Is Big Ben its real name?

What is Big Ben's formal name? The tower housing Big Ben was formally known as St. Stephen's Tower until 2012, when it was renamed Elizabeth Tower on the occasion of Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, celebrating 60 years on the British throne.



No, Big Ben is not the real name of the famous clock tower in London; it is actually the nickname for the Great Bell housed within the tower. The tower itself was officially known as the Clock Tower for over 150 years until it was renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. In 2026, while almost everyone globally still refers to the landmark as "Big Ben," locals and historians are increasingly using the correct name, Elizabeth Tower, especially following the extensive multi-year restoration that concluded in the early 2020s. The bell itself weighs 13.7 tonnes and is famous for its "E-natural" chime. The nickname "Big Ben" is thought to be named after either Sir Benjamin Hall, who oversaw the bell's installation, or Benjamin Caunt, a champion heavyweight boxer. Despite the official nomenclature, the term "Big Ben" has become an inseparable part of the London brand and the most iconic symbol of British parliamentary democracy.

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What is Big Ben's formal name? The tower housing Big Ben was formally known as St. Stephen's Tower until 2012, when it was renamed Elizabeth Tower on the occasion of Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, celebrating 60 years on the British throne.

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2012: The Clock Tower is renamed the Elizabeth Tower to honour HM Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. 2017: The largest and most extensive conservation of the Elizabeth Tower begins to preserve the clock tower for future generations.

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Elizabeth Tower, originally named the Clock Tower, and popularly known as Big Ben, was built as a part of Charles Barry's design for a new Palace of Westminster after the old palace was largely destroyed by fire on 16 October 1834.

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The tower was initially named the Clock Tower, an accurate (if somewhat uninspired) name for this massive timepiece. In 2012 it was renamed the Elizabeth Tower to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, though colloquially it will always be Big Ben.

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Many People Call it Elizbeth Tower It has a massive bell inside called Big Ben that weighs more than 13 tons. In 2012, the British Government renamed it the Elizabeth Tower to honor the Queen. No one knows why people call this tower Big Ben. We have already mentioned the two theories about it.

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Visitors will be able to book a maximum of eight tickets per person, depending on availability. The Big Ben tour is not suitable for everyone. 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.

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On 21 August 2017, Big Ben's chimes were silenced for four years to allow essential restoration work to be carried out on the tower. The decision to silence the bells was made to protect the hearing of the workers on the tower, and drew much criticism from senior MPs and Prime Minister Theresa May.

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On 27 July 2012, Big Ben chimed 30 times, to mark the start of the Olympic games. And a final fact for you – the gold decorations at the top of the clock are real. It is genuine 23 carat gold as as fake gold would wear off more easily, so this is actually a cheaper alternative.

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Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London and is usually extended to refer to both the clock and the clock tower.

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All UK-based and international visitors aged 11 and over are welcome on a Big Ben tour. We do our best to help everyone participate in the tour, however it should be noted that the tour is not suitable for all visitors.

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With its prominent position overlooking the River Thames and the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben was a highly visible target for enemy aircraft during World War II. To prevent the bell tower's sounds from aiding enemy aircraft, the clock's chimes were silenced for the duration of the conflict.

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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.

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