- The history of the Big Ben Clock Tower at Westminster dates back to the 13th Century but the tower as we now know it has its roots in 19th Century Britain.
- The largest of the tower’s five bells is the Big Ben, which weighs 13.5 long tons (13.7 tonnes; 15.1 short tons) and is named after Sir Benjamin Hall.
- Big Ben – the name given to the great bell rather than the actual clock – was installed in the Palace of Westminster clock tower in 1859.
- That’s right – this famous London landmark isn’t officially named Big Ben. For hundreds of years, it used to be called, simply, the Clock Tower.
- The Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster – officially named Saint Stephen’s Tower – is commonly known as the Big Ben.
- Big Ben underwent extensive restoration from 2017 to 2023. The Great Bell (nicknamed Big Ben) has just been repaired. And the clock tower (Elizabeth Tower)...
- The original office name for Big Ben was the Clock Tower, but in 2012 it was renamed to Elizabeth Tower to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II.
- We then went up to the clock tower. You stand within a couple of meters of Big Ben. They give you ear protectors. We saw it chime at 17.00.
- Review of the Big Ben guided tour, which takes you behind the clock faces and into the belfy of Parliament's Elizabeth Tower to see London's famous bell.
- The origin of the name ‘Big Ben’ is not clear, but it may have been named after Sir Benjamin Hall, who oversaw the installation of the Great Bell.