Big Ben
4.5
About
Better known as Big Ben (it's actually the name of the Great Bell!), this iconic clock tower which stands at the Houses of Parliament is officially called the Elizabeth Tower, named in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. When the Elizabeth Tower is open for tours, you can climb up the tower and admire the clock and bell up close. But fret not, you can still learn about its history and admire its ornate golden facade on a tour of London or the Houses of Parliament.
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Westminster
If you only had an afternoon to experience London on a grand scale, Westminster would be a wise place to start. The ornate Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey sit adjacent at a corner of Parliament Square, and a short stroll along The Mall leads to Buckingham Palace. Trafalgar Square and Nelson's Column are just up the road as well. As captivating as the architecture is, the wonders of Mother Nature are highlights of the area too. St James's Park (arguably London's loveliest), the expansive Green Park, and pedestrian friendly tree lined paths along the river showcase the exquisite manicure provided by English gardeners. Just beyond the landmarks and the gorgeous outdoor spaces, quiet residential squares and age old local pubs offer a more subdued take on this global seat of power in the heart of London.
How to get there
- Embankment • 10 min walk
- Waterloo • 10 min walk
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See what travellers are saying
- nowpackingDallas, Texas4,180 contributionsBig BenWe were among the thousands of people that stood near Big Ben in August of 2017 to hear the last chimes before Big Ben was shut down for almost five years! How wonderful to see the amazing restoration and see the tower gleaming and chiming again! History lives on!Visited July 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 24 October 2023
- Sarah CUnited Kingdom3 contributionsTimeless MajestyBig Ben is an absolute legend in London! Every time that clock chimes, it's like the whole city comes to life. And let me tell you, that building looks absolutely epic. If you're ever in London, you gotta check out Big Ben for yourself. It's one of those things you just gotta see to believe!Visited October 2023Travelled soloWritten 30 October 2023
- Have Camera, Will TravelSouth Bend, Indiana3,720 contributionsThe Icon that I was most excited to see.Big Ben was the number 1 site I was looking forward to seeing on our first trip to London. We managed to walk over Westminster Bridge both at night and during the day, so I got all of the pictures I was hoping to get. I know it was recently restored and it looks amazing!Visited October 2023Travelled with familyWritten 17 November 2023
- Erica FHouston, Texas22 contributionsBig Ben is LondonLaying eyes on Big Ben meant seeing London for real to keep. It is located near the London Eye and Westminster Abbey! Great experience for my first time in London!Visited November 2023Travelled with familyWritten 19 November 2023
- Lainie LNew York City, New York489 contributionsBig Ben is named after Benjamin Hall, the First Commissioner for WorksBig Ben was on my way to Westminster Abbey so I killed two birds with one stone. I got here early, so there was no jostling for space and room to take photos. It was quiet and calm, sadly, also dreary and drizzly but it's London! You expect rain!Visited November 2023Travelled soloWritten 4 December 2023
- Sahloff79Peterborough, United Kingdom651 contributionsBen-sational!!! 🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔 🔔Big Ben Tour Dec 2023. Was able to book tickets to climb up the iconic Elizabeth Tower. Currently they are only available for UK residents and are on sale every second Wednesday at 10am. They sell out quicker than the old bell chimes! What an incredible tour. We climbed the 334 steps up to the belfry, saw Big Ben II bell struck 12 times at noon, saw the clock mechanism before walking behind all 4 clock faces. As a proud Brit - this is much more than a clock - it’s a national symbol that has been the background for so many historical events and the traditional New Year celebrations. It was an absolute privilege to be there and surprisingly emotional. The tour is fully guided with lots of stops, where you are provided with pertinent information. The only criticism/frustration was the fact that no photos are allowed. They were very strict on this and cameras/phones had to be put in a locker. It would’ve been fantastic to capture a magical tour. Not sure what the reason for this is - security or timing? Bought a guide book in the Westminster shop though.Visited December 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 22 December 2023
- TAMAN1951Liberty Lake, Washington8,650 contributionsClassic landmarkHotta visit Big Ben when in London. Quite a cool symbol of the UK but not a real destination for tourists except from the outside. Listen to it ring snd you ate good to go.Visited January 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 2 January 2024
- K72Melbourne, Australia3,082 contributionsLooks greatBeautiful clock, aka Elizabeth Tower, on the Thames River. Stand on the bridge for best lighting for photos before noon....was lucky to have blue sky in my pictures! It's been restored and looks so much better and cleaner than last time I saw it. Iconic English landmark you just have to see!Visited December 2023Travelled soloWritten 3 January 2024
- Lady AStockholm, Sweden1,200 contributionsA picture might say a lot, but it has to be seen liveSo beautiful in real life. A picture might say a lot, but it has to be seen live. And on the other hand one can’t help taking several photos when seeing it. As a bonus we noticed a playful seal swimming by in the river Thames as we were taking pictures from the bridge.Visited January 2024Travelled with familyWritten 7 January 2024
- Evelyn W1 contributionIconic Big Ben - not just a pretty face.Big Ben is an iconic landmark and a testament to the well-designed architecture. More importantly, it plays an essential role in British history. It’s amazing that it’s been well maintained. I especially like the clock face and when the bell tolls. This is not just a clock to tell time but an important reminder of British history and of that era.Visited February 2024Travelled soloWritten 4 February 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Johnny
Nottinghamshire, UK275 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
To tour this iconic London and UNESCO world heritage site you have to prebook tickets that are released about a month before.
