Big ben why is it famous

Technically, Big Ben is the name given to the massive bell inside the clock tower, which weighs more than 13 tons 13, kg. The clock tower looks spectacular at night when the four clock faces are illuminated. The Palace of Westminster was destroyed by fire in In , it was decided the new buildings for the Houses of Parliament should include a tower and a clock.

The metal was melted down and the bell recast in Whitechapel in Big Ben first rang across Westminster on 31 May A short time later, in September , Big Ben cracked. A lighter hammer was fitted and the bell rotated to present an undamaged section to the hammer. This is the bell as we hear it today. Elizabeth Tower stands at more than 96 metres yrds tall, with steps to climb up to the belfry and steps to the Ayrton Light at the very top of the tower.

There are a several London bus routes that go past the tower, and Westminster Tube station is directly across the road, serviced by the Jubilee, District and Circle lines.

Westminster pier is next to the tower and is served by a number of river bus travel options. Big Ben is one of London's top attractions.

This view is particularly attractive at dusk when the illuminated building is reflected in the water. Located in the London borough of St.

Just around the corner is the famous Westminster Abbey, and Tate Museum is only a minute walk along the Thames.

Buckingham Palace is also within a minute radius — the path through St. If you want to include several attractions or tours in your itinerary, such as the London Eye or a Thames river cruise, I can recommend the London Pass. This pass can be booked for one or more days and persons, and will save you a considerable amount on admission charges.

Your email address will not be published. Save my name and email in this browser until I comment again. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience. You can learn more about it in our privacy policy. Table of Contents. JavaScript is deactivated JavaScript is required in order to use this site.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser. With his father, Eastwood wandered the It is located on a floodplain that has Felt's admission, made in an article in Vanity Fair magazine, took legendary reporters Bob I want to do it tonight.

I think I can get away with it! The two squadrons opened fire on each other Live TV. This Day In History. History Vault. Black History. Art, Literature, and Film History. Middle East. Sign Up.