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UK Parliament
Official Web Site |
Big
Ben From River Thames |
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Big
Ben is the international icon of London, the 316 foot clock tower
was completed in 1858.
Big Ben itself is the name of the 14 ton bell that chimes. The original
bell cracked in October 1857.
No-one knows the exact origins of the name 'Big Ben' but the most
popular theories are:
That the bell was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, the First Commissioner
of Works and a bulky man known in the House of Commons as Big Ben.
That it was given the nickname of a champion heavyweight boxer of
the time called Ben Caunt. He fought his last fight in 1857 when
the bell, and the debate of what to name it, was in the public consciousness.
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Big
Ben is an integral part of Westminster Palace, more commonly known
as the Houses of Parliament - the seat of UK government.
The light above Big Ben is illuminated when Parliament is sitting.
UK residents can arrange a tour and climb the clock tower through
their local Member of Parliament.
The Houses of Parliament contains more than 1,000 rooms and 2 miles
of corridors.
The UK government is split into two chambers the House of Commons
and House of Lords. The House of Commons is the elected government,
the House of Lords is supposed to act as a check. Because the House
of Lords is not elected, (many were appointed purely through hereditary
right or political appointment) the chamber is undergoing reform to
make it acceptable in a modern society. |
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Visiting
(UK residents):
UK residents can watch laws being made and debates in both Houses
by visiting the public galleries when Parliament is in session. Tickets
from your MP or a Lord are necessary to secure entrance to Question
Time and Prime Minister?s Question Time in the House of Commons.
Public committee sessions are open to everyone, including the press.
There are meetings Monday to Thursday most weeks when Parliament is
sitting (meeting). Visitors queue on the day as places cannot be booked
in advance.
Free tours are held throughout the year, and you need to arrange a
place through your MP or a Lord. |
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Visiting
(Overseas Visitors):
You
can watch laws being made and debates in both Houses by visiting
the public galleries when Parliament is meeting. Public committee
sessions are open to everyone, including the press. There are meetings
Monday to Thursday most weeks when Parliament is sitting (meeting).
Visitors queue on the day, places cannot be booked in advance.
Overseas visitors can only tour Parliament during the Summer Opening,
when paid-for tickets are available.
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Getting
to Big Ben:
Westminster
Underground station is opposite Big Ben.
The District, Circle and Jubilee Lines all service the station. The
Underground station was redeveloped recently and is much more roomy,
airy and modern than the typical Underground
station. |
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Also
by Big Ben is Westminster Pier, where scheduled
river boats ply the River Thames. Most popular/frequent route
is to the Tower of London, but you can go as far as Hampton Court
during the summer months.
The very popular hop
on, hop off London tour buses of course also stop at Big Ben.
They do a circuit where you can get very good pictures/views from
the opposite side of the river. |
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