DISCOVER LONDON | The Fascinating Story Behind Big Ben
Did you know that Big Ben is not actually the name of London's famous clock tower?
One of the world's most recognisable landmarks has a fascinating history dating back more than 165 years.
It all began with a devastating fire in 1834, which destroyed much of the old Palace of Westminster. During its reconstruction, a magnificent new clock tower was designed to become an enduring symbol of London.
On 11 July 1859, the Great Bell, famously known as Big Ben, rang for the first time.
6 fascinating facts you might not know:
Big Ben is actually a bell! The tower itself was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 in honour of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.
The tower stands approximately 96 metres tall, with 334 steps leading to the belfry.
The Great Bell weighs 13.7 tonnes, making it one of Britain's most celebrated bells.
The clock has four faces, each approximately 7 metres in diameter.
A clock adjusted with pennies! The remarkable mechanism can be fine-tuned using old British pennies.
A sound heard around the world. On New Year's Eve in 1923, the BBC broadcast Big Ben's famous chimes for the first time.
More than a landmark, Big Ben is a symbol of British history, engineering and tradition.
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