You do have to go through airport style security check and the tours leave on time. So give yourself plenty of time getting there.
There are toilet facilities and a place to get a drink before the tour starts and also time to enjoy Westminster Hall which is the oldest building on the site and the witness to a lot of important moments in history.
No cameras, phones or recording equipment is allowed and lockers are provided at the start of the tour.
A reasonable amount of physical fitness is needed as there are a lot of stairs but its taken at a steady pace and they do have a few points on the way up where you stop and the guide gives a talk and on my tour there was a broad mix of ages and no one seemed to struggle.
You get to see so much on this tour the mechanism, the actual big ben bell (which you get to see strike the hour) and for me the highlight when you walk behind the clock faces.
Our guide Melissa was fantastic she kept the tour on schedule without making anyone feel rushed and her interesting presenting style got the information across in a clear way.
At the end you can swop your lanyard for one which enables you to go and see the public gallery in the house of commons which is a unique experience in itself.
You do have to go through airport style security check and the tours leave on time. So give yourself plenty of time getting there.
There are toilet facilities and a place to get a drink before the tour starts and also time to enjoy Westminster Hall which is the oldest building on the site and the witness to a lot of important moments in history.
No cameras, phones or recording equipment is allowed and lockers are provided at the start of the tour.
A reasonable amount of physical fitness is needed as there are a lot of stairs but its taken at a steady pace and they do have a few points on the way up where you stop and the guide gives a talk and on my tour there was a broad mix of ages and no one seemed to struggle.
You get to see so much on this tour the mechanism, the actual big ben bell (which you get to see strike the hour) and for me the highlight when you walk behind the clock faces.
Our guide Melissa was fantastic she kept the tour on schedule without making anyone feel rushed and her interesting presenting style got the information across in a clear way.
At the end you can swop your lanyard for one which enables you to go and see the public gallery in the house of commons which is a unique experience in itself.
Written 13 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gaurav C
New Delhi, India2,959 contributions
Mar 2019
This London Iconic Clock Tower has been a part of many poems..Stands tall in the House of the Parliament...One of the better ways to photograph is from the Westminster Bridge .. It is undergoing renovation right now...It also looks nice when it is lit up at night
Written 6 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
therichastill
Stevenage, UK3,405 contributions
Feb 2020
It will be some time before you get to hear Big Ben chime again however it is still impressive.
The tower is part of the Houses of Parliament and can be reached easily by the Tube on the Circle, District or Jubilee lines. There are also boats from the wharf as well. It is a major tourist attraction so it is always very busy.
At the moment it is being renovated so it totally covered with scaffolding and not alot to see. If you can, come back in a couple of years to see it in it's full glory!
The tower is part of the Houses of Parliament and can be reached easily by the Tube on the Circle, District or Jubilee lines. There are also boats from the wharf as well. It is a major tourist attraction so it is always very busy.
At the moment it is being renovated so it totally covered with scaffolding and not alot to see. If you can, come back in a couple of years to see it in it's full glory!
Written 9 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sahloff79
Peterborough, UK651 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
Big Ben Tour Dec 2023. Was able to book tickets to climb up the iconic Elizabeth Tower.
Currently they are only available for UK residents and are on sale every second Wednesday at 10am. They sell out quicker than the old bell chimes!
What an incredible tour. We climbed the 334 steps up to the belfry, saw Big Ben II bell struck 12 times at noon, saw the clock mechanism before walking behind all 4 clock faces.
As a proud Brit - this is much more than a clock - it’s a national symbol that has been the background for so many historical events and the traditional New Year celebrations. It was an absolute privilege to be there and surprisingly emotional.
The tour is fully guided with lots of stops, where you are provided with pertinent information.
The only criticism/frustration was the fact that no photos are allowed. They were very strict on this and cameras/phones had to be put in a locker. It would’ve been fantastic to capture a magical tour. Not sure what the reason for this is - security or timing? Bought a guide book in the Westminster shop though.
Currently they are only available for UK residents and are on sale every second Wednesday at 10am. They sell out quicker than the old bell chimes!
What an incredible tour. We climbed the 334 steps up to the belfry, saw Big Ben II bell struck 12 times at noon, saw the clock mechanism before walking behind all 4 clock faces.
