Big Ben: what to see outside and how to get inside the tower

Big Ben stands in the center of London, but only a handful of people get inside. Climbing the tower is possible only by applying through Parliament, and there are no tickets at the entrance. The clock, meanwhile, is chiming every hour again: after the 2017-2022 restoration, the tower returned to its regular schedule. Below is verified information about the history, dimensions, and accuracy of the mechanism, plus practical details for visiting.

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The symbol and calling card of London

💡 In short:

• The tower stands on the Thames embankment next to the Palace of Westminster.
• Only UK residents are allowed inside: a free tour is booked through a Member of Parliament.
• Tours and access inside: 09/2026, verified on the official Parliament page.

The tower's silhouette is recognized even by those who have never been to London. It has appeared on postcards, in news intros, and in dozens of films about Britain.

To the sound of the bell, the country rings in the New Year and observes a minute of silence. No tourist in Westminster walks past the tower, so get a spot by the parapet early.

History: the 1834 fire and the new tower

The first clock tower of the Palace of Westminster appeared in the 13th century, while the palace itself was built two centuries earlier. The structure stood for about six centuries until the fire of 1834 destroyed the building almost completely. The course of events is described in the history of the Palace of Westminster.

© Terry Ott from Washington, DC Metro Area, United States of America · CC BYPhoto: Terry Ott from Washington, DC Metro Area, United States of America, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

The new Gothic tower was completed in 1858 to the design of architect Augustus Pugin, and it quickly became the calling card of England. The construction dates are confirmed in official Parliament materials.

Then came the story of the bell, which was recast twice before being hoisted into its permanent place.

Construction of the tower

The clock tower and its tilt

The Big Ben clock tower is one of England's most famous neo-Gothic structures. Its architect, Augustus Pugin, did a great deal to shape the look of London. According to parliament data, the tower leans about 0.2 degrees from vertical.

That tilt is not enough to officially classify it as a leaning tower. But the deviation is measurable, and engineers monitor it constantly.

For a long time, anyone could climb to the top, and the view opened onto the Thames and central London. Today, access is by special permission only, and ordinary tourists are left with an exterior view. If you want a photo without the crowds, come in the morning.

Clock faces and the clock mechanism

© Lewis Clarke · CC BY-SAPhoto: Lewis Clarke, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

The Big Ben clock is one of the three largest four-faced chiming clocks in the world. Astronomer George Airy, lawyer Edmund Beckett, and clockmaker Edward John Dent with his son Frederick worked on the design. The mechanism was assembled in 1854 and started on May 31, 1859, as noted on the official parliament website.

The size of the components is impressive. The pendulum is 4 meters long and weighs 300 kilograms, and the entire mechanism weighs 5 tons. The clock face is 7 meters in diameter, the minute hand is 4.2 meters, and the hour hand is 2.7 meters. The hour hand is cast from iron, and the minute hand is made of copper.

The rate is adjusted with an ordinary coin. An old penny placed on the pendulum speeds up the clock by 0.4 seconds per day, and you will find this described in the mechanism reference.

Each of the four clock faces is decorated with the Latin inscription "Domine Salvam fac Reginam nostram Victoriam primam." Translated, it means "O Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First."

The Big Ben bell

© wasd42 · CC BY-SAPhoto: wasd42, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The bell succeeded only on the second attempt. The first version weighed 16 tons and failed testing. It was recast into a lighter and smaller structure, and that bell first rang on May 31, 1859.

A few months later, the 13-ton structure cracked. It was not recast: the authorities ordered a lighter hammer. The bell was turned so its intact side faced the hammer, after which it rang again, and you can hear it today. Details are in the history of the bell.

How accurate the clock is

Big Ben has long been a benchmark of reliability for the whole country. People in Britain and beyond set their watches by it, and its accuracy is ensured by Edward John Dent's three-stage mechanism.

The error does not exceed 2 seconds per day, so you can safely check your own watch against it. The keeper adjusts the rate by hand and is responsible for the mechanism's condition all year round, and this tradition lives on even in the age of atomic clocks.

Interesting facts about Big Ben

Big Ben is the name of the great bell, and it became attached to the tower unofficially. Until 2012, the tower was called the Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster, and then it was named the Elizabeth Tower.

The height of the tower from its base to the tip of the spire is 96.3 meters, which is taller than the Statue of Liberty in New York. The bell could be heard up to 8 kilometers away, and the design gave the sound its distinctive character.

The chimes were silent during the 1983-1985 restoration and the scheduled repairs of 2007. The bell fell silent on August 21, 2017, and remained silent until 2022 during a major restoration (restoration results). The project cost about 80 million pounds (as of 11/2022, Euronews).

