Revealing TOP 10 Fun Facts about Big Ben Tower in the UK

Anyone visiting the UK, particularly London, never misses out on visiting Big Ben in London. ‘Big Ben Bell’ there is so much said and heard about this place, it is truly one of the best tourist spots in the city.

What is this hype all about? And why is ‘Big Ben’ aka the ‘Elizabeth Tower’ so important for the people in the UK? This blog reveals the lesser-known but interesting facts about Big Ben Tower.

1. The Big Ben is actually called ‘Elizabeth Tower’ – the clock tower is called the Elizabeth Tower, and the humongous bell inside that’s called the Big Ben.

2. The Big Ben Bell weighs over 13,000 kgs. Now that’s really BIGGGG! It is powered by a double three-legged gravity escapement designed by Edmund Beckett Denison in 1851, which imparted unprecedented accuracy.

3. The ‘Elizabeth Tower’ was initially known as St. Stephen’s Tower. In 2012, on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the late Queen Elizabeth II – former Queen of the United Kingdom, this clock tower was renamed ‘Elizabeth Tower’ to honour the 60 years on the British throne.

4. The hands of the clock tower are 9 feet and 14 feet long, respectively, and the tower stands 320 feet tall.

5. The Big Ben Bell Tower is slightly tilted about 0.4 degrees. This negligible tilt is not risky for the tower but if you see it very closely, you should be able to see the tower lean sideways.

6. There is a green-colored lantern above the Elizabeth Tower, called the Ayrton light, located on the top of the tower, that shines whenever parliament is taking active session. This lantern was installed on the demand of the late Queen Victoria, who wanted to see when the Commons or the Lords sitting after dark. Interesting, right?

7. The Elizabeth Tower has a total of 399 steps. That’s 334 to the belfry and more 65 steps to the lantern above it. Now, this is a great way to begin your cardio session! 😅

8. At present, there are no toilets in the Big Ben Bell Tower. The tower is undergoing renovations currently and after completion, the Elizabeth Tower would get its first-ever toilet! Previously, anyone working in or visiting the Big Ben Bell Tower had to run to the House of Commons when they needed to use a loo 🤭

9. The Elizabeth Tower’s chimes were stopped in 2017 for a 4-year renovation project which is set to end in 2022. The clock only chimes for special occasions.

10. Usually very accurate, but once during December 1963, it was snowing so heavily that the clock tower rang a full 10 minutes late on New Year’s.

Interesting with a touch of fun! Are you planning to visit the UK in 2023? Well, for any international holiday, getting your visa application right is crucial. And you might require some assistance here if you don’t want your amazing trip to ruin.