Facts About Big Ben

By Victorian standards the clock is very accurate. The speed of the clock is adjusted by placing old penny coins on the pendulum. Adding