Big Ben & Houses of Parliament, London

Big Ben & Houses of Parliament, London (must see)

Ah yes, Big Ben鈥擫ondon鈥檚 most famous timekeeper! Often mistaken for the entire tower, technically, it's just the bell inside. The tower itself, once modestly named the Clock Tower, got a royal upgrade in 2012 and is now known as the Elizabeth Tower, in honor of Queen Elizabeth II鈥檚 Diamond Jubilee.

As for Big Ben鈥攖he bell鈥攊t weighs a jaw-dropping 15 tonnes. That鈥檚 about the weight of three adult elephants. It chimes every hour with a deep, resonant bong that echoes across the city, while four smaller bells handle the quarter-hour duties like loyal timekeeping sidekicks.

As for the name 鈥淏ig Ben鈥�, theories abound. Some say it was named after Benjamin Hall, the rather large man in charge of installing the bell. Others swear it honors Benjamin Caunt, a Victorian heavyweight boxer. Either way, it鈥檚 clear: you didn鈥檛 get to be 鈥淏ig Ben鈥� by being discreet.

Just next door, you'll find the Palace of Westminster, home of the Houses of Parliament鈥攖hat鈥檚 the House of Commons and the House of Lords for those keeping score. After a fire in 1834 burned the old palace to a crisp, King William IV generously offered up Buckingham Palace as a backup. The MPs politely declined, presumably because having tea in the Throne Room seemed a bit too much.

These days, the House of Commons is often in the headlines, especially during the theatrical Wednesdays known as Prime Minister鈥檚 Questions. Yes, it鈥檚 as lively as it sounds. The public can watch the action live, either by scoring a free ticket through their MP or simply queuing up outside (bonus points if it鈥檚 raining鈥攙ery British).

In terms of security, expect the full 鈥渁irport-lite鈥� treatment. Bags scanned, belts off, shoes inspected鈥攂ut thankfully, no need to explain your carry-on liquids.

Now, if the idea of parliamentary debates doesn鈥檛 tickle your fancy and you鈥檙e more into aesthetic admiration, simply head over to Westminster Bridge鈥攕ome 500 yards away. From there, you鈥檒l get the postcard shot of Big Ben and the Parliament buildings, no queuing or shoe removal required. Just you, the view, and a thousand other camera-happy tourists. Smile for history!

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in London. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Big Ben & Houses of Parliament
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

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