The name Big Ben actually applies to the largest bell found within the clock tower. The 320 foot clock tower forms part of the Houses of Parliament. Each of the numerals on the clock face is nearly two feet high, the minute hands measure fourteen feet and the dials are twenty three feet in diameter.
The building was built as the Palace of Westminster in 1042 and served as a royal residence until the reign of Henry VIII in 1512. From that moment on it was home to the House of Commons and the House of Lords, hence the name the "Houses of Parliament." The only original structures to survive a major fire in 1834 were Westminster Hall and the Jewel Tower. The rest, including Big Ben, were constructed later.
Buckingham Palace has served as the official residence of the royal family since 1837. The current palace sits on the site of a town house originally owned by the Dukes of Buckingham. The guards on the palace grounds wear the red tunics and black bearskin caps recognized worldwide. The Changing of the Guard Ceremony is one of the most viewed tourist attractions in London.
Westminster Abbey has been the site of coronations, marriages and burials for the British monarchy since the 11th century. Every coronation since 1066 has been performed in Westminster Abbey. Some of the Abbey's most famous features include the Coronation Chair, Poet's Corner, and the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.
The foundation stone for Westminster Cathedral was laid in 1895, around 65 years after the Catholic Church was again allowed to practice in England. Westminster Cathedral is regarded as the "Mother Church" for practicing Catholics in England and features the most famous choir in the country.
Construction on St. Paul's Cathedral began in 1675 after the original cathedral of the same name was destroyed in The Great Fire of London in 1666. The cathedral miraculously survived the bombings of World War II that laid waste to many of the surrounding buildings. St. Paul's is actually the fourth cathedral built on the same site.
This monument to the memory of Admiral Horatio Nelson was erected between 1840 and 1843 to honor his death during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The monument sits in the center of central London's Trafalgar Square and is decorated with bronze acanthus leaves made from a British cannon. The four bronze panels on the Corinthian column were cast from captured French cannons and represent Lord Nelson's greatest victories.
Special guards known as Beefeaters guard the Tower of London where visitors may visit the famous Traitors' Gate, the resident ravens and the Crown Jewels. The Tower has served a number of functions over the centuries including prison, zoo, fortress, and palace. Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's second wife and mother of Elizabeth I was beheaded in the courtyard.
This statue located on "Traffic Island" in the busy center of the Piccadilly Circus is erroneously referred to as the Statue of Eros. The original name is the Shaftesbury Monument. The statue was first erected in 1893 to honor the renowned philanthropist Lord Shaftesbury. The angel was meant to symbolize the virtue of charity.
Queen Victoria first unveiled the Albert Memorial in 1876. The monument, with its gilded bronze statue at the center, was created to honor the memory of her late husband Prince Albert whose fame was won through his high moral example and his dedication to advancing the nation in every way possible. The 176-foot high monument is decorated with almost 200 figures of great and influential individuals from throughout history as well as a variety of other detailed adornments that add to the glory of the monument's design.
A cenotaph is a monument, or symbolic tomb, of a person or group of people whose remains lie somewhere else. The Cenotaph in Whitehall is one of only two such monuments in the United Kingdom. The Cenotaph was originally erected to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service of their country during World War I. It also commemorates all of those individuals who fought and died for their country throughout the ages. The "Remembrance Day" ceremony is held here each year on November 11.
Windsor Castle was built to defend the lands west of the capital more than 900 years ago by William the Conqueror. Windsor Castle continues its role as one of the official residences of the monarchy. In spite of this, visitors are still invited to visit a large part of the castle and the grounds. Windsor Castle has been the site of royal weddings and ten of England's sovereigns are buried on the grounds.
