Great Clock of Westminster and the Great Bell nicknamed Big Ben. Completed in 1859 after the 1834 fire that destroyed the earlier palace, the 96-metre tower forms the north-east corner of the Houses of Parliament. Its four pot-opal glass dials, each roughly seven metres across, copper minute hands four metres long, and the 13.7-tonne bell that strikes the hours remain the defining features of the riverside view.

Design and Construction

Charles Barry designed the Gothic Revival palace while Augustus Pugin supplied the tower’s detailed stonework. The clock mechanism, developed with Edmund Beckett Denison and Astronomer Royal Sir George Airy, still runs with a 4.4-metre pendulum adjusted by old pennies. After the original bell cracked, a lighter recast version was winched into place in 1858 and first struck on 11 July 1859. The present hammer weight and striking face produce the familiar tone heard today.

Visitor Experience from Public Space

Most travellers view the tower from Westminster Bridge, Parliament Square or the South Bank riverside path. The clock faces light after dark, and the quarter chimes and hourly strike can be heard clearly from the surrounding pavements. No ticket or reservation is required for these outdoor viewpoints, which remain accessible at any hour.

Interior Tours of the Tower

Official guided tours climb 334 narrow spiral steps to the clock mechanism and belfry. Visitors stand beside the Great Bell during the strike and learn about the 2017–2022 conservation that restored stone, ironwork and the Prussian-blue dials. Tours last up to 90 minutes for the climb plus security and locker time; they are open to ages 11 and over and require closed-toe shoes. Tickets are released three months ahead and sell out quickly.

Physical Setting and Materials

The tower is built of brick with Anston, Clipsham and Caen stone cladding and a cast-iron upper stage. It rises directly beside the Thames at the palace’s river corner, with no public rooftop terrace. The Ayrton Light at the top shines when either House is sitting. Exterior viewing uses ordinary pavements and bridges; interior access is limited to timed tours.

History and Symbolism

The tower was simply called the Clock Tower until 2012, when it was renamed Elizabeth Tower to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. BBC broadcasts of the chimes began on New Year’s Eve 1923, and the mechanism continued striking through wartime damage. The 2017–2022 works replaced hundreds of stones and modernised services while preserving traditional crafts. Today the landmark functions both as a working timepiece and a civic symbol of Parliament.