Big Ben is the nickname of the Great Bell, and by extension of the Elizabeth Tower that holds it. Most visitors only see the outside, but inside Big Ben there is a climb, a clock and a belfry. This page gives you a Big Ben map of the surroundings, the route you follow on the official tour and a note on each stop. If you only want the walk past the tower, my guide to tickets for Big Ben compares the tours that pass it and explains why none of them go in.
Big Ben Map: the Tower, the Station and the Sights Around It
The map shows Big Ben with the nearest stations and the sights within walking distance, from Google Maps data.
Westminster station is about 70 m from the tower, a 1-minute walk by my estimate (straight line times 1.3 at 4.8 km/h). The Palace of Westminster is about 140 m away, the London Eye about 450 m (7 minutes) and Trafalgar Square about 850 m (14 minutes). Buckingham Palace is roughly 1.2 km away, a walk of about 20 minutes. The address on Google Maps is London SW1A 0AA.
The tower tour does not start at the base of the tower. UK Parliament tells you to check in at the Cromwell Green entrance no later than 30 minutes before your start time, according to its official tour page. The main visitor entrance is shown on the official visitor directions and map, which gives the Cromwell Green entrance and says it has level access. The numbering of entrances on Parliament’s maps has varied between versions, so follow the signs on the day.
Is There an Official Map of Inside Big Ben?
I looked for an official floor plan of the inside of the tower and could not find one, so I am not linking a plan I have not seen. The parliament.uk site publishes a directions map for the grounds and entrances, which I link above, and nothing that shows the stairs or the clock room. The route below is my reading order, based on the official tour description, Wikipedia and the tour listings.
My Big Ben opening hours guide covers the timed slots and what the street view of the tower offers when you cannot get a place.
The Route Inside Big Ben on the Official Tour
This is the order of the official tour, and it is the whole of what you see inside Big Ben. The page gives a total of 1 hour 45 minutes including the time to store and collect your belongings, but I do not split it by stop because UK Parliament does not.
Inside Big Ben, stop by stop
1Cromwell Green check-inAt least 30 minutes before your slot
2334-step stairwellNarrow spiral, no lift
3Exhibition spacesAudio-visual story of the tower
4Clock mechanismThe Great Clock at work
5Behind the dialsEach dial is 6.9 m across
6Belfry and Great BellStand beside the bell
7Westminster HallOptional visit after the tour
Planning a Visit Inside Big Ben
A visit inside Big Ben is a booking exercise before it is a walk, because the places are released once a month and the tour only runs in English. The official page gives a maximum of eight tickets per person, so a larger group has to split. Plan the day around the 90-minute tour and the extra time to store your belongings, and book the rest of the day near Westminster, where the stations and sights on the map above are all within a short walk. If you are travelling with children, remember that the minimum age for inside Big Ben is 11.
If the dates do not work, the outside view is still worth having. The tower is best seen from Westminster Bridge and from Parliament Square, and the London Eye is about 450 m away on the other bank. Knowing what is inside Big Ben also makes the street view more interesting, because you can pick out the dials and the belfry windows while you stand below.
Cromwell Green and the Security Check
Every visit starts at the Cromwell Green entrance, where you lock away your belongings at the start and collect them at the end. The tour page says you need to arrive at least 30 minutes before the start. Tickets are limited to eight per person and are released on the second Wednesday of each month at 10:00, and tours may be cancelled at short notice because of parliamentary business. The tour page does not state a photography rule, so check your confirmation.
The 334-Step Stairwell Inside Big Ben
The climb is the main effort of the visit. UK Parliament says the tour ascends 334 steps of the spiral stairwell and warns that you must be comfortable with that and with high noise levels. Wikipedia gives the same total, 334 steps from ground level to the belfry, of which 290 reach the clock room and 44 more reach the belfry. The tower is 96 m high. No tour includes the use of the lift, and the standard tour is not suited to everyone.
Exhibition Spaces on the Way Up
Stops along the climb use audio-visual displays to tell the story of the tower, per the official page. They also give you a breather on the stairs. Wikipedia explains the background: the tower was originally called the Clock Tower, and the House of Commons approved the name Elizabeth Tower in June 2012 for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Clock Mechanism Inside Big Ben
At the clock room you see the inner workings of the Great Clock. Wikipedia describes it as famous for its reliability, with a gravity escapement designed by Edmund Beckett Denison, and says it is wound by hand about three times a week. Timing is adjusted by adding or removing old pennies on the pendulum, each changing the speed by about 0.4 seconds a day. That detail is the one I would look for when you stand beside the mechanism.
Behind the Dials
The tour also takes you behind the clock faces. UK Parliament says each dial is 6.9 m in diameter, and Wikipedia says the dials are about 180 ft above the ground.
The Belfry and the Great Bell
The top of the climb is the belfry, where the official page says you stand next to the Big Ben bell as it strikes the hour. Wikipedia gives its weight as 13.7 tonnes and says it was recast in 1858 and still carries a crack. Four quarter bells play the Westminster Quarters. Ear defenders are provided, and you will need them.
Walks - UK
Westminster Abbey Tour with Guard Change & Big Ben
★4.7 (156 reviews)
2.5 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: If you cannot get a tower place: a Blue Badge guide walks you past Big Ben and into Westminster Abbey, 2.5 hours, $119, 4.7 from 156 reviews.
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
The official page lists a visit to medieval Westminster Hall after the climb, then the Jubilee Cafe or the Jubilee Shop. Leave time for it after the climb.
Getting Around and Rules for Inside Big Ben
The standard tour is English only, runs Monday to Saturday with some days removed for maintenance, and takes children from 11 years old. An accessible tour is available through an online form on the page. If you do not have a place, a walk is the way to see the outside. The Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Westminster walking tour in my comparison covers Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace in 2 hours for $28.
Scandic Tours
London Buckingham Palace, Big Ben & Westminster Walking Tour
★4.2 (56 reviews)
2 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: A walking tour that passes the tower from outside: 2 hours, $28, in five languages.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Buckingham Palace
✓ The superstar home of the royal family and their place of work. The changing of the Guard takes place Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays
✓ The Mall
✓ The fabulous entrance to Buckingham Palace. Home to the great processions and events of British legend. Gilded by the great homes of royalty and St James's Park
✓ St James's Park
✓ Whitehall
Not included / not suitable
✕ Drinks and food
Meeting point: Follow the Buckingham Palace signs out of Green Park Station. Your guide will be waiting near the fountain with a Scandic Tours sign. London SW1A 1RN, UK
Languages: English, Spanish, Italian, French, German
Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Lara was fantastic! Highly recommend booking a tour w her. So much historical information and fun tidbits. She made sure we had a wonderful time.” – GetYourGuide review
For the story of the tower, read my Big Ben history page, and for a guide to the sights around it, my Big Ben tours page compares the walks. When you are ready to choose, compare every option in my Big Ben tickets guide. The home page lists the other attractions I cover.
Frequently asked questions
What is inside Big Ben?+
Inside Big Ben, which is the nickname for the Elizabeth Tower, there is a spiral stairwell of 334 steps, exhibition spaces on the way up, the clock mechanism, the area behind the dials and the belfry with the Great Bell. UK Parliament describes all of these as stops on its official tower tour.
Can you go inside Big Ben?+
Yes, but only on the official tour run by UK Parliament. The tour page says it is for visitors aged 11 or over, in English only, and that tickets are released on the second Wednesday of each month at 10:00. No GetYourGuide tour in my comparison includes tower entry.
Is there a map of Big Ben?+
I found no official plan of the inside of the tower. UK Parliament does publish a visitor directions page with a map of the entrances, including the Cromwell Green entrance that the tower tour uses. I link it above and the map on this page shows the stations and sights around the tower.
How many steps are inside Big Ben?+
UK Parliament says the tour climbs 334 steps. Wikipedia breaks this down as 290 steps to the clock room plus 44 to the belfry. Ear defenders are provided because the tour is loud, and no tour uses the lift.
How long does the inside Big Ben tour take?+
The tour page gives 1 hour 45 minutes in total, made up of a 90-minute tour plus time to store and collect your belongings. After the tour you can visit Westminster Hall, so allow extra time.
Is Big Ben accessible?+
The standard tour is not suitable for everyone, since it involves 334 steps and high noise levels. UK Parliament says an accessible tour is available for visitors who may find parts of it hard, and you request it through the online form on the tour page.
