Big Ben Travel Guide

Standing at the northern edge of the Palace of Westminster, Elizabeth Tower is one of the most instantly recognisable structures in the world. Though most people call it Big Ben, that name technically belongs to the Great Bell inside, not the tower itself. The tower was originally known as the Clock Tower, but in 2012 it was renamed Elizabeth Tower to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, joining the Victoria Tower at the opposite end of the parliamentary complex. Together with Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, it forms a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a defining part of London’s skyline along the River Thames.

The tower was completed in 1859 as part of the reconstruction of the Palace of Westminster after the devastating fire of 1834. Designed by Augustus Pugin in the Perpendicular Gothic style, it rises 96 metres (about 316 feet) and is decorated with intricate stone carvings and symbols representing the four nations of the United Kingdom. Each of the four clock faces is nearly 7 metres in diameter, made up of hundreds of individual pieces of opal glass held in a cast iron frame. The clock mechanism, known as the Great Clock of Westminster, is renowned for its accuracy and reliability, having kept time for over 160 years.

The Great Bell, nicknamed Big Ben, weighs more than 13 tonnes and strikes the hour with a deep E-natural chime. The origin of the name is debated: one popular theory links it to Sir Benjamin Hall, the large and loud Chief Commissioner of Works at the time, while another suggests it was inspired by the heavyweight boxer Ben Caunt. Inside the tower hang five bells in total, but Big Ben is by far the largest and most famous. Unlike many bells, it does not swing; instead, it is struck from the outside by hammers, producing the chimes that have become a sonic symbol of Britain.

Elizabeth Tower has witnessed more than a century and a half of British history, from Victorian times through two world wars and into the modern era. During the Second World War, the Commons Chamber was destroyed by bombing, but the tower survived with only minor damage, and Big Ben continued to chime throughout the conflict. The Ayrton Light, a lantern above the clock faces, is lit when Parliament is sitting late into the night, serving as a visible signal of ongoing debate. Over the years, the tower has undergone several restorations, including a major five-year project that returned it to full working order.

For visitors, the tower offers a powerful sense of place. Standing on the banks of the Thames or in Parliament Square, the sight of the clock faces and the sound of the chimes create an unmistakable London moment. While the tower is not generally open to international tourists, UK residents can arrange tours through their Member of Parliament, climbing hundreds of steps to see the clock mechanism and the Great Bell up close. Even without going inside, the surrounding area – with Westminster Bridge, the Abbey, and the river – provides some of the city’s most photogenic and historically rich views.