What I liked best about the Big Ben tour:
- Going behind the scenes at one of London’s most famous landmarks.
- Admiring the views of London and seeing Big Ben ring in the Belfry.
- Enjoying an experience that's completely unique to London.
A tour of Big Ben has always been one I’ve wanted to tick off my London bucket list. Loved by Londoners and cherished nationwide, it’s easily the UK’s most favourite clock. I’ve long been fascinated by the idea of going behind the scenes at the iconic clock tower and standing beside the bells as they chime. Public access to Big Ben has only recently become available, making it one of London’s most sought-after tours.
Big Ben tours offer a close-up look at the results of the tower’s extensive conservation programme, which ran from 2017 to 2022. It was the largest restoration project in the tower’s 160-year history, involving a complete overhaul of both the clock mechanism and the structure itself.
After a few months of trying, I managed to secure Big Ben tickets – no small feat! Big Ben tours are incredibly popular and sell out within seconds due to limited group sizes and high demand. Once my booking was confirmed, I also arranged a tour of the Houses of Parliament for the same day, which I highly recommend.
Visiting the famous clock in London
As I stepped out of Westminster Station, I was welcomed by clear blue skies and warm sunshine, timely perfection for my Big Ben tour. The excitement built as I approached the magnificent Palace of Westminster, ready to embark on a tour of one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, the Elizabeth Tower, affectionately known as “Big Ben”.
Following security checks at the visitor entrance, I stepped into Westminster Hall – a magnificent medieval structure dating back to 1097, nestled within the heart of the Palace of Westminster. It has witnessed some of the most pivotal moments in British history, from coronation banquets to dramatic state trials. Most recently, it served as the setting for Queen Elizabeth II’s lying-in-state from 14 to 19 September 2022. It’s fascinating to explore and you’ll have time to take it all in after the tour.
The tour of Big Ben
After securely storing my bag and phone in the locker room, our tour group made its way across the historic New Palace Yard toward a small door – the discreet entrance to the Elizabeth Tower. Bathed in sunlight, the tower stood radiant, its intricate stone masonry and shimmering gilded details catching the eye. Adorned with carved orbs, crowns, and watchful gargoyles, the tower’s ornate facade is nothing short of breathtaking – a true masterpiece of Victorian Gothic architecture. Once inside Big Ben and making every second count, the guided tour involves ascending and descending the building’s 334 steps from ground level to the Belfry, spending time at the clock mechanism and dials and standing next to the world-famous Big Ben (The Great Bell) as it strikes the hour. It’s easy to lose track of time as you climb eleven floors up the spiral staircase, it’s narrow in places, but you get some stunning views of London and the Houses of Parliament on the way up. Rest assured, the climb is broken up on the way, with three stops to different rooms displaying exhibits that chart the historical, cultural, and social significance of Big Ben. There’s no lift to take you up, but it’s great exercise! In each exhibition room, our guide shared some fascinating insights into Big Ben’s timeline and the traditional skills used by the Victorians to create its Gothic Revival structure, such as stone masonry, glass blowing and clock mechanics. Along the way I heard the rumblings of the clock mechanism in action, a timely reminder of what was to come!
I was impressed in the clock room at the inner workings of the huge clock mechanism, a marvel of Victorian engineering. We had the rare opportunity to watch it tick in real time, minute by minute. The pendulum, which beats every two seconds, is finely adjusted using pre-decimal pennies to regulate the clock's accuracy. The clock is powered by a double three-legged gravity escapement, ensuring that its hands are unaffected by external influences such as wind or birds. There is also a resident Harris hawk named Denison who protects Big Ben from birds sitting on the hands and stopping time.
Designed by Edmund Beckett Denison and George Airy, and constructed by Edward John Dent and Frederick Dent, the clock mechanism was a groundbreaking achievement for its time. Upon completion in 1854, it was the largest and most accurate four-faced striking and chiming clock in the world.
With the clock ticking, it was now time for one of my favourite parts of the tour – walking behind the clock dials. Each of the four clock faces of the Elizabeth Tower spans an impressive seven metres in diameter and is made up of 324 pieces of mouth-blown opal glass. The minute hands made of hollow copper sheet stretch 4.2 metres long and weigh around 100 kilograms, including their counterweights. The hour hands are made of bronze, weigh 300 kilograms and are 2.7 metres long.
Today, the clock dials are illuminated by 57 energy-efficient LED (RGB) multiple arrays with the ability to change colour. Before the switch to electric lighting in 1906, the faces were lit by gas lamps, with attendants on standby in case of fire. Walking behind the clock faces offers a rare and fascinating glimpse into the craftsmanship and engineering that went into their creation, a perspective few ever get to see.
Time truly flies when you’re having fun, and before I knew it the moment had arrived, I was about to see Big Ben in person and be within touching distance. Just before 5 pm, we stepped into the Belfry, greeted by sweeping views and a fresh breeze. The Belfry is open to the elements, so it’s definitely worth dressing warmly!
In the Belfry stands the legendary Great Bell made of bronze, it is transcribed with a Latin phrase that translates to: "O Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First." Weighing more than 13 tons (13,760 kilograms), it tolls the hour with a deep, resonant chime that’s instantly recognisable across London. Equally remarkable is the story of how the Victorians installed it. The bell was hoisted more than 60 metres (nearly 200 feet) up the tower using a massive wooden winch, block and tackle, and sheer manpower, with the entire process taking several days.
But Big Ben doesn’t ring alone. It’s accompanied by four smaller quarter bells, which chime every 15 minutes to create the iconic Westminster chimes. These bells are struck by hammers connected to the clock mechanism through a complex system of wire ropes – a fascinating feat of Victorian engineering.
Our tour was timed perfectly to hear Big Ben strike five, and right on cue, the hammer struck and it began to chime the hour. We donned our ear protectors as five powerful bongs rang out around us. Seeing the bells in action was a huge highlight, this experience was truly second to none!
Furthermore, we learnt about the Ayrton Light, a lantern-like beacon installed in 1885. Although not accessible on the tour it was visible from the Belfry. Our guide told us that a further 59 steps up you can reach it – making it a total of 399 steps to reach the top! The light shines brightly whenever the House of Commons or the House of Lords is in session after dark, a tradition that began at the request of Queen Victoria so she could see from Buckingham Palace when Parliament was sitting. It also functioned as a light for the streets below.
As the tour was winding down, it was time to make our way down the 334 steps back to Westminster Hall, admiring the view as we navigated the staircase. All of us were thrilled at seeing Big Ben and watching it chime. The tour had struck the right note in offering a rare and memorable opportunity to explore one of the UK’s most treasured landmarks.
Overall, I had a great time and I’d highly recommend a Big Ben tour, it offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes experience into one of London's most iconic landmarks, the Elizabeth Tower. Seeing the Big Ben bell up close and enjoying the views from the Belfry was a special moment – it's an amazing experience and time well spent!
Know before you go
The tour lasts about 90 minutes and visitors need to be prepared for climbing a significant number of steps, as well as high noise levels from the clock mechanism and bells. I’d recommend wearing sensible shoes and suitable clothes for being exposed to the elements up in the Belfry.
Photography is not allowed inside the Elizabeth Tower, similar to other areas of the Palace of Westminster, due to security, health and safety and copyright concerns. However, you can take photos inside Westminster Hall before or after the Big Ben tour.
Big Ben tours can be booked by visiting the official UK Parliament website. Tickets cost £35 for adults and £20 for children aged 11 to 17.
Discover more historic attractions or book a Houses of Parliament tour.