Is Big Ben still covered up?

The bell at the world-famous London landmark was barely rung while the tower was covered in scaffolding - which was removed in late 2021, revealing a view of the clock face's restored original paint colour.



As of March 2026, Big Ben is no longer covered by scaffolding. The extensive five-year conservation project on the Elizabeth Tower was officially completed in 2022, and the tower has been fully visible to the public for several years. The "Great Clock" was meticulously restored to its original Victorian color scheme of Prussian blue and gold, replacing the black paint used in the 1930s. Visitors in 2026 can see the tower in its full splendor, and the famous 13.7-tonne bell, Big Ben, resumes its regular striking schedule. While the external scaffolding is gone, the UK Parliament continues to manage internal tours of the tower, which must be booked months in advance. Travelers should note that while the tower itself is clear, there may still be minor localized maintenance work at the base of the Palace of Westminster as part of the ongoing, decades-long "Restoration and Renewal" program for the entire Parliamentary estate.

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The famous Palace of Westminster clock tower disappeared beneath scaffolding four years ago, as part of a major restoration project. In December the top of the scaffolding began to be removed, exposing the London landmark's famous 160-year-old clock face for the first time since it was renovated.

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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.

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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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Maintenance work was performed on the clock in 2007. On August 21, 2017, Big Ben stopped chiming, as the tower was undergoing a four-year restoration project during which the bell was scheduled to ring only for special events, notably New Year's Eve and Remembrance Sunday.

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There is no Big Ben and Parliament entry fee as such because the entry inside the Big Ben tower is not allowed for the tourists except the ones who are UK residents. However, the area around Big Ben is accessible to the public and the view of the tower can be enjoyed free of cost.

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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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The 13-tonne Big Ben bell was largely silenced for five years while a major restoration of the Elizabeth Tower took place, with the “bongs” finally resuming regular service in November 2022.

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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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The moniker Big Ben has been in use for over 150 years, and the nickname was originally applied only to the enormous bell inside the tower. The Great Bell received i's sobriquet in honor of Sir Benjamin Hall, the First Commissioner for Works, who raised Big Ben to its current place atop the tower.

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