The bell also fell silent on tragic days, such as at Margaret Thatcher's funeral. But on July 27, 2012, it struck 40 times to mark the opening of the Olympic Games in London.

Statistics enthusiasts have calculated that the minute hands travel about 190 kilometers per year. The new year officially begins with the first strike of the bell on January 1. People near Westminster Abbey hear thirteen strikes that night, because the radio signal arrives before the sound.

For some time, the tower housed a prison for members of parliament who had fallen out of favor. The clock keeper was once nearly fired for being just one second slow. And in 1949, the clock fell 4 minutes behind because birds perched on the hands. Facts verified against the tower's history on the parliament website.

The tower has its own Twitter account. It "speaks" briefly: the single word "BONG" appears every hour, and the number of repetitions depends on the time of day.

Where the name "Big Ben" came from

Historians still argue about the origin of the name. According to one version, Big Ben was the nickname of the chief builder Benjamin Hall, given for his large build. In this version, the bell was named in his honor.

According to another version, the name is linked to heavyweight boxer Ben Caunt. There is no documentary evidence for either version, so you can choose whichever you prefer.

Tickets and tours of the tower

Only UK residents can go inside the tower. Free tours are booked through a local member of parliament or a member of the House of Lords, and these tickets sell out months in advance.

Paid tours are officially sold by parliament. Tickets are released three months in advance, on the second Wednesday of each month at 10:00. The route is entirely on foot and goes up a narrow spiral staircase of 334 steps, with a guide explaining the clock mechanism. Slots and booking rules verified 09/2026 on the parliament tours page.

If you need tickets to nearby attractions, get them online in advance so you don't have to wait in ticket lines. Check out London tours and tickets on GetYourGuide.

What to see near the tower

Within a couple of kilometers of Big Ben you'll find the city's main landmarks.

• London Eye tickets on GetYourGuide: the Ferris wheel on the south bank of the Thames.
• Tower of London tickets on GetYourGuide: the fortress with an exhibition of the Crown Jewels.
• Tower Bridge tickets on GetYourGuide: the glass floor between the bridge's towers.
• Westminster Abbey tickets with audio guide: the church a short walk from the tower.
• Madame Tussauds tickets on GetYourGuide: wax figures and special-effects rooms.
• St Paul's Cathedral fast-track tickets: the domes and a gallery with city views.
• The Shard viewing platform tickets on GetYourGuide: panoramic views of London from the upper floors.

Where Big Ben is and how to get there

The tower stands in the very center of London, next to the Palace of Westminster and the bridge. Address for your navigator: Palace of Westminster, Old Palace Yard, London SW1.

The nearest Underground stations are Westminster (District, Circle and Jubilee lines) and St James's Park. You can walk to the tower from either station. Any bus to Parliament Square also works.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Can you go up Big Ben?

Yes, but only for UK residents. Free tours are booked through a Member of Parliament, and paid tours are sold by Parliament itself. The climb goes up a narrow spiral staircase, and there is no elevator to the top. We recommend applying several months before your trip.

How much does a tower tour cost?

For UK residents, a tour through an MP is free. The price of a paid tour changes from year to year, so you will see the exact amount when booking on the official Parliament page.

When do the bells chime and can you hear them?

After the 2017-2022 restoration, the bell chimes every hour around the clock again. You can hear it on the embankment, by Westminster Bridge and on Parliament Square.

Why is the tower called Big Ben?

The tower's official name is the Elizabeth Tower. Big Ben was originally the name of the great bell. There are two versions of the origin: from the builder Benjamin Hall and from the boxer Ben Caunt. There is no documentary evidence for either one.

Where is the best place to photograph the tower?

The best spots are Westminster Bridge, the Victoria Embankment and Parliament Square. In the morning the light is softer and there are fewer people. Most visitors come for an evening shot with the illumination, so arrive early to get a spot by the parapet.

Big Ben video and map

A short video brings the tower's history together in one clip. Watch it in advance so you don't waste time on site.

Below is a map with the tower's exact location. Plan your route from your Underground station in advance so you don't have to look for the entrance when you get there.

In short: what to book

Big Ben is free to see from outside around the clock, while only a narrow circle of visitors is allowed inside. Plan your day around the tower and the neighboring sights.

• If you want to go inside: book a tour through Parliament well in advance.
• If you are traveling with family: add the London Eye and Madame Tussauds.
• If you love views: get a ticket for The Shard viewing platform and a walk across Tower Bridge.

Book London tours and tickets on GetYourGuide