Out of all the creative and unique buildings in the world, Big Ben is one of my favorites. Big Ben is a tower is located in the center of London, England, and was completed in 1859 as part of the Palace of Westminster. It is best known for the massive clock on its center, which has Venetian glass dials and keeps time using a pendulum weighted by penny coins. Adding or removing these coins can slow down or speed up the clock.
Big Ben was originally named the Clock Tower and, in 2012, it was re-named the Elizabeth Tower its mark the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s ascension to the throne. People call the tower Big Ben because that is the name of the largest of its five bells which chime to mark the time.
The foundation of the tower is set on gravel, with the clay of London below. Thus, the tower actually leans slightly toward the north. It stands at 316 feet tall and is constructed with bricks.
Not only is Big Ben a creative idea and national symbol, but it’s architecture is a beautiful example of neo-gothic revival style. There are intricate lines going up the tower and running around the clock. Above the clock, there are two little sections containing bells that chime every hour and keep London on schedule and alert. At the top of the tower, there is a triangular roof with a spire and cross on top, which really finish the building off really well.
An interesting fact about Big Ben is that only citizens of the United Kingdom are allowed inside. Despite this, tourists still love to admire the exterior of the building due to its rare structure and intricate architecture.
Big Ben has became a symbol for London and is the main reason that the building is a must-see for all tourists visiting London. In the past 10 years, it has the 26th most annual visitors of any building or monument in the entire world.
