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Big Ben is actually the nickname given to the actual bell which chimes in the clock tower at the Palace of Westminster rather than the clock face or clock tower (shown left), which many mistakenly assume to be Big Ben. The official name of Big Ben is the "Great Bell" and the very first bell weighed a whopping 16.3-tonne (16 ton) but it was damaged beyond repair during testing. The replacement bell was nearly three metres wide and 2.2 metres tall weighing in slightly less than the original at 13.76-tonne (13½ ton). Alarmingly (pun intended) this bell only lasted from July 1859 to the September when it too cracked. However, rather than cast another bell it was decided to attempt a repair. Although the final repair was not 100% it was put back into use some three years later where it remains to this day. The unusual tone of Big Ben is a result of the crack, which remains, and the repair.
Some Interesting Facts
The Great Clock of Westminster (the official name of the clock, at the north-eastern end of the Palace of Westminster, which holds Big Ben) is the largest chiming clock, with four faces, in the world. At one time it was the largest four faced clock in the world but it is now beaten by the Clock Tower in Milwaukee, Wisconsin which, thankfully, does not chime. Each of the four faces are seven metres (23ft) in diameter. The outer iron ring supports a construction similar to a stained glass window made up of three hunded and twelve pieces of a white translucent material known as opal glass (made from sodium fluoride or calcium fluoride).
Below each face is an inscription in Latin, "DOMINE SALVAM FAC REGINAM NOSTRAM VICTORIAM PRIMAM" which literally translates as "O Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First".
Getting To Big Ben
The easiest way to get to the London Eye is via the London Underground, get off at Westminster on the Circle, District and Jubilee lines.
| Nearest Tube Stations | Nearest Railway Stations | Nearest Car Parks |
| Westminster Tube (3 minutes away) | Charing Cross (12 minutes away) | Abingdon Masterpark (5 minutes away) |
| St James's Park Tube (9 minutes away) | Victoria (21 minutes away) | Trafalgar Masterpark (13 minutes away) |
Opening Times
Tours Mon to Fri: 9.30am, 10.30am, 11.30am & 2.30pm
There is a maximum number of people per tour of 16
Hotels Near Big Ben
Park Plaza County Hall
This 4 star hotel is within walking distance of Big Ben being less than half a mile away. (0.4 miles). Read more...
The Trafalgar Hilton
A 4 star Boutique hotel with a prime location on the south side of Trafalgar Square half a mile from Big Ben. (0.5 miles). Read more...
Charing Cross - A Guoman Hotel (Formally Thistle)
London's most centrally located hotel and just over half a mile from Big Ben. 4 star. (0.6 miles). Read more...
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