Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London.
The clock tower has become one of the most prominent symbols of both London and England, often in the establishing shot of films set in the city.
Tower :
The tower is founded on a 15-metre (49 ft) square raft, made of 3-metre (9.8 ft) thick concrete, at a depth of 4 metres (13 ft) below ground level.
The four clock dials are 55 metres (180 ft) above ground. the tower has no lift.
clock:
Dials:
The clock dials are big enough that the Clock Tower was once the largest four-faced clock in the world.
The dial of the Great Clock of Westminster. The hour hand is 2.7 metres (9 ft) long and the minute hand is 4.3 metres (14 ft) long.
The clock and dials were designed by Augustus Pugin. The clock dials are set in an iron frame 7 metres (23 ft) in diameter, supporting 312 pieces of opal glass, rather like a stained-glass window.
At the base of each clock dial in gilt letters is the Latin inscription:
Which means O Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First?
Great bell :
The main bell, officially known as the Great Bell, is the largest bell in the tower and part of the Great Clock of Westminster. The bell is better known by the nickname Big Ben.
Since the tower was not yet finished, the bell was mounted in New Palace Yard. Cast in 1856, the first bell was transported to the tower on a trolley drawn by sixteen horses, with crowds cheering its progress.
Chimes:
Along with the Great Bell, the belfry houses four quarter bells which play the Westminster Quarters on the quarter hours. The four quarter bells are G♯, F♯, E, and B.
The Quarter Bells play a 20-chime sequence,
1–4 at quarter past,
5–12 at half past,
13–20 and 1–4 at quarter to, and
5–20 on the hour (which sounds 25 seconds before the main bell tolls the hour).
If you want to see this huge wonder arrange a trip to London.
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