The Elizabeth Tower & The Great Bell
When people speak of "Big Ben," they usually mean the entire clock tower at the north end of the Houses of Parliament. However, Big Ben is actually the name of the great bell inside the tower. The tower itself was officially renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.
Rising 96 metres above the streets of Westminster, the tower has become synonymous with London itself. Its distinctive silhouette and famous chimes are recognised around the world, symbolising British democracy, resilience, and the passage of time.
The origin of the name "Big Ben" remains a matter of debate. The most popular theory suggests it was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, the First Commissioner of Works who oversaw the installation of the bell. Hall was a large man, and during a parliamentary debate about naming the bell, a member reportedly shouted "Why not call it Big Ben?"
Another theory attributes the name to Benjamin Caunt, a popular heavyweight boxer of the era known as "Big Ben." Whatever the origin, the name has endured for over 160 years.
The current bell is actually the second Big Ben. The first, cast in 1856 and weighing 16 tonnes, cracked during testing. The replacement was cast at Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 1858 and transported to Westminster on a cart drawn by sixteen horses, with crowds lining the streets.
In September 1859, the new bell also developed a crack, which remains visible today. Rather than replace it, the bell was rotated so the hammer struck a different spot, and it has chimed reliably ever since—though with its distinctive slightly imperfect tone.
The Great Clock of Westminster was designed by Edmund Beckett Denison and built by clockmaker Edward John Dent. When it began operation in 1859, it was the largest and most accurate four-faced striking and chiming clock in the world.
The clock mechanism weighs about five tonnes, and the minute hands are 4.3 metres long. The clock is remarkably accurate, kept so by adding or removing old penny coins from the pendulum—each penny changes the clock's speed by 0.4 seconds per day.
Big Ben's chimes are broadcast by the BBC and heard around the world. The famous tune played by the quarter bells is the Westminster Quarters, based on phrases from Handel's Messiah. Big Ben itself strikes on the hour.
"All through this hour, Lord be my guide,
And by Thy power, no foot shall slide."
This is the verse traditionally associated with the Westminster Quarters melody.
During World War II, Big Ben continued to chime throughout the Blitz, even as bombs fell around it. The sound of its bells, broadcast on BBC radio, became a symbol of British determination and hope during the darkest days of the war. The clock faces were darkened during blackouts, but the mechanism kept running.
Tours: Available to UK residents through their MP
Best Views: Westminster Bridge, Parliament Square
Photo Tip: Visit at sunset for golden light on the tower
Nearest Tube: Westminster (Jubilee, District, Circle lines)
Between 2017 and 2022, the Elizabeth Tower underwent a major restoration project. The clock mechanism was carefully maintained, the tower's stonework was cleaned and repaired, and the clock faces were restored to their original Victorian colour scheme—Prussian blue rather than the black they had become through decades of London grime.
