Are you going to visit London? Don’t miss visiting Big Ben, the city’s most famous clock!
Economic and political capital of the United Kingdom, London — with its nine million inhabitants — is one of the most visited cities in the world. Every year, almost twenty million tourists visit London to discover its culture, taste its effervescence and admire its historic buildings. Among them, face to face Tamise — between the bridge and the Westminster abbey — is Big Ben, one of London’s must-sees. In 2008, on the occasion of the hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the tower, a survey designated Big Ben as the preferred British monument.
Famous around the world and symbol of the British capital, Big Ben is actually the name of the huge bell of 13.5 tons located at the top of the Elizabeth Tower. This Gothic-style clock tower, attached to the Palace of Westminster , measures ninety-six meters high. Regularly, a flag is raised at the top of the tower and its dials are illuminated to indicate to the people of London that a session of the British Parliament is underway.
From London, would you like to visit Big Ben? To help you, here is a mini-guide containing all the information you need to discover.
Also: Top 14 things to do in London
Big Ben story
Photo credit: Flickr – Tambako The Jaguar
♪ 1834 , Parliament is partly destroyed by a terrible fire and it is the British architect Charles Barry , which is designated to imagine the plans of the new building. Its construction, which begins in 1843 , will not be done without harm. A first bell was melted in 1856. It is so heavy that it will be necessary to use sixteen horses to drive it to the construction site. Unfortunately, this bell ends a few months later. A new bell was then melted in 1858 at the foundry of Whitechapel. It will take eighteen hours to move this new bell on a journey of only sixty-one meters! For the little story, the current bell is also split. It is also what gives it such a special sound.
Completed 1858 next to the new Westminster Palace, the clock tower was launched the following year in May 1859. The origin of his name remains uncertain. For certain, it would be a reference to the melting agent of the bell, Benjamin Hall - tall politician — nicknamed Ben. For others, the name of the tower refers to a famous boxing champion, Ben Cault . He won a bare-handed battle of sixty rounds against the reigning champion of the time, while the construction of the tower was at the centre of intense debates.
The 31 December 1923 , the BBC radio broadcasts, for the first time, Big Ben's carillon to announce the new year. This practice will become a tradition and, again today, Londoners celebrate the new year at Big Ben’s sound. The big bell is also reasoning in London at every national mourning. She sounded for the funerals of Edward VII in 1910, Georges V in 1936 and Georges VI in 1952. Big Ben killed himself only on rare occasions, as during the funeral of the former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 2013.
Long known as the clock tower or the St Stephen Tower under the Victoria era, the tower was renamed Tour Elizabeth in 2012 on the occasion of the diamond jubilee of the Queen Elizabeth II . But since 2017, Big Ben has been killing himself to make room for indispensable renovations, especially because of the deflection of the tower in the ground. This silence is not without creating a lively polemic.
What to see and do to Big Ben?
Photo credit: Flickr – Jeff Few
First of all, know that visiting Big Ben is a privilege. For security reasons, the Elizabeth Tower is not accessible only by British residents
who, in addition, must obtain a pass from a member of Parliament or the House of Lords.
If you left these lucky few, you'll get to belfry (the room where the bell is installed) after having bravely climbed the three hundred and thirty-four steps spread over eleven floors. You will then enjoy a magnificent view of the city of London, its monuments, skyscrapers and lively neighborhoods.
You will also learn more about the functioning of four clocks , covering each of the four façades of the tower. Note that each of them is seven metres in diameter. The figures for each clock measure sixty centimetres, while the large and small needle are 4.2 and 2.7 metres respectively.
You don’t have the chance to visit Big Ben? Nothing prevents you from admiring this magnificent outdoor monument and enjoying a night stroll, to take beautiful pictures of this symbol of the city of London. To learn more about this famous monument, don’t hesitate to participate in a guided tour of the city, of which Big Ben is almost always on the program.
How to get to Big Ben?
- By metro
To visit Big Ben or simply admire it, the metro remains the ideal means of transport. It will allow you to avoid the huge caps that invade London at peak times.
The simplest thing is to borrow them lines Jubilee , Circle or District and descend to the station Westminster , closest to Big Ben. You can also opt for the station Saint James Park on the Circle and Jubilee lines and join the clock tower along the Saint James Park . Count ten minutes on foot.
- Bus
There are many buses to reach and visit Big Ben.
- ♪ lines 211, 12 and 24 will lead you directly to Westminster.
- ♪ lines 11 and 53 : go down to the stop Parliament Square and join Big Ben in just a few minutes.
- By taxi
All taxi drivers will lead you to Big Ben without any hesitation! Know, however, that the rates are high and that on average, 10 pounds for a three-kilometre journey.
- By boat
Why not opt for the boat to go to the Elizabeth Tower? Virtually all cruises make a stop to the shipyard Westminster Millenium Pier nearby. An original way to visit Big Ben.
Schedules and prices of Big Ben
Photo credit: Flickr – Pikakoko
Schedule
- From December to May
From Monday to Friday (except holidays), three visits of 1h15 are organized every day at 9h15, 11h15 and 14h15
- May to September
An additional visit is organized on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 4 p.m.
Rates
- The visit is free for all the lucky ones who can visit Big Ben.
- Watching it from the outside is also free.
Note : for example, if you want to admire Big Ben as part of a London tour by bus, count on average 33€ for an adult pass and 17€ For a child.
Good to know.
- Until 2021, Big Ben no longer welcomes any visitors. The Elizabeth Tower is indeed closed for renovation. - Children under 11 years are not accepted. - The waiting list is long. If you are a resident and want to visit Big Ben, take the steps at least six months in advance. - It is possible to hear Big Ben resonate more than six kilometers in the round. - During the German bombings of 1941, the clock tower was not illuminated, in order not to attract the attention of the enemies. In fact, it was not damaged by war. - If you are not a resident, you can comfort yourself with Little Ben — a small clock tower with similar design — located at the intersection of London Inner Ring Road and Victoria Street, close to the same name station. Fun fact: this clock tower permanently indicates the London summer time.
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