As a proud Brit - this is much more than a clock - it’s a national symbol that has been the background for so many historical events and the traditional New Year celebrations. It was an absolute privilege to be there and surprisingly emotional.
The tour is fully guided with lots of stops, where you are provided with pertinent information.
The only criticism/frustration was the fact that no photos are allowed. They were very strict on this and cameras/phones had to be put in a locker. It would’ve been fantastic to capture a magical tour. Not sure what the reason for this is - security or timing? Bought a guide book in the Westminster shop though.
Written 22 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
beachgirl56065
Keller, TX19 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
The only part of Big Ben you can really see is the clock face as the rest is covered with wood and scaffolding at moment. It was disappointing. My understanding from the driver is that they only recently uncovered the face. The impression I got was that they have been working on it for quite some time.
Written 4 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fachufaheem
161 contributions
Jul 2019 • Friends
The Elizabeth Tower, known informally as Big Ben (the nickname for the Great Bell), is a must see site in London. It is an extremely beautiful example of Gothic revival architecture and is, without question, the grandest clock tower on this planet. I would also highly recommend booking tickets for a guided tour of the Houses of Parliament too.-
Written 16 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chattykatie1992
Brooklyn, NY32 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
Unfortunately it was covered in scaffolding. Like NY, the iconic picture you hope to get is obstructed by construction. Of course it remains one of the top ten to see. The refurbishing will take two years and it’s worth it to maintain an icon so important . We’ll have to go back!
Written 1 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Victoria P
Chislehurst, UK21 contributions
Nov 2019 • Solo
It’s big but that’s about it. Massive hands.
I wonder if they’ll will add a digital face? Maybe they need to jazz it up a big with different sounds on the hour. I’m thinking different bird noises from across the globe and you can guess what they are.
I wonder if they’ll will add a digital face? Maybe they need to jazz it up a big with different sounds on the hour. I’m thinking different bird noises from across the globe and you can guess what they are.
Written 31 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
IanBH707
Guildford, UK17 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
My wife and I went on the Big Ben Tour this week. To book tickets you need to go onto their web site. They release tickets at 10am on the second Wednesday of each month. They make it very clear to need to be reasonably fit. To the top of the tower is 330 steps, although it is taken in a couple of stages. Guide was very good. We went on the 16.00 tour so were in the room with all the clock mechanism at 16.40 in time to see and hear the 16.45 chimes. We then went up to the clock tower. You stand within a couple of meters of Big Ben. They give you ear protectors. We saw it chime at 17.00. Coming down you go behind the clock faces. If you have seen the 39 steps you will know what I am talking about. And then back down. In total an hour and a half. Fantastic. If you wish you can then change your visitor pass for one that allows you into the public viewing areas of commons / Lords
Written 12 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janka K
Brno, Czech Republic8,722 contributions
Jul 2022
One of the icons of London that you just can't miss. You can see it from multiple places, as it stands out quite a lot above other buildings in the area.
Passing cars directly in from of the tower will prevent you to take a nice picture right away. Just count with a fact that it might take some time for you before all the cars and tourists in your way disappear from the view so you take your perfect picture.
Passing cars directly in from of the tower will prevent you to take a nice picture right away. Just count with a fact that it might take some time for you before all the cars and tourists in your way disappear from the view so you take your perfect picture.
Written 2 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
You can see the outside for free. Going inside requires a tour, and they are difficult to get. However, if you can get a tour it’s incredible.
Written 10 October 2024
Is it open for visitors in 2023?
The renovation has finished in 2022 and yet the Parliament's website says "During the conservation work on Big Ben, we have paused tours of Parliament's clock tower. "
Nonsense.
Written 5 February 2023
Not open yet as per the last update I have.
Written 7 February 2023
Kevin M
Worcester, United Kingdom
It's not the tower!
One review said it should be Long John
That's because you're looking at the Elizabeth Tower.
Big Ben is a big bell.
Bong!!
Written 21 October 2022
Inspiration648121
Sweetwater, Tennessee
Does anyone know if the pandemic has had an effect on the construction of Big Ben? Has the estimated completion date changed or is it still due to open end of 2021?
Written 22 August 2020
Thanks for your question. We don’t have an update about the works yet. Please go to the Big Ben page on the UK Parliament website (parliament.uk/bigben) where you can sign-up to our e-newsletter to receive the latest information.
Written 1 September 2020
I would like to see the current pic of Big Ben now because I am going to London next week thanks!
Written 25 January 2020
the pic uploaded are early December, i believe the repairs are going to last till summer 2021, the BIG BEN will still look good
Written 30 January 2020
I’m planning a trip to London next year around May 2021. Will the scaffold be off Big Ben by then?
Written 10 January 2020
Scusate qualcuno sa come mai il big-ben é impalcato?😕
Written 22 July 2019
Restauro il prossimo anno dovrebbe tornare al suo splendore.
Written 23 July 2019
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