Big Ben Tours, London – Secrets Behind The Clock Face

If you’re hoping for a picture or two of Big Ben you may be disappointed, as unfortunately photos are not allowed on Big Ben tours. But don’t let that deter you from seeing one of the most famous clocks in the world up close. This is a truly unique experience for anyone visiting London, England.

Any London itinerary will usually have a trip to Big Ben on it. Few people get further than a quick pic from across the road, ideally with a strategically timed red double decker bus driving by.

But what if you could almost touch the bell, or stand behind the face of the clock? A way more unforgettable experience at Britain’s well-known landmark.

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What Exactly Is Big Ben?

Rising above Westminster since the mid-19th century, Big Ben and the Elizabeth Tower are among London’s most enduring symbols.

Completed in 1859, the tower was renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012 in honour of Queen Elizabeth’s 60-year Diamond Jubilee. The tower houses the Great Bell, nicknamed Big Ben, and is more officially known as the Great Clock of Westminster after the palace it’s housed within. The palace is now the home to the UK’s Houses of Parliament (which you can also visit as part of a different tour).

Sir Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin designed the Elizabeth tower during the reign of Queen Victoria after a fire almost completely destroyed the palace. Edmund Beckett Denison designed the clock itself, and using his designs John Dent built it. Although he unfortunately passed away before it was completed, his son Frederick taking over.

But while we refer to the entire tower and clock as Big Ben, officially only the bell itself is called Big Ben. This bell was cast by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 1858 and raised up the tower ready for its first chime the following year.

The clock is renowned for its size, accuracy, and iconic chimes. Anyone else remember hearing Big Ben chime live at the beginning of the nightly BBC 6 O’clock News? Keep reading to find out more about how it is kept accurate, even today.

Must Knows About Big Ben Tours

• The tours are 1 hour and 45 minutes long – and you’ll also need to arrive 30 mins before tour start times.
• There are 334 steps up the Elizabeth Tower to the top where Big Ben is located. There is no elevator, so this is not an accessible tour, and you must be in good enough shape to walk this far (although not all at once, don’t worry).
• The tours cost £35 – not cheap, but let’s face it, it’s not every day you get to do this.
• No photos are allowed other than external photos or in Westminster Hall. Phones/cameras and other personal belongings are locked away before tours start.
• There are 5-6 Big Ben tours per day Monday through Saturday. No tours Sunday, and tour times may vary depending on regularly scheduled clock maintenance (i.e. the earliest tour Mondays are one hour later than the rest of the week).
• Tours can accommodate max 16 people during each time slot. Tour group sizes will likely be at capacity for this popular activity.
• Book in advance to avoid disappointment. Tours go on sale 3 months before the date at 10am on the second Wednesday of each month. Set a reminder if your time is limited in London as they do sell out quickly.

TOP BIG BEN TOURS TIP: Book the 10:45am Big Ben tour start time and you’ll be in the clock tower when the famous ringer chimes 12 noon. If you’re going to visit Big Ben, might as well get the most bang for your buck most chimes per tour.

Arriving For The Big Ben Tours

This isn’t the kind of tour you can quickly fit into a couple of hours. It takes planning. Not least because of the high security process ahead of Big Ben tours. It is technically within a palace after all, and the center of the British government.

SECURITY

You will be instructed to arrive 30 minutes before your tour start time. While this allows for what could be a lengthy process to enter the Houses of Parliament, it took me under 5 minutes. I therefore had a bit of waiting around before the tour started.

Welcomed by friendly but official police, tickets are scanned and you’ll head towards airport security style machines. Coats off, pockets emptied, you know the drill.

The most surprising thing for me: no identity verification. My tour for the London Underground the day before had been more rigorous.

You’ll be handed a visitor pass which must remain on you and visible for the duration of your time in Westminster.

A PALATIAL WELCOME

Of all the possible places to wait around for a tour to start, Westminster Hall is a grand choice, and fits perfectly with the unique tour you’re about to take.

With its stained glass windows, 15th century English oak beams and expertly carved stonework this is the fanciest waiting room you’ll likely ever see.

However, other than walking around admiring the otherwise empty hall, there isn’t a lot to do. Take advantage if you get in early and make sure to head through to the bathrooms and the gift shop. You’ll also come back to Westminster Hall before you leave after the tour.

What Can You Take On Big Ben Tours?

Nothing. That includes bags, cameras, phones and even water. Guests will be asked for all your belongings which are safely locked away for the duration of the Big Ben tours after arrival in the Westminster Hall.

No water for the climb up the Elizabeth Tower? Probably a good thing as there aren’t any bathrooms either.

As for the climb itself, don’t worry, the 334 steps you’ll climb are not as daunting as they sound. The climb will be broken up into stages with opportunities for a rest and recharge along the way. And unlike those worn away spiral stairs you’ll see in many cathedrals, the steps inside the Elizabeth tower are uniform and square in true Victorian style.

The Big Ben Tours Experience

I’ll admit, being told you can’t take photos is a bit of a blow when visiting such an iconic and culturally significant spot in the UK’s capital. But the incredibly engaging and captivating tour pushes that back in your mind.

Instead, you’ll be thinking about the divots in the stone floor, made deeper from decades of men standing there winding up the clock. A task that took four hours at a time. Or marveling at exactly how one gets a 13+ tonne bell up a tower over 250 feet from the ground.

Curious how they used to light up the clock faces before electricity? Don’t worry, you’ll learn all this and more on the Big Ben tours.

Did you know the accuracy the clock is still checked three times a week? And that old pennies and coins are balanced on the pendulum to speed it up or slow it down depending on the accuracy?

Slow clap moment of the tour though? When our guide told us how in 1976 one of the cables unwound and they had to work “around the clock” to fix it before the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. Fair warning: This might not be the only timekeeping-related pun you’ll hear on the tour.

The ultimate thrill of the tour though? Well in my opinion there are two. The first, being able to stand inches from the glass of the four clock faces. Watching the hands go round from behind the scenes.

The second is of course hearing the quarterly chimes along the tour, and then the tour positioning you in the bell tour to experience the world famous hour chimes up close. You’ll hear the almost deafening chimes reverberate around the bell tower as you stand mere feet away. Fear not, protective ear defenders will be provided.

Are Big Ben Tours In London Worth Doing?

If you’re only in London for a short stay, Big Ben tours are more of a time commitment than some other activities. The tour length, plus time you need to be there before means you’ll be there for around 2 and a half hours. So if you only have one day in London and it’s your first visit here, maybe there are other things you’d prefer to do.

As someone who has been to London dozens of times, I’m always looking for something different to do there. This ended up one of the best experiences I’ve had in London, and as a Brit I found it even more incredible as Big Ben is such a part of my country’s history.

First time, or twentieth time in London, I still think this is an impressive tour that you’ll love. I would highly recommend it to anyone as it was way more informative than I expected.

There are cheaper activities if you’re visiting London on a budget – free museums, local markets, even some theatre shows. But if tickets for Big Ben tours are available, call it fate and plan that visit.

A Big Ben tour offers a rare chance to step inside this working landmark, climbing the Elizabeth Tower to stand behind the clock face and close to the bell itself. You won’t find another experience like it.

If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Would you like to take the Big Ben tour? Would not being able to take photos stop you from doing it?