ELIZABETH TOWER

THE GREAT BELL

Although many people refer to Elizabeth Tower as Big Ben, this moniker refers to the clock tower’s great bell, which was probably named after Sir Benjamin Hall. The original bell, which weighed 16 tonnes and was cast in 1856, cracked when it was tested. In 1858, a replacement was built, weighing 13 tonnes and standing two metres tall.

CLOCK ROOM

This room contains the clock mechanism, which is wound three times a week by hand. There