Big Ben facts get mixed up more than almost any other London fact, starting with what the name even refers to. This page sorts it out with a dated timeline, the history by period, and a numbered list of Big Ben facts with the source for each. I drew on Wikipedia, Wikidata and the official Parliament page, and numbers are given exactly as those sources give them. If you are here to plan a visit, my guide to tickets for Big Ben explains what you can and cannot book, and the history below explains why the building looks the way it does.
Big Ben History Timeline
Year
What happened
1834
Fire on 16 October largely destroys the old Palace of Westminster
1843
Construction of the Clock Tower begins on 28 September
1856
The first Great Bell is cast at Stockton-on-Tees on 6 August
1858
The bell is recast at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry on 10 April
1859
The tower is completed on 31 May; the recast bell first chimes on 11 July
1873
The Ayrton Light is added
1923
The BBC broadcasts the chimes live on New Year’s Eve
1941
A German air raid on 10 and 11 May damages the clock and tower
1970
The tower becomes part of a Grade I listed building
1987
UNESCO designates the site a World Heritage Site
2012
The Clock Tower is renamed the Elizabeth Tower
2017
The chimes fall silent on 21 August for the restoration
2022
The chimes return on 13 November, Remembrance Sunday
Big Ben History: From Fire to Clock Tower
The quickest of all Big Ben facts is that the tower is much younger than most people assume: it dates from the 1840s and 1850s, not the medieval palace around it, and every date below comes from the sources named in the text.
The story starts with a disaster. A fire on 16 October 1834 largely destroyed the old Palace of Westminster, and the new palace needed a clock tower. According to Wikipedia, Charles Barry was chief architect and Augustus Pugin designed the tower, which is why Wikidata lists Pugin as architect. Construction began on 28 September 1843 and the tower was completed on 31 May 1859.
The clock was installed in April 1859, and the Big Ben facts that clockmakers like best come from its mechanism. Wikipedia says adding or removing a single penny on the pendulum changes the clock’s speed by 0.4 seconds per day, and that the clock keeps time to within a few seconds per week. It is hand-wound about 1.5 hours, three times a week.
Big Ben Facts About the Great Bell
The bell has a rougher history than the tower. The first Great Bell was cast at Stockton-on-Tees on 6 August 1856 and weighed 16 tons. It was recast at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry on 10 April 1858 at 13.5 tons (13.76 tonnes), and Wikipedia says it first chimed on 11 July 1859. In September of that year it cracked under the hammer and was never fully repaired, and it has been in use since.
The bell is 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 m) tall and 9 feet (2.74 m) across, and it sounds E-natural. Four quarter bells ring with it, sounding G sharp, F sharp, E and B; Wikipedia says the first three were cast in 1857 and the E in 1858.
Big Ben Facts on the Tower and the Clock Faces
These are the Big Ben facts you can check against the tower itself when you stand on Westminster Bridge or in Parliament Square, because they are all visible measurements.
Wikipedia gives the tower’s height as 316 feet (96 m), with a base 40 feet (12 m) square. The clock dials are 22.5 feet (6.9 m) in diameter and sit 180 feet (54.9 m) above ground. The minute hand is copper and 14 feet (4.3 m) long, and the hour hand is gun metal and 8.75 feet (2.7 m) long. Each dial holds 324 pieces of glass, and the restoration replaced 1,296 pieces in total.
Climbing it takes 334 steps, 290 to the clock room and 44 more to the belfry. The official Parliament page is the place to confirm whether and how the tower can be visited, and my Big Ben tours page compares the guided walks that show it from outside.
Big Ben History in the 20th Century
The chimes became a national sound in 1923, when Wikipedia says the BBC began broadcasting them live on New Year’s Eve, a practice that became regular. During the Second World War, a German air raid on 10 and 11 May 1941 damaged the clock and tower and shattered the glass on the south dial. The clock kept going, and the tower later became part of a Grade I listed building in 1970. UNESCO designated the site a World Heritage Site in 1987.
Big Ben Facts on the Elizabeth Tower and the Great Silence
On 2 June 2012 the House of Commons voted to rename the Clock Tower the Elizabeth Tower, in honour of the Diamond Jubilee, and the change was announced on 12 September 2012. In daily speech people still say Big Ben for the whole tower, and so do the tour listings I compared.
The chimes fell silent on 21 August 2017 for a restoration. The tower emerged from scaffolding in December 2021, and the chimes returned to regular service on 13 November 2022. Wikipedia says the cost was originally estimated at 29 million pounds, rose to 69 million pounds and later reached nearly 80 million pounds. Where you can stand to see it now is on my Big Ben map page, and for the latest on opening and viewing, check my Big Ben opening hours guide.
