History
The Palace of Westminster, which houses the British Parliament, burned down in 1834. According to VisitLondon.com, in 1844 "it was decided the new buildings ... should include a tower and a clock." The tower, which is actually named St. Stephen's Tower, was completed in 1856, and the Great Bell, commonly known as "Big Ben" and which gave the tower its nickname, first rung on May 31, 1859.
"Big Ben"
No one really knows for certain from whom the Great Bell's nickname actually came, but the two prevalent theories suggest either Sir Benjamin Hall, first commissioner of Works, described by VisitLondon.com as "a large man who was known affectionately in the house as 'Big Ben,'" or Benjamin Caunt, a 6 1/2-foot-tall heavyweight boxing champ of the period also known as "Big Ben."
The Palace of Westminster, which houses the British Parliament, burned down in 1834. According to VisitLondon.com, in 1844 "it was decided the new buildings ... should include a tower and a clock." The tower, which is actually named St. Stephen's Tower, was completed in 1856, and the Great Bell, commonly known as "Big Ben" and which gave the tower its nickname, first rung on May 31, 1859.
"Big Ben"
No one really knows for certain from whom the Great Bell's nickname actually came, but the two prevalent theories suggest either Sir Benjamin Hall, first commissioner of Works, described by VisitLondon.com as "a large man who was known affectionately in the house as 'Big Ben,'" or Benjamin Caunt, a 6 1/2-foot-tall heavyweight boxing champ of the period also known as "Big Ben."
Dimensions
Built over 13 years and standing 316 feet high, the clock tower contains 850 cubic meters of stone and 2,600 cubic meters of brick, according to the United Kingdom's Parliament website. Without any elevators inside the tower, the 11 floors are only reachable by climbing a flight of stairs: 334 to the belfry and 393 to the lantern, the Aryton Light.
Popular Culture
Now firmly entrenched in Great Britain's national psyche and recognized around the world as a symbol of London, Big Ben features prominently in popular culture works that reference either the city itself or the United Kingdom in general. Veteran British television series "Doctor Who," uses the tower in a number of episodes, even going so far as to destroy the tower in an April 2005 episode titled "Aliens of London." The eponymous hero of the 2005 movie "V for Vendetta" destroyed the tower in the movie's final scene, and in the 2003 action-adventure "Shanghai Knights," Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson's characters engage their nemesis in a sword fight that takes place inside the tower.
Tourism
A visit to Big Ben means visiting the Palace of Westminster and the United Kingdom's Parliament. According to Parliament's website, "Parliament is open to all members of the UK and overseas visitors," but there are a number of restrictions placed on overseas visitors: Only members of the UK, for instance, have the right to contact their Parliamentary representative for tours of Parliament during the spring, winter and fall seasons, while overseas visitors may only tour Parliament by purchasing tickets during the summer opening. No overseas visitors are allowed to climb the Big Ben Clock Tower, so be sure to bring your cameras and find a good spot outside from which to take pictures.
Built over 13 years and standing 316 feet high, the clock tower contains 850 cubic meters of stone and 2,600 cubic meters of brick, according to the United Kingdom's Parliament website. Without any elevators inside the tower, the 11 floors are only reachable by climbing a flight of stairs: 334 to the belfry and 393 to the lantern, the Aryton Light.
Popular Culture
Now firmly entrenched in Great Britain's national psyche and recognized around the world as a symbol of London, Big Ben features prominently in popular culture works that reference either the city itself or the United Kingdom in general. Veteran British television series "Doctor Who," uses the tower in a number of episodes, even going so far as to destroy the tower in an April 2005 episode titled "Aliens of London." The eponymous hero of the 2005 movie "V for Vendetta" destroyed the tower in the movie's final scene, and in the 2003 action-adventure "Shanghai Knights," Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson's characters engage their nemesis in a sword fight that takes place inside the tower.
Tourism
A visit to Big Ben means visiting the Palace of Westminster and the United Kingdom's Parliament. According to Parliament's website, "Parliament is open to all members of the UK and overseas visitors," but there are a number of restrictions placed on overseas visitors: Only members of the UK, for instance, have the right to contact their Parliamentary representative for tours of Parliament during the spring, winter and fall seasons, while overseas visitors may only tour Parliament by purchasing tickets during the summer opening. No overseas visitors are allowed to climb the Big Ben Clock Tower, so be sure to bring your cameras and find a good spot outside from which to take pictures.
