Big Ben & Elizabeth Tower
Big Ben & Elizabeth Tower features on the Gingerguide audio walk through London. Give it roughly ~30 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type landmark
- Suggested visit ~30 min
- London London guide
About Big Ben & Elizabeth Tower
The iconic clock tower at the north end of the Palace of Westminster, and one of the most recognisable symbols of London.
Rising 96 metres above the banks of the Thames, the Elizabeth Tower, universally known by the name of its Great Bell, Big Ben, has been keeping time for London since 1859. Designed by Augustus Pugin in a stunning neo-Gothic style, the tower was the final flourish added to Charles Barry's rebuilt Palace of Westminster after a devastating fire destroyed the old palace in 1834.
The Great Bell itself weighs a staggering 13.7 tonnes and its deep, resonant bong can be heard up to 14 kilometres away on a quiet night. The clock mechanism is a marvel of Victorian engineering, each of the four clock faces is seven metres in diameter, and the minute hands are 4.3 metres long.
Between 2017 and 2022, the tower underwent a comprehensive restoration. Layers of black pollution were stripped away to reveal the original creamy Anston limestone, and the ornate ironwork was repainted in its original Prussian blue. Today, the Elizabeth Tower stands as a proud symbol of British democracy and resilience.
Did you know? The Great Bell (Big Ben) cracked in 1859 and was rotated a quarter-turn so the hammer strikes an undamaged spot, it has never been repaired.
How long is a visit to Big Ben & Elizabeth Tower?
Set aside roughly ~30 min for Big Ben & Elizabeth Tower. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Big Ben & Elizabeth Tower worth your time?
Big Ben & Elizabeth Tower is among the 41 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for London, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in London
Hear the story of Big Ben & Elizabeth Tower
Preview the London tour free in the Gingerguide app.