Tour of London: where is Big Ben?

Today there is hardly anyone who does not know where the Big Ben is located, the ferris wheel "London Eye" or Trafalgar Square. But few people realize that the name of the world-famous tower was given by a bell located inside it. Its size is two meters in height and almost three meters in diameter, and weighs 13.5 tons.

Another interesting fact is that about the official offensive of the New Year to the whole world is reported by England. Big Ben, whose blows every hour broadcast on his air station BBC, begins the countdown with the chime of the bells. And the first blow of the hammer will coincide with the first second of the new hour.

Like all the sights of England, Big Ben is under close guard of the authorities. To get to the top platform of the tower, you need to go through 334 narrow stairs along the spiral staircase. However, tourists inside the tower are not allowed. Several times a week the entire mechanism is carefully inspected and lubricated.

That the hands on the watch are not in a hurry and do not be late, their movement is controlled by old English coins. How? Very simple. One penny, placed over the pendulum, accelerates its work by two and a half seconds in 24 hours. So, the different number of coins allows to achieve their accuracy even after a century and a half.

The Westminster Palace, where Big Ben is located, was built on the banks of the River Thames. The tower rises above London at an altitude of 98 meters. The dials, made from Birmingham opal, are located on four sides of the world. Large arrows are cast from copper, and small ones are cast iron. For a year the minute hand overcomes a distance of 190 kilometers in length.

The history of this architectural monument began more than 160 years ago. In 1844, architect Charles Barry sent a request to Parliament for additional subsidies for the construction of watches. According to his idea on the tower of St. Stephen, where Big Ben is located, the biggest clock with the heaviest bell and the most precise mechanism should appear.

The further disputes about the technical implementation of the project could not abate for five years. New troubles came at a time when it was necessary to cast a bell. Officially, he received his name on behalf of the foreman, who was Benjamin Hall, who bore the nickname Big Ben because of his fat figure. Other sources say that the bell is named after a boxer and strong-man Benjamin Kaunt who lived in the time of Queen Victoria.

The finished architectural structure became a symbol of the dawn of the British Empire. In memory of this were made inscriptions in Latin at the base of each dial and along the perimeter of the tower, praising the queen and the Lord God. At present, this is probably the most recognizable landmark in England.

By the way, today it will be more correct to ask "where is the Tower of Elizabeth" instead of "where is Big Ben". The thing is that in the fall of 2012 an official decision was made to rename. The occasion was the celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of the reign of Elizabeth II. A new nameplate was presented at the opening on September 12. Although certainly tourists, and the locals this bell tower will long be called Big Ben.