Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the Great Clock of Westminster, [1] [2] at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, England, [3] and the name is frequently extended to refer also to the clock and the clock tower. [4] The official name of the tower in which Big Ben is located was originally the Clock Tower, but it was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II .
- 31 May 1859; 163 years ago
- Gothic Revival
- 11
- Westminster, London, England
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What is Big Ben? The Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower, commonly called Big Ben, are among London's most iconic landmarks and must-see London attractions. Technically, Big Ben is the name given to the massive bell inside the clock tower, which weighs more than 13 tons (13,760 kg). The clock tower looks spectacular at night when the four clock faces are illuminated.
Big Ben, tower clock, famous for its accuracy and for its massive bell. Strictly speaking, the name refers to only the great hour bell , which weighs 15.1 tons (13.7 metric tons), but it is commonly associated with the whole clock tower at the northern end of the Houses of Parliament , in the London borough of Westminster .
- Jonathan D. Betts
- What is Big Ben?Big Ben is a tower clock known for its accuracy and for its massive hour bell. Strictly speaking, the name refers only to the bell, which weighs 15...
- How is Big Ben powered?Big Ben’s clock is powered by a double three-legged gravity escapement designed by Edmund Beckett Denison in 1851, which imparted unprecedented acc...
- When does Big Ben chime?Big Ben chimes every hour, and smaller bells around it chime every 15 minutes to mark each quarter hour.
- What is Big Ben’s formal name?The tower housing Big Ben was formally known as St. Stephen’s Tower until 2012, when it was renamed Elizabeth Tower on the occasion of Elizabeth II...
- How did Big Ben get its nickname?The origins of Big Ben’s nickname are uncertain, but one theory proposes that it comes from the heavyweight boxer Benjamin Caunt. Another suggests...
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Big Ben is probably the world's most famous clock. That iconic silhouette is instantly recognisable and is one of the most Instagrammed landmarks on the planet. Six monarchs and 41 prime ministers have come and gone since the bells first struck their now familiar music across Westminster. Here we tell Big Ben's historic story in words and images.
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