Big Ben & Houses of Parliament

The Houses of Parliament are a superlative in every respect. They house the oldest parliament in the world, which already met here in 1295. And in the approximately 97 meter high clock tower hangs by far the most famous bell in the world, the Big Ben. On the occasion of Queen Elizabeth II's 60th anniversary on the throne, the clock tower - "The Clock Tower" - was renamed Elizabeth Tower.

Big Ben - the proud landmark of London

Big Ben is one of the five bells that ring out a distinctive chime every hour on the hour according to the current time. When Big Ben strikes five times, it is the signal for many English tourists to interrupt their city stroll and visit a café for the typical British "5 O'Clock Tea Time".

Between the strokes of the hour, a little melody is regularly heard, which Londoners proudly call "The Voice of Britain". The sequence of notes is taken from a work by the famous German composer George Frideric Handel. The sequence of notes is known as the Westminster chime and many alarm clocks and doorbells draw on this harmonious and memorable signal.

Although the name Big Ben originally referred only to the bell, which weighs almost 14 tons, in common parlance the name applies to the entire clock tower with its huge clock visible from afar. Its clock face is about 30 square metres in size and a team of specialists takes care of the smooth functioning of the clock, which consists of more than 300 parts. Above the clock face is a lamp. It lights up whenever Parliament is in session. Unfortunately, the tower and clock may be partially obscured by scaffolding and tarpaulins at the moment - and probably until 2021 - due to restoration work.

The Palace of Westminster - Birthplace of Western Democracy

The origins of the Palace of Westminster date back to the 11th century, when the Anglo-Saxon King Edward built a fortification here, which was gradually converted into a palace by subsequent rulers. As early as 1295, the Palace of Westminster was a regular meeting place for the Anglo-Saxon nobility and until 1529 it was also the London residence of the English kings.

Afterwards, it exclusively served as a parliament in which the representatives of the nobility and the bourgeoisie met. From the original building, only little remained, as it was almost completely destroyed by a big fire in October 1834. Only the Westminster Hall and the Jewel Tower were spared from the fire and are still part of the Houses of Parliament.

The monumental building that now stands so impressively on the banks of the Thames was built on the old foundation walls and has borne the name Houses of Parliament since 1870 as the seat of the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Visit Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament

There are several ways to visit the Houses of Parliament. On weekdays, the public sessions of the House of Commons and the House of Lords are held and anyone can attend as a spectator. On days when there are no sessions, on Saturdays and during the parliamentary holidays, there are guided tours of individual rooms. Unfortunately, the Elizabeth Tower and Big Ben are only accessible to residents of the United Kingdom who have applied for individual permission from their MP.

The most beautiful view to Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament is from the gondolas of the "London Eye", the Ferris wheel at the opposite bank of the Thames. Also from the nearby Westminster Bridge there are beautiful views of the historic building complex and especially after dark you can take atmospheric souvenir photos from there.

Häufige Fragen (FAQ)