Is Big Ben free of scaffolding?

In December 2021, after four years of renovations and restoration, the tower emerged from behind its scaffolding in time for the ringing in of the new year. In April 2022, the gantry supporting the scaffolding was removed, leaving the tower free of scaffolding.



Yes, as of March 2026, Big Ben (the Elizabeth Tower) is entirely free of scaffolding and is fully visible to the public. The massive £80 million restoration project, which began in 2017, was officially completed a couple of years ago. The tower now stands in its full Victorian glory, featuring the restored Prussian Blue clock hands and numerals—a color scheme that replaced the 1930s black paint to match the original 1859 design. All four clock faces are fully operational, and the "Great Bell" (Big Ben) strikes on the hour, every hour, accompanied by the quarter bells. Visitors can now book "Elizabeth Tower Tours" to climb the 334 steps to the belfry, a service that was suspended for nearly half a decade. The surrounding Palace of Westminster still undergoes minor localized repairs, but the iconic silhouette of the clock tower that defines the London skyline is once again unobstructed, glistening with its newly gilded details and fresh stonework after years of being hidden behind metal bars.

People Also Ask

National landmark Big Ben has finally broken free of scaffolding to show its £80m, five-year restoration project. The Elizabeth Tower, better known as Big Ben, the bell that sits inside it, has unveiled a new glistening golden exterior, with intricate emerald details and clocks hands restored to their original blue.

MORE DETAILS

The last of the scaffolding being used on Sir Robert McAlpine's scheme to refurbish Big Ben was slotted into place last week at a cost of £3.5m.

MORE DETAILS

It holds the largest four-faced chiming clock in the world and is the third-tallest free-standing clock tower.

MORE DETAILS

There is not a charge to enter Big Ben, but you do need to arrange it ahead of time. We chose not to enter. We went to the museum in the afternoon (no charge) , had a snack there, spent 15 minutes in Trafalgar Square and walked down to Parliament and Big Ben (next to each other) in the early evening.

MORE DETAILS

There is not a charge to enter Big Ben, but you do need to arrange it ahead of time. We chose not to enter. We went to the museum in the afternoon (no charge) , had a snack there, spent 15 minutes in Trafalgar Square and walked down to Parliament and Big Ben (next to each other) in the early evening.

MORE DETAILS

Though the Palace is generally not open to the public, during summer you can visit its State Apartments (admission charge) and see the Queen's large garden and collection of artwork. You can however see the Changing of the Guard for free at 11.30 am every morning during summer and every second morning during winter.

MORE DETAILS

What is officially known as the Great Clock of Westminster was surrounded by scaffolding in 2017 for crews to not only work on rehabbing the exterior but also attend to the massive mechanisms that power the four-faced clock.

MORE DETAILS

The ceremony at the top of the Elizabeth Tower – popularly known as Big Ben – was preceded by traditional bagpipe music and an evergreen bough was attached to the scaffolding by the building and civil engineering company delivering the conservation project, Sir Robert McAlpine Special Projects Ltd.

MORE DETAILS

Big Ben Opening Hours and Tickets Big Ben has been undergoing restoration work since 2017, the biggest conservation project in its history. Currently, it remains temporarily closed to visitors and plans to reopen in 2023. The Great Bell (nicknamed Big Ben) has just been repaired.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

However, it is one of the most unusual aspects of the Elizabeth Tower. 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.

MORE DETAILS

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

MORE DETAILS

Using this number we have estimated that the monthly cost to rent a room in Buckingham Palace would be between £40,258.06 and £55,354.84. Which is just over £664,000 a year at the top of the scale.

MORE DETAILS

There is no formal dress code required to enter the Palace. Toilets and baby-care facilities are located in the garden, this is at the end of the route through the Palace. There are no toilet facilities at the start of the visitor route.

MORE DETAILS