Big Ben

Big Ben is the name of the great bell, the biggest bell within the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster at the Houses of Parliament in London.

It weighs approx 13.5 tonnes & was cast in 1856. Amongst other bells, Big Ben rings out striking each hour on the hour.

Big Ben is often wrongly used to name the clock (which is the biggest 4 face chiming clock in the world).

Big Ben, nicknamed after Sir Benjamin Hall, a popular member of Parliament of the time and commissioner of works, is now more commonly known as the complete clock and tower as well as the bell.

In September 2012 the Clock tower was renamed 'Elizabeth Tower' in honour and celebration of the queens Diamond Jubilee.

People often refer to the clock at the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament) as 'Big Ben. However, Big Ben is actually the 14 ton bell inside the clock tower and was named after Sir Benjamin Hall who was Commissioner of Works when the bell was installed.

Big Ben is a bell. It is part of the clock in the Palace of Westminster and is used to chime the hours.

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When the clock first began operating on May 31, 1859, its 13-ton bell was called big-ben, supposedly after Britain's first-commissioner-of-works, benjamin-hall-1st-baron-llanover. Later, the name came to refer to the entire clock. The clock first arrived at its home at palace-of-westminsteron this date in 1859. It traveled from the whitechapel-bell-foundry--- Britain's oldest manufacturing company --- on a carriage drawn by sixteen horses. Big Ben holds the record as the world's largest four-faced chiming clock. At the bottom of each face, written in gilt letters, is the inscription, "Domine Salvam Fac Reginam Nostram Victoriam Primam" --- "O Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First."

Since Big Ben and the Elizabeth Tower are landmarks in London, millions of people see them each year.

Residents of the UK may arrange to tour the Elizabeth Tower and climb up the stairs, but tours must be arranged through their local MP or a Member of the House of Lords whom they know.

No specific visitor number information can be found, however, there are three tours per week day, excluding Bank Holidays. An estimated number would be that about 75,000 people are actually able to tour the Elizabeth Tower and climb the stairs each year.

Big Ben is actually the nickname of the 14 ton Great Bell, but has over the years, incorrectly referred to the tower and clock as well.

The reason is up for debate... however - the consensus is that it may have been named after Sir Benjamin Hall, who oversaw the installation of the Great Bell.

There are 334 steps in the Big Ben (Elizabeth Tower).

Technically there are no steps in Big Ben - as this is the name of the largest bell in the tower.

The White Tower in the Tower of London is 90 ft high. The great bell in the clock tower of the palace of Westminster, commonly called 'Big Ben' is 7.5 ft high. The clock tower is 315.9 ft high.

The main bell, Big Ben, chimes every hour on the hour.

The clock also chimes every quarter hour using other bells.

Big Ben is the name of the largest bell in clock of the Elizabeth Tower of the British Houses of Parliament in London. The Elizabeth Tower was completed in 1859, and Big Ben cast cast on 6 August 1856.

Nothing. It isn't open to the public.

The public can visit the tower by appointment only, made through your local Member of Parliament. You can climb the 300 odd steps to the clock and see the workings and bells.

The Eiffel tower is taller than the statue of Liberty. It is three and a half times as big as Liberty, pedestal included, or six times as big as the statue itself.
The Eiffel tower is 1,063 ft (324 m) tall, whereas the statue is 305 ft or 93 m (pedestal included) or 151 ft (46 meters) for the statue proper (still huge for a statue).

A common point is that Gustave Eiffel designed and built the Statue of Liberty's internal frame.

The foundation stone to the Tower was laid on the 28th September 1843.

The Great Bell in the clock tower of the palace of Westminster, commonly known as Big Ben, is just over 7ft tall. The Statue of Liberty is 305ft tall, including the pedestal. So Big Ben is much, much smaller.

The clock tower of the palace of Westminster, on the other hand, is 315.9ft high, so it is taller than the Statue of Liberty.

Big Ben is actually the 14 ton bell inside the clock, although the clock itself is often referred to as being Big Ben. The clock is on the Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster which is another name for the Houses of Parliament.

The Tower is not generally open to the public but healthy residents of Britain can apply to go inside and climb the 334 steps to the clock through contacting their local MP.

There are 3 tours daily and 4 during summer months. They are usually fully booked at least 6 months in advance so early booking is essential. At present there is no charge for entry to the tower, but this could change in due course.

The 13,760kg great bell of the Palace of Westminster clocktower, commonly known as Big Ben, was manufactured at the famous Whitechapel Foundry, London. The cast was so big, it took three furnaces to heat the metel, 20 minutes to pour and 20 days for the metal to solidify and cool.

Many people visit Big Ben during the year. If you are a resident of the UK you can tour the Tower by permission from your local MP. Excursions are limited so early booking is important. It is recommended you allow at least 3 months. There is no charge at present but the Government is looking at changing this in the year 2015.