Big Ben is one of the world's most famous landmarks, and copies of the London original can be found all over the world. Big Ben is the nickname of the bell located in the topmost Elizabeth Tower of the Palace of Westminster, but the name is generally applied to the entire clock tower.

The clock tower "Big Ben" is one of London's main landmarks and its location on the banks of the Thames makes it visible from many places. The tower has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.

The Bell Great Bell

The Great Bell is the main of the five bells and its nickname "Big Ben" is also used for the entire clock tower.

Big Ben was originally intended to weigh 16.7 tons, but a freshly cast bell (in 1856) cracked beyond repair during testing, so a new smaller bell weighing 13.76 tons was cast in 1858. It measures 2.29 metres in height and has a diameter of 2.74 metres.

This bell also cracked but could be repaired, but was damaged again when a small square piece was chipped off the edge. This event slightly altered the tone of the bell, but it was never repaired and Big Ben is still working with it today.

The most famous bell in the world

The tones of Elizabeth's clock tower chimes are one of the symbols of Britain and have been copied around the world from clock makers to other tower chimes across the planet.

The chimes of the "Big Ben" tower, however, are entirely the responsibility of four smaller so-called quarter bells and the Big Ben bell itself does not interfere.

The chimes are nicknamed Westminster Quarters because it strikes every quarter of an hour.

The quarter hour sequence consists of repeated sequences in the key of E major, with a different sequence for each quarter hour. Below you will find a transcription of the notes played on that quarter hour:

xx:15 - _G♯4, _F♯4, _E4, _B3
xx:30 - _E4, _G♯4, _F♯4, B3_{followed by}the sequence _E4, _F♯4, _G♯4, _E4
xx:45 - _G♯4, _E4, _F♯4, _B3, followed by the sequence _B3, _F♯4, _G♯4, E4_and_G♯4, _F♯4, _E4, _B3

It's only at the full hour that Big Ben himself will take his turn.

Before it is struck, however, the longest sequence of quarter bells will first be heard in the form of _E4, _G♯4, _F♯4, B3+ _E4, _F♯4, _G♯4, E4+ _G♯4, _E4, _F♯4, B3+ _B3, _F♯4, _G♯4, _E4.

Only then will Big Ben strike as many blows as there are hours. Big Ben sounds a natural E.

Elizabeth Tower and the clock

The clock tower, which is nicknamed Big Ben, is actually called Elizabeth Tower. It is also called the Clock Tower or Clock Tower.

The tower was built together with the Palace of Westminster after a devastating fire in the mid-19th century. Until then, the palace did not have a tower this high. Construction began in 1845 and was completed in 1859. It impresses with its pure neo-Gothic style and the magnificent clock faces visible from afar, which are located on each of the four sides of the tower.

The tower is 96.3 metres high and the clock is 54 metres above the ground. The clock faces alone are 6.9 metres in diameter, making it the third largest clock in the UK.

The bell tower is set at a height of 60 metres.

Visiting Big Ben and admission

The tower is open to the public, but only with a guide.

Tickets are always limited and go on sale on the second Wednesday of each month at 10am sharp on theofficial website: parliament.uk/visiting-and-tours/big-ben-tour.

You must be able to climb 334 steps during the tour. The tour lasts 90 minutes.

The price is 35 gbp.

How to get to the tower?

Big Ben lies on the banks of the Thames right in the centre of London, opposite Westminster Abbey, with the London Eye observation wheel rising into the sky across the river.

Big Ben can be reached by the following tube and bus lines: