Can you walk inside Big Ben?

Visitors must be aged 11 and over and be comfortable climbing 334 steps and experiencing high noise levels from the clock mechanism and bells - earplugs will be provided. The total tour duration is 90 minutes and toilet facilities are available at the beginning and end of the tour only.



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Inside Big Ben and how to visit You can visit Big Ben by booking a 90-minute guided tour that takes visitors up 334 stairs to see the clock mechanism room, behind the four clock dials and the Belfry, where the famous bell is located. Tours can be booked by visiting the official UK Parliament website.

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UK residents can request a free Big Ben tour by contacting a Member of the House of Commons or House of Lords directly. Please note that free member-sponsored tickets have very limited availability so requests should be made as far in advance as possible.

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114 steps up inside the tower is the Prison Room, but you don't need to worry about being locked up there yourself. The prison room was used for MPs who breached codes of conduct, but it hasn't been used since 1880.

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When does Big Ben chime? Big Ben chimes every hour, and smaller bells around it chime every 15 minutes to mark each quarter hour.

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But just how loud is Big Ben, and is the decision to protect hearing worth silencing the famous, historic landmark? At close proximity, the sound of Big Ben measures 118 decibels, which is loud enough to cause physical pain.

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