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Clock Tower ( Big Ben ) - London Hotels .com

Big Ben at sunset

Did you know that Clock Tower, better known as Big Ben, has been running since September 7, 1859, and used to be the most accurate clock worldwide? The tower is part of the larger Palace of Westminster, which houses the British Houses of Parliament that govern the United Kingdom. When people refer to Clock Tower as Big Ben it is actually inacurrate, as Big Ben refers to the main bell housed within the tower.

Nevertheless, Clock Tower, even if referred to incorrectly, is arguably the most recognizable London iconography. It stands 320 feet high on the banks of the River Thames. The bell itself weights 13.8 tons, while the striking hammer weights 203.2 kilograms. But it is not the biggest or heaviest bell in England -- that distinction goes to "Great Paul" in nearby St. Paul's Cathedral, which is 2 tons heavier.

Big Ben is a focus of New Year celebrations in England, with radio and TV stations tuning to its chimes to welcome the start of the year. The clock is also very famous for its reliability.

Other top London attractions such as the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, the Florence Nightingale Museum and the London Eye are less than half a mile away. 

Visitors looking to say near Big Ben should check into the Thistle Westminster.

Tube Station: Westminster

URL: http://www.westminster-abbey.org