14 Big Ben Facts With Sources
Big Ben is the nickname of the Great Bell and, by extension, of the clock tower (Wikipedia).
The Clock Tower was renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012 (Wikipedia).
A fire destroyed the old palace on 16 October 1834 (Wikipedia).
Construction began on 28 September 1843 and finished on 31 May 1859 (Wikipedia).
The tower is 316 feet (96 m) high; Wikidata also lists 96 m (Wikidata).
Wikidata names Augustus Pugin as architect (Wikidata).
The clock dials are 22.5 feet (6.9 m) in diameter (Wikipedia).
The minute hand is 14 feet (4.3 m) long (Wikipedia).
The Great Bell weighs 13.5 tons (13.76 tonnes) and sounds E-natural (Wikipedia).
The first bell, cast in 1856, weighed 16 tons (Wikipedia).
One penny on the pendulum changes the clock’s speed by 0.4 seconds per day (Wikipedia).
The tower is part of a Grade I listed building (1970) and a World Heritage Site (1987) (Wikipedia).
The chimes were silent from 21 August 2017 to 13 November 2022 (Wikipedia).
See Big Ben and the Facts Behind It
The tower is a landmark you view from outside, so the best way to put these Big Ben facts to use is a guide who walks the area. My pick for a first visit is the Westminster Abbey tour with the Guard Change: $119, rated 4.7 from 156 reviews, about 2.5 hours, led by a Blue Badge guide.
Walks - UK
Westminster Abbey Tour with Guard Change & Big Ben
★4.7 (156 reviews)
2.5 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: Blue Badge guide, Abbey entry and the Guard Change: $119, 4.7 from 156 reviews, 2.5 hours.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Certified Blue Badge guide
✓ Expertly guided walking tour
✓ Skip-the-queue access to Westminster Abbey
Not included / not suitable
✕ Hotel Pick-up/Drop-off
✕ Gratuities
Meeting point: Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a yellow WalksDevour sign. This tour meets at Viscount Palmerston Statue, Parliament Sq, London SW1P 3JX Parliament Sq, London SW1P 3JX, UK
Languages: English
Duration: 2.5 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Our guide was extremely knowledgeable! She showed her love for England. She was friendly and wonderful . My daughter and I loved this tour🩷 highly recommend” – GetYourGuide review
For a longer day, the Big Ben, Churchill War Rooms and Buckingham Palace tour is $100, rated 4.8 from 111 reviews, and runs about 5 hours in a small group.
Top Sights Tours LLC.
Big Ben, Churchill War Rooms & Buckingham Palace Tour
★4.8 (111 reviews)
5 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: The long version: $100, 4.8 from 111 reviews, Churchill War Rooms entry included.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Fun local tour guide
✓ Entrance ticket to Churchill War Rooms
✓ Walking tour of Westminster area with over 20 top sights
✓ See Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and more
✓ Small group experience
Not included / not suitable
✕ Hotel pickup and drop-off
✕ Food and drinks
✕ Entry into Buckingham Palace or Big Ben
Meeting point: We meet outside of the Ritz hotel (150 Piccadilly, W1J 9BR) next to 2 red telephone boxes and 2 souvenir stands, underneath one of the Ritz signs. The nearest tube station is Green Park Underground station. When you get to Green Park Underground station, take the left hand exit. You will see a set of stairs and a ramp leading out of the station. Take the stairs up and walk towards the Ritz Hotel. 150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR, UK
Languages: English
Duration: 5 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Our guide, Adrian was excellent! He was very knowledgeable and really kept our attention. We would highly recommend Adrian as a guide!” – GetYourGuide review
When you are ready to choose, my page on Big Ben tickets compares all of them. The home page lists the other attractions I cover.
Frequently asked questions
Is Big Ben the tower or the bell?+
Strictly the bell. Wikipedia says Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the Great Clock of Westminster and, by extension, for the clock tower. The tower was originally the Clock Tower and was renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
How tall is Big Ben?+
Wikipedia gives the tower's height as 316 feet (96 m), and Wikidata also lists 96 m. The clock dials sit 180 feet (54.9 m) above the ground, and each dial is 22.5 feet (6.9 m) across.
How many steps are there in Big Ben?+
Wikipedia says 334: 290 steps up to the clock room and 44 more to the belfry. Check the official Parliament site for tour rules before you plan to climb.
How heavy is the Big Ben bell?+
The recast Great Bell weighs 13.5 tons (13.76 tonnes) according to Wikipedia. The first bell, cast in 1856 at Stockton-on-Tees, weighed 16 tons and was replaced after it cracked.
When did Big Ben go silent for repairs?+
The chimes fell silent on 21 August 2017 for the restoration and returned to regular service on 13 November 2022, Remembrance Sunday, per Wikipedia. That is about four years.
