The clock tower of the Palace of Westminster in London is known worldwide as the Big Ben. Meetings of the House of Lords and the House of Commons are held in the Palace of Westminster, it is easy to lose the right direction in the many kilometers of corridors of the palace. the world and is one of the most striking architectural symbols of the city.
Interesting facts about Big Ben
The tower is 96 meters high, with a narrow spiral staircase of 334 steps hiding inside it. Passing them all, you can get to a small open area, on which the famous Big Ben bell is located. It is he who beats off every hour the time, it is his sounds that are transmitted every hour by radio BBC. It was this bell that gave the name to the clock and the tower itself.
The bell is large: 2 meters high and 3 meters at the base. The dimensions of the clocks are no less striking: their diameter is 7 meters, and the hands have a length of 2.7 and 4.2 meters.
The clock was launched into action on May 21, 1859 (the tower itself was built a year earlier) and is still on the list of the largest watches in the world. Four of their dials are made of opal glass, bordered with gold-plated frames and have a Latin inscription, which means “God save our Queen Victoria.” These hours also have global significance: officially, the new year on planet Earth begins with the first beat of Big Ben on January 1.
Interestingly, Londoners living near the Palace of Westminster hear thirteen beats of Big Ben on New Year's Eve: the effect is due to the fact that the speed of sound is slower than the speed of propagation of radio waves.
Unfortunately, the general public does not have the opportunity to climb the Big Ben tower: safety concerns are paramount. But from time to time, representatives of the press and various important guests of the UK have the opportunity to climb it. But even important guests are forced to overcome the stairs themselves: there are no lifts inside the tower.
The Big Ben clock tower systematically becomes the “heroine” of many films, personifying the image of London.
The bell is large: 2 meters high and 3 meters at the base. The dimensions of the clocks are no less striking: their diameter is 7 meters, and the hands have a length of 2.7 and 4.2 meters.
The clock was launched into action on May 21, 1859 (the tower itself was built a year earlier) and is still on the list of the largest watches in the world. Four of their dials are made of opal glass, bordered with gold-plated frames and have a Latin inscription, which means “God save our Queen Victoria.” These hours also have global significance: officially, the new year on planet Earth begins with the first beat of Big Ben on January 1.
Interestingly, Londoners living near the Palace of Westminster hear thirteen beats of Big Ben on New Year's Eve: the effect is due to the fact that the speed of sound is slower than the speed of propagation of radio waves.
Unfortunately, the general public does not have the opportunity to climb the Big Ben tower: safety concerns are paramount. But from time to time, representatives of the press and various important guests of the UK have the opportunity to climb it. But even important guests are forced to overcome the stairs themselves: there are no lifts inside the tower.
The Big Ben clock tower systematically becomes the “heroine” of many films, personifying the image of London.