The construction of Elizabeth Tower faced a few delays but was eventually completed in 1859.īig Ben has in fact been silent since summer 2017. The tower itself stands a staggering 315 feet tall (96 meters). In fact, the clock is famously accurate within a second – though again, various issues may have offset this over the years! 5. In fact, a cold snap once caused the bell to chime late! This is mainly down to weather, such as through extreme heat and deep freezes. The clock is said to be accurate at all times, but it’s actually suffered a couple of hiccups over the years. The bell weighs just less than 14 tons and is 7.2 feet, or 2.2 meters tall. The bell’s original name was going to be Royal Victoria – but the nickname stuck! It’s thought to come from Sir Benjamin Hall, whose name is found on the bell itself. The bell had a very different name, initially. The clock tower itself is actually known as Elizabeth Tower, earning its name during the Queen’s 2012 Jubilee. Big Ben isn’t even the structure’s name.īig Ben isn’t the name of the clock, or the tower – it’s the name of the famous bell inside the structure. Here are 13 fun facts about Big Ben, the bell, the clock and the history.

However, while the tower has been a staple of the London skyline for hundreds of years, it is still a fairly mysterious structure! There is actually more to the tower than we give it credit. When you think of London, you likely think of the clock tower that stands proudly next to the Houses of Parliament! Big Ben Tower is one of the UK’s most recognizable landmarks.

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