Big Ben Clock Tower in London

The Clock Tower or Big Ben

Many would Consider the clock tower as one of the most popular landmarks that can be found in the United Kingdom. The Big Ben is the largest four-faced chiming clock and the third largest free-standing clock tower in the world (after Old City Hall in Toronto, Canada and Joseph Chamberlain Clock Tower in Birmingham, UK). This 96.3-meter tall clock tower, located at the north-eastern end of the Palace of Westminster in London was a design
whiz by Charles Barry and Gothic-deisgner Augustus Pugin. Big Ben's structure is composed of brickwork and sand colored Anston limestone cladding. It was completed in 1859 and will celebrate
its 150th anniversary in 2009.

One famous idiomatic expression, "putting a penny on," which means to slow down, traces its history to the method of fine-tuning the clock's pendulum using a small stack of penny coins to adjust the time of the clock. In addition, the name Big Ben originally only applied to the Bell, before it became the collective term referring to the clock, tower, and bell.

Certainly, Big Ben has become an important iconic symbol, not only of London but for the entire United Kingdom. Many British Radio and Television stations also tune in to the chimes to hear its signal, for the start of a New Year and to mark the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11 month on Remembrance Day and it has been featured in numerous films. Another famous building that used in many movies is the Sphinx at Luxor in Las Vegas.

Why You should visit theTower of London

This photo of Tower of London is courtesy of TripAdvisor
Type: Historic Sites, Landmarks/ Points of Interest
Activities: Group tours/walking tour, Ice skating
Fee: Yes
Owner description: One of London's most famous landmarks, the historic Tower houses the Crown Jewels, the prison cell of Sir Walter Raleigh, known as the Bloody Tower,... more »

Rated: 4-1/2 stars

World Heritage Site

ABOUT THE TOWER OF LONDON

Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is notated as a historic castle along the northern bank of the Thames River in central London, England, United Kingdom.

It sits inside the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, slightly separated from the east edge of the square mile of the City of London, by an open space referred to as Tower Hill.

The tower was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England.

The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in the year 1078, and was seen as a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new ruling elite.

The castle was used as a prison since at least 1100, although that was not its primary purpose.

A grand palace early in its history, it served as a royal residence.

As a whole, the Tower is comprised of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat. There were several phases of expansion, mainly under Kings Richard the Lionheart, Henry III, and Edward I in the 12th and 13th centuries.

The general layout established by the late 13th century remains despite later activity on the site.

London, United Kingdom

If you want to see London at its most spectacular, then I suggest you visit in June, the city will celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee with all due pomp and circumstance (including a huge parade and a flotilla of 1,000 boats on the Thames). Back in July and August, of course, the eyes of the world were on London as it hosted the 2012 Olympic Games. Was it crowded? Sure. But it was unforgettable.

ABOUT LONDON, UK



While Visiting, Don't miss:
Tower of London
The London Eye
British Museum
Best things to do in London
The Big Ben Clock Tower