Photo courtesy of brosner

Big Ben

Type: Sightseeing

10Best Says

Arguably London's most famous landmark, this clock tower rises above the Houses of Parliament, former site of the Palace of Westminster. Although the tower has long been called "Big Ben," that moniker actually belongs to the tower's largest bell, which weighs more than 13 tonnes. The tower itself is 320 feet high, and its four clock faces are each 23 feet across. The tower, however you choose to refer to it, is a striking focal point for the Houses of parliament, especially when the sun throws the entire structure into golden relief. The whole complex is bursting with history, from Guy Fawkes gunpowder plot to the site of the oldest democracy in the world. TUBE: Westminster

Address:

Parliament Sq
London, SW1A 0AA

EXPERT TIPS BY: Emma Wallis
London Local Expert

Historic Sites: "Combine a walk around Westminster with a trip on the London Eye early on in your stay so that you get a birds eye view of all the delights London has to offer."

Best for Historic Sites Because: Big Ben had to make it on to historical sites in London, the symbol of the oldest democracy in the world is not to be missed.