Top 10 Interesting Facts About Big Ben

Top 10 Interesting Facts About Big Ben

1. Big Ben is actually the name of one of the clock bells, not the tower itself

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Although it is by far the UK’s most famous landmark and is known all over the world, almost everyone mistakes the name Big Ben for the entire structure of the tower and clock. This is incorrect however, and Big Ben is merely the nickname for the Great Bell within the clock itself.

The wider structure of the tower has historically been called the Clock Tower, ever since its completion in the mid 19th century. However, in 2012 the decision was made by Members of Parliament to rename the tower in tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The change was marked by a naming ceremony, and the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, officially announced that the tower was to be renamed the Elizabeth Tower.

Don’t worry about making this common mistake when visiting London however, as everyone else, even Londoners, use the name Big Ben as well.

2. It is a World Heritage Site

Since 1987 Big Ben has been awarded the great honour of being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On this list it joins the likes of Stonehenge, The English Lake District and Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway as a place of important natural or cultural heritage in the United Kingdom. This means that the government has a responsibility towards preserving and maintaining the building so it can best be enjoyed by future generations.

This goes some way towards representing the many ways in which Big Ben is central to UK culture, and to London culture in particular. Big Ben’s chimes can be heard between the main bulletins of most major UK news broadcasters, meaning they are heard by millions of people across the country every day. The clock tower, along with the London Eye, are also the main focus of New Year’s Eve celebrations in the city, and every year are surrounded by a spectacular display of fireworks, lights and music.

3. No UK passport? No entry!

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A free tour of Big Ben and the Elizabeth Tower seems like the perfect way to experience London’s most iconic sight – from the inside out. However, it is important to note that for security and cost reasons only UK residents are allowed to visit them, with no exceptions.

There are also other requirements to meet before you embark on this particular adventure. All visitors must be over the age of eleven, and must be able to climb all 334 steps without assistance. It is also advisable that you avoid the climb if you have an existing heart condition or are in the late stages of pregnancy.

If you’ve read through the above and can check each point off your list, then you should be good to go. Once tours resume in 2021 be prepared to book up to six months in advance, as this popular tour often sells out quickly.

4. It was only completed in 1859

There are records of a clock tower on this site from as far back as 1288, constructed during the reign of King Edward I. Its bell was alternatively nicknamed ‘Great Edward’ and ‘Great Tom’. A second was built some time later in 1367.

Despite a long history, the origins of the current Big Ben and its tower are much more recent and can be traced back to the great fire which ripped through the Palace of Westminster on the night of the 16th October 1834, largely destroying the entire structure. As part of the rebuilding project, architect Charles Barry decided on a neo-gothic style for the new parliament, which included an imposing 315-foot clock tower designed by Augustus Pugin. The tower would go on to be Pugin’s final work before he succumbed to severe mental illness

The materials of the tower are mostly made up of cast iron, brickwork and limestone cladding.

5. It’s the UK’s version of the Leaning Tower of Pisa

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That’s right, while it may not measure up to the city of Pisa’s notoriously dramatic leaning tower, the Elizabeth Tower is, according to science and mathematics, most definitely tilting.

Due to the composition of the ground that it stands on changing gradually over the years since its construction, the tower is currently leaning very slightly to the north-west, by just under 2.5cm. This will only increase in subsequent years due to construction disruption from tunnelling work to accommodate the extension to the Jubilee Tube line. Due to the effect of heat expansion from the changing weather temperature throughout the year, it also leans very slightly from east to west annually.

This all sounds quite dramatic, but if you’re worried about the huge tower toppling into the Thames right before your eyes, don’t cancel your trip just yet. Experts have deduced that the lean of the tower won’t be an issue for at least another few thousand years.

6. It has been featured in countless films and series

As one of London’s most instantly recognisable landmarks, it’s no surprise that Big Ben is the go to establishing shot when a filmmaker wants to show that their film is set in London. Bonus points if the image of the tower is accompanied by a bright red London bus.

Big Ben is almost guaranteed to appear somewhere in any film or tv series which is set in London, however on occasion its role is much more central. For example, in Disney’s animated classic Peter Pan, Peter and the Darling siblings actually land on the minute hand of the clock, to take a short break before continuing on to Neverland. The clock also features prominently in the famous 1978 thriller The 39 Steps. At the climax of the film, the hero must disable a bomb which has been planted in the clock room. He must then climb out onto the clock face and stop the minute hand from moving.

These are just a couple of the examples of the ways in which Big Ben is central to any story which is set in London.

7. The clock is one of the most reliable in the world

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As long as you live or work within earshot of the great chimes of Big Ben, you can be assured of an accurate gauge of the time. This clock is famously reliable and is one of the most accurate in the world. Rarely over its nearly two century long lifespan has it failed or slowed.

When the adjacent House of Commons was all but destroyed during bombing in World War Two, the clock did not cease to chime. Historically, it has only slowed due to the effects of ice and heavy snow on the clock face, and due to the occasional very rare human error during maintenance.

The accuracy of the clock is credited to the unique and timeless mechanism by which it runs. The time and speed of the great hands can easily be adjusted, simply by adding small pennies to the pendulum, which is enclosed in the windproof box.

8. It is only silenced for a very good reason

Big Ben’s ‘bongs’ are an essential part of everyday London life, and there are only a few times in history when they have not sounded.

In 1916, they were silenced in order to protect the city from German bomber zeppelins. They have also gone quiet out of respect for the funerals of significant statespeople, such as in 1965 for Winston Churchill and 2013 for Margaret Thatcher. Other times have been due to maintenance work.

The bell’s current silence can be credited to a much more mundane reason; it is currently undergoing essential and extensive maintenance. At noon on 21st August 2017, the great bell was silenced until 2021 to allow for £29 million worth of repairs to take place.

9. Big Ben can be heard up to nine miles away

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It seems like there’s no escape from the sounds of Big Ben while in London. Those world famous ‘bongs’ can in fact be heard as far as nine miles away – that’s well out of most of London’s travel zones, and into the Home Counties and Kent.

This distance, while impressive, has actually become shorter over the years. As London’s expansion has caused the area to become more built up, the buildings inhibit the soundwaves so that they don’t travel as far. Back when more of the surrounding area was open land, the chimes could be heard much further away.

10. Now isn’t the best time to come and see it

The extensive maintenance work being carried out on the tower has already been mentioned, and if you’re travelling to London it’s important to bear this in mind if you want to visit the tower.

While the clock face is still visible, the rest of the tower is covered by scaffolding, meaning the iconic design of the tower is hidden. You also won’t hear the chimes, due to the maintenance work. The tower is also not open to be climbed by the public.

However, there are so many other incredible sights to be seen, and you’ll certainly find something amazing in the rest of London!