Westminster & Big Ben

Welcome to Westminster, the political heart of the United Kingdom. You are standing at one of the most photographed corners of London. To one side rises the Elizabeth Tower, the great clock tower most people simply call Big Ben — though Big Ben is technically the name of the bell inside. The tower was completed in 1859, and its four clock faces, each seven metres in diameter, were the largest in the world at the time. Beside it stretches the Palace of Westminster, the home of the Houses of Parliament, rebuilt in the gothic revival style after a devastating fire in 1834. Across the square stands Westminster Abbey, where every English and British coronation since 1066 has taken place, and where many monarchs, poets and scientists are buried, from Isaac Newton to Charles Darwin. A small fact: the bell of Big Ben weighs over thirteen tonnes, and its low E-note has been the sound of London since the Victorian era. A practical tip: walk a few steps onto Westminster Bridge for the classic postcard view, especially at sunset when the stone glows golden. As you continue, listen for the chimes if you are lucky enough to catch them, and feel the weight of nearly a thousand years of history beneath your feet.