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Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben)
Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben)
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About
Big Ben, one of London’s most iconic landmarks, refers to the Great Bell inside the Elizabeth Tower at the Palace of Westminster. This Gothic Revival-style tower is a symbol of London, known for its accurate clock and world-famous chimes, which have been marking the time for over 160 years
Insider Tips
After undergoing a five-year restoration project that was completed in 2022, Big Ben’s clock face and tower have been beautifully restored to their former glory and visitors can tour the interior of the tower. However, tickets get sold out incredibly fast. Tickets are released 3 months in advance on the second Wednesday of every month at 10:00 AM.
The tour involves climbing 334 spiral steps and no step-free access is available. You also must be comfortable experiencing high noise levels from the clock mechanism and bells, although earplugs will be provided. The tour runs from Monday to Saturday and lasts around 1h30
Did you know?
Although many people refer to the entire clock tower as "Big Ben," the name actually only refers to the Great Bell inside the tower. The tower itself was officially renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012 in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, but the name "Big Ben" remains widely used