Expert's Guide on Big Ben, London

Big Ben is not only a cultural icon of the country but is also seen as a symbol of parliamentary democracy as the tower is an integral part of the Palace of Westminster London. Standing on the north end of the palace, the tower is a neo-gothic structure that is 96 m tall with four sides measuring 12 m each at the base. The tower houses a 5-ton clock with four clock faces on each side measuring 2.7 m in diameter. What’s essential to know is the name Big Ben belongs to the 13-ton bell that’s housed inside the tower which rings only at the top of every hour. The tower itself was just called ‘Clock Tower’ since its construction in 1859. It was renamed as the Elizabeth Tower in September 2012 after Queen Elizabeth II to mark her diamond jubilee.

In 1835, the original Palace of Westminster was destroyed in a fire and the contract to rebuild the palace was given to Charles Barry in 1834. As part of his rebuild, he wanted a clock tower in the new palace. The clock tower was designed, however, in a gothic revival style by Augustus Pugin and took 13 years to build and was finally completed in 1856. Big Ben the hour bell was supported by a sturdy iron frame that is part of the spire that rises above the belfry. Being 8 ft in diameter, the bell weighed 13.5 tons. It had to be turned on its side with special wooden supports to be hoisted up the center of the tower in a task that took 36 hours to accomplish. It finally got to work in 1859 but had an issue only two months into service; the bell had cracked on one side. Instead of being replaced, it was given a quarter turn and subsequently struck with a lighter hammer.

The frames of the clock face of all the four clocks are made out of cast iron with dials that are 23 ft in diameter. The faces are a mosaic of opal glass that is assembled in place such that they can be removed or replaced individually. They keep it light and allow for inspection of the hands from within the towers. Each number on the clock face is about 2 ft in size and the distance between the minute's scores are about 1 ft. Being one of the largest clocks in the world, it is also powered by a Victorian-era clockwork mechanism that is still reliable after 150 years of construction. In fact, it has its own team of engineers and specialists that maintain it and wind the clock three times a week and even adjust for daylight savings.

While this grand edifice is a marvel in terms of its architecture and Victorian engineering for all modern tourists, its historical significance is much deeper. Visiting big ben is your opportunity to dive into the history of London and learn about some of the events that shaped the city such as the bomb that destroyed the House of Commons chambers in World War II but left the tower standing. As well as how it got a new name honoring Queen Elizabeth in 2012. While the tower is amazing during the day, what leaves a lasting impression on all visitors is seeing it in the night while brightly lit alongside the river Thames.

The popular Chimes of the tower were the first broadcast on radio on New Year’s Eve, 1923. Following that, permanent microphones were installed in the tower and the chimes became popular. During darker times such as World War II the chimes also became a symbol of hope.

Although the tower is one of London’s top attractions, the tour inside the tower is only limited to residents of the United Kingdom. Therefore, if you’re a visitor from overseas, you won’t be able to actually get inside the tower and see big ben in the metal. However, the Elizabeth Tower can be enjoyed from several vantage points in the area and you can take a tour of the Houses of Parliament next to the tower. Residents of the UK will have to contact their local Member of Parliament and request for a tour and visit on a scheduled day. On this tour the visitors will be taken into the tower by a guide where they will have to climb the 334 stone steps to get to the top of the tower and enjoy some incredible views of the city and of course, they can take a close look at big ben the bell.

The big ben tour to overseas travelers is mostly an outside visit of the tower while a ticket to the House of Parliaments is available. All visitors can take a guided tour on Saturdays and the prices cost about £15 for adults, £6 for children, £37 for families and £10 for students. It’s important to note however that the Elizabeth Tower has been under refurbishment since August 2017. The work is expected to continue until 2021 and all tours to the tower will be suspended until then.

.It’s uncertain how the bell got its name. It is widely believed that it could have been named after Sir Benjamin Hall who was the commissioner of works at the time of installation.

.The Elizabeth Tower actually leans about 22cm to the north-west. A number of factors have been thought to contribute to it including tunnel excavations close by for the jubilee underground line. Drying up of the clay bed below the foundations is also thought to contribute to the shrinking. The tilting has been monitored since 1999 and the experts think it’s not a matter of concern as it could be a few thousand years before the structure becomes unstable.

.Surprisingly the precise motion of the clock’s pendulum is controlled by slight mass variations on it. It is done by adding or removing pennies! By adding or removing pre-decimal pennies, the clock’s accuracy can be maintained. Among the lot are two silver coins and a £5 coin from Big Ben’s 150th-anniversary commemoration.

.Big Ben’s original designed intended it to produce an E note in its chime. However,due to the crack, it is slightly off-giving its now unique sound.

.Each clock face has 312 pieces of glass.

.Since its opening, Big Ben has rarely stopped. Even after a bomb destroyed the Commons chamber during WWII, the clock tower survived and continued working.

.The clock face and the tower have always been illuminated in the night except during World War I when they were turned off to stop the Germans from attacking it.

Although the 96 m tall clock tower was built to be visible anywhere in London, you need a bit more help in finding your way to it in modern times. All the walking and bus tours in London pass by the Elizabeth Tower and it’s also easy to get to it via bicycling, taxi or even the tube. For anyone taking the tube, Westminster Station is where they need to get off and walk across the street to get too big ben. All the lines including District, Circle and the Jubilee stop at this station so it’s possible to get here quickly and easily from any part of the city. If you’re taking a bus tour of the city, all the busses go by the tower. You can even choose London’s iconic double-decker buses which go by the tower. One of the most fun ways to explore London is on a bicycle tour. Being at the heart of the city, big ben is also best explored by those who have plenty of time on energy on their hands for a bicycle tour!

Right across the street from the Parliament, St. Stephens Tavern is one of the best places to eat or to quench your thirst with a cold beer. Having a history of over a hundred years, the place has been frequented by notable figures including Winston Churchill as they claim. They offer a typical pub menu along with meat pies, sandwiches, chips and more throughout the day at reasonable prices despite their tourist-heavy locale.

The Red Lion is located halfway between big ben and 10 Downing Street which is the home of the Prime Minister. It can be seen as a good example of a typical English Pub with stained glass windows and wood-paneled walls. It is frequented by members of the parliament and even has a bell specific for them as a reminder of important votes. You can find a full pub menu here along with a fantastic selection of beer and wine. Not surprisingly considering the frequenters to the pub, the prices are a bit inflated.

The Park Plaza is a 4-star hotel just on the other side of the Westminster Bridge from big ben. Being one of the best hotels to stay in the center of the city, it is at a short distance all the crucial places such as the Waterloo underground station, St. Thomas’s Hospital, Florence Nightingale Museum, Sea Life London Aquarium and more. The fully furnished guestrooms have 24-hour room service, minibars, cable television, and other amenities. For much-needed unwinding, you can enjoy the full-service spa, a fitness center and an indoor pool and dine at two of the hotels fine dining restaurants or hang out at the pub.

This 4-star, the business-friendly hotel is only a 10-minute walk from the Westminster Bridge and is another great choice for your stay close to big ben. Within a short distance from the hotel are attractions such as the Imperial War Museum, London Eye, Sea Life London Aquarium and more. It is also located adjacent to the Lambeth North Underground Station. The guestrooms are among the 236 well-furnished apartments with premium amenities including a safe. It offers 24 hours front desk, fitness center and laundry service along with multilingual assistance.

On the list of great hotels in the city center close to big ben is the Park Plaza. This 4-star hotel is a short walk from the Westminster bridge and close to popular tourist destinations such as Florence Nightingale Museum, Southbank Centre Book Market and Imperial war museum. For convenient travel, you can also pick the Lambeth North Underground Station that’s only 0.3 miles from the hotel. The property features 494 guest rooms with all the amenities such as cable television, a minibar, kitchen and 24-hour room service. The hotel also offers free Wi-Fi, swimming pool, restaurant, business center, and laundry facilities.

Being located at the center of the city puts big ben close to many of London’s top attractions with the closest one being the Houses of Parliament. Originally built as a royal palace and residence during Henry VIII, it became a political meeting place after the Norman conquest of 1066. The year 1265 saw the first elected Parliament in the palace and it has been a political center ever since. Today the Houses of Parliament which are at the crux of the British Government have their place at the palace. Since it’s the meeting point of the politicians and you’re lucky enough to be on tour of it at the right time, you could even sit in on a House of Commons Meeting! The St. Stephen’s Hall which was once a royal chapel is one of the famous sections which is a must-visit on your tour of the Palace of Westminster. Be there early to get the tickets and you can choose for a guided or an unguided tour. On an unguided tour, you can explore at your own pace while a guided tour offers you much information on the history and workings of the palace.

One of the most popular tourist attractions in the city, the London eye is one of the world’s largest Ferris wheels and one of the most instantly recognizable structures due to its popularity in the media and movies. Whether you’re traveling with your family or with friends, this is one ride that you must experience. Since the wheel moves about, you get one of the most spectacular and unique views of the city with an ever-changing perspective brought about by the constant movement. The ride which lasts for 30 minutes in which you go a full circle costs £45 for adults £36 for children (3-15) and free for infants under 3. Over 3.5 million people ride the Ferris wheel every year and more than 50 million people have been on it so far.

The Queen’s official residence, Buckingham Palace is among the only handful of royal residencies still remaining working in the world. When the queen is away it is open to visitors during the summer months between August and September and has been so for the last 20 years. Whether you’re a first-timer or a fan of all things royal, the palace tour is sure to be a delight. Some of the things you will get to see on a tour include the magnificent Grand Staircase, the State Rooms used for official functions and receiving guests, the fine art of the palace and even an audio tour by Prince Charles!

Big Ben/ Elizabeth Tower is an iconic monument of London that cannot be missed on any tour of the city. When you book your flight tickets with us to London, make sure to combine it with hotel hooking to get cheap deals on your next travel. Book early and not only enjoy big savings but also the best services during your travel.