Wanderlust World Wanderlust World "Big Ben" is one of the world's most recognizable landmarks, though the name technically refers to the Great Bell within the clock tower—not the tower itself. The structure was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to honor Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.
The tower rises 96 meters (315 feet) above Parliament Square at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London. Designed by Augustus Pugin in Gothic Revival style as part of Charles Barry's palace reconstruction after the 1834 fire, it was completed in 1859.
The 13.7-tonne bell (officially the Great Bell of Westminster) acquired the nickname "Big Ben," possibly after Sir Benjamin Hall, Commissioner of Works during its installation. Its distinctive tone—E natural—results from a crack that developed shortly after installation, giving the bell its characteristic sound.
The four-faced clock, designed by Edmund Beckett Denison and built by Edward John Dent, is renowned for its accuracy. Its pendulum is adjusted by adding or removing pre-decimal penny coins—a quintessentially British engineering solution. Each dial measures 7 meters (23 feet) in diameter.
Beyond timekeeping, the tower symbolizes British parliamentary democracy. Its chimes broadcast globally via BBC radio since 1923. The 2017-2022 restoration addressed structural issues while preserving historic character.
Visitors can tour the tower (UK residents only, arranged through MPs), climbing 334 steps to the belfry for close-up views of the mechanism and bell.