London's Big Ben

Big Ben: London's Clock Tower

The clock tower looks spectacular at night when the four clock faces are illuminated. 

• Each dial is 7 metres in diameter
• The minute hands are 4.2 metres long and weigh about 100kg (including counterweights)
• The numbers are approximately 60cm long
• There are 312 pieces of glass in each clock dial

A special light above the clock faces is also illuminated, letting the public know when parliament is in session.

Big Ben's timekeeping is strictly regulated by a stack of coins placed on the huge pendulum. Big Ben has rarely stopped. Even after a bomb destroyed the Commons chamber during the Second World War, the clock tower survived and Big Ben continued to strike the hours.

The chimes of Big Ben were first broadcast by the BBC on 31 December 1923, a tradition that continues to this day.

The History of Big Ben

The Palace of Westminster was destroyed by fire in 1834. In 1844, it was decided the new buildings for the Houses of Parliament should include a tower and a clock. 

A massive bell was required and the first attempt (made by John Warner & Sons at Stockton-on-Tees) cracked irreparably. The metal was melted down and the bell recast in Whitechapel in 1858. Big Ben first rang across Westminster on 31 May 1859. 

A short time later, in September 1859, Big Ben cracked. A lighter hammer was fitted and the bell rotated to present an undamaged section to the hammer. This is the bell as we hear it today.

You can visit the Whitechapel Bell Foundry and discover more about Big Ben's origins.

London's Favourite Landmark: Why Ben?

The origin of the name Big Ben is not known, although two different theories exist.

• The first is that is was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, the first commissioner of works, a large man who was known affectionately in the house as "Big Ben".
• The second theory is that it was named after a heavyweight boxing champion at that time, Benjamin Caunt. Also known as "Big Ben", this nickname was commonly bestowed in society to anything that was the heaviest in its class.

Visiting Big Ben in London

You can take a tour of the Houses of Parliament. The clock tower is not open to the general public although UK residents can arrange a visit by writing to their MP. Applications should be made in writing, as far in advance as possible, to:

House of Commons
Westminster
London
SW1A 0AA

It is not possible for overseas visitors to tour the clock tower.