Big Ben Tours

Big Ben featuring skyline, a castle and heritage architecture

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One of London’s most resounding landmarks is a treasured emblem of England.

Catch a glimpse of Big Ben across the River Thames and you’ll know you have truly arrived in London. Featured in British films, such as “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” “Notting Hill” and “Love Actually,” Big Ben is best viewed from the Thames’ east bank or while strolling along Westminster Bridge, on route to see the Houses of Parliament.

Big Ben was the name originally given to the largest of the clock tower’s bells. The Great Bell, as it is otherwise known, weighs 13 tons (13,760 kilograms). Listen for its deep knell as it strikes on the hour, peeling high across the rooftops and rush of London’s traffic. Nowadays, the name Big Ben is synonymous with the bells, the clock and the tower.

Since first sounding in July 1859, the clock’s reliability and reassuring chime have become a national symbol of British resilience. When the sun sets, its four ivory-tinted faces are illuminated so the clock can still be seen from miles away. The faces have only ever been dimmed in times of national crisis: for two years during World War I, to avoid German zeppelin attacks, and at night during World War II to disorient German Blitz pilots.

Completed in 1858, the clock tower was supposedly named after London’s Commissioner of Works, a large man called Benjamin Hall. Designed by architects Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin in classic Gothic Revivalist style, the brick and limestone tower rests atop Britain’s Houses of Parliament. The clock is the largest four-faced chiming clock in Great Britain. Each face is 23 feet (seven meters) in diameter and contains 312 pieces of opal glass.

Despite its status as a popular landmark, Big Ben only opens its doors to British citizens who can schedule a tour through their parliamentary representatives. Still, this exclusivity won’t stop it from giving you a little rush of excitement the first time you see and hear it.

In June 2012, Big Ben was officially renamed Elizabeth Tower, in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond jubilee, but it is still known colloquially as Big Ben.

Big Ben is located in central London. The nearest Underground station is Waterloo.

Plan a trip to see Big Ben

Baglioni Hotel London - The Leading Hotels of the World
1 Hotel Mayfair
Hotel Riu Plaza London Victoria
Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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Reviews of Big Ben

3.7
Guest rating
5 - Excellent
1290
" "5 - Excellent 29.600734281780632%
4 - Good
1290
" "4 - Good 29.600734281780632%
3 - Okay
1238
" "3 - Okay 28.40752638825149%
2 - Disappointing
433
" "2 - Disappointing 9.935750344194584%
1 - Terrible
107
" "1 - Terrible 2.455254703992657%

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler
Apr 9, 2020

Under construction so not much to see...

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler
Mar 25, 2020

Under renovation, supposedly until 2024 according to the cabdriver.

2/5 - Disappointing

C.Wiese
Mar 11, 2020

Currently under renovation, hidden by scaffolding for at least another year I think.

3/5 - Okay

Michelle
Mar 11, 2020

Unfortunately the majority of the structure is under scaffolding until 2022 (or later?) but you can still see the face of the clock

2/5 - Disappointing

Verified traveler
Feb 24, 2020

Big Ben is currently under construction. You can barely see the tip of the roof.

2/5 - Disappointing

Verified traveler
Feb 19, 2020

It was under construction, so the London skyline was a bit disappointing

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