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.

Big Ben (officially the Elizabeth Tower) was covered in scaffolding for five years, from 2017 to 2022, as part of a massive £80 million restoration project. The scaffolding was necessary because the 160-year-old tower was suffering from severe crumbling masonry, a leaky roof, and rusting metalwork that threatened its structural integrity. More than 3,400 cast-iron roof tiles were removed and repaired, and the clock hands were repainted to their original "Prussian Blue" color from the Victorian era. In 2026, the tower stands fully revealed and restored, featuring modern upgrades like energy-efficient LED lighting and a new elevator. The project was the most extensive in the tower's history, ensuring that London's most iconic timepiece remains functional and safe for the next century of chiming across the River Thames.