Big Ben

The world's most famous clock

Big Ben is one of London's best-known landmarks, and looks most spectacular at night when the clock faces are illuminated. You even know when parliament is in session, because a light shines above the clock face.The four dials of the clock are 23 feet square, the minute hand is 14 feet long and the figures are 2 feet high. Minutely regulated with a stack of coins placed on the huge pendulum, Big Ben is an excellent timekeeper, which has rarely stopped.The name Big Ben actually refers not to the clock-tower itself, but to the thirteen ton bell hung within. The bell was named after the first commissioner of works, Sir Benjamin Hall.

The nickname is often also used to refer to the clock and the tower.The clock is the world's largest four-faced, chiming clock and the third largest free-standing clock tower in the world. The clock tower is situated at the north-eastern end of the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London.[5][6] The Big Ben clock tower has been referred to incorrectly as St Stephen's Tower, which is a low tower above St Stephen's Entrance.

The nearest London Underground station is Westminster.

The team that maintains London's Big Ben clock have breakfast, with the famous bell set to ring in the new year for the 150th time.

The Palace of Westminster, the Clock Tower and Westminster Bridge

The south clock face being cleaned on 11 August 2007

New Year's Eve. Delayed by 1 Second This Time.