What was the original cost of the Big Ben?

The original cost of the project to the taxpayers and creditors was estimated to be roughly £29 million, but this was then more than doubled, to £69 million.



The original construction of the Elizabeth Tower (which houses the bell known as Big Ben) and the Great Clock was completed in 1859 for a cost of approximately £12,000, though the broader project for the new Palace of Westminster famously went over budget. To put this in perspective, the recent major restoration project completed in the early 2020s cost significantly more due to modern heritage standards and structural complexity. In 2017, the initial renovation estimate was £29 million, but this eventually ballooned to at least £80 million (some reports cited £61 million mid-project) as workers uncovered unforeseen damage to the Victorian stonework and internal systems. The vast difference between the original 19th-century cost and modern repair bills reflects not only inflation but also the specialized artisanal labor required to maintain one of the world's most recognizable UNESCO World Heritage sites.

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A symbol of democracy and a central part of what makes Britons feel British, Big Ben has become synonymous with both London, the United Kingdom and 'the Mother of Parliaments. ' And it not only holds a special place in the people of Britain's hearts, but in the hearts of MPs as well.

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The London clock tower, Big Ben was rotated by a quarter, causing the hammer to strike a different place of the bell. Meanwhile, the hammer was lightened to prevent further damage. The bell has sounded at a slightly different pitch ever since, and the crack has never been repaired.

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Big Ben is a tower clock known for its accuracy and for its massive hour bell. Strictly speaking, the name refers only to the bell, which weighs 15.1 tons (13.7 metric tons), but it is commonly associated with the whole clock tower at the northern end of the Houses of Parliament, in the London borough of Westminster.

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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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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.

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One of the most visible changes to the tower has been the restoration of the clock-face framework to its original colour of Prussian blue, used when the tower was first built in 1859, with the black paint that was used to cover up the soot-stained dial frames now having been stripped away.

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The clock tower – colloquially known as Big Ben after its massive bell – has been slightly off center since it was erected in the mid-19th century. Like many old buildings, its position has been shifting imperceptibly for years due to environmental factors such as seasonal temperature and moisture level changes.

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