Big Ben. Some facts

Big Ben Some facts

Big Ben is one of London's best-known landmarks, and looks most spectacular at night when the clock faces are illuminated.

Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, and is generally extended to refer to the clock or the clock tower as well.

It is the largest four-faced chiming clock and the third-tallest free-standing clock tower in the world. The clock first ticked on 31 May 1859.

The tower is designed in Pugin's celebrated Gothic Revival style, and is 96.3 meters high (roughly 16 stories). Despite being one of the world's most famous tourist attractions, the interior of the tower is not open to overseas visitors.

At the base of each clock dial in gilt letters is the Latin inscription: “DOMINE SALVAM FAC REGINAM NOSTRAM VICTORIAM PRIMAM”, which means ″O Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First″.

The original bell was a 16.3-tonne (16 ton) hour bell, cast on 6 August 1856 in Stockton-on-Tees by John Warner & Sons. The bell was named in honour of Sir Benjamin Hall.

On top of the pendulum is a small stack of old penny coins; these are to adjust the time of the clock.

The clock has become a symbol of the United Kingdom and London, particularly in the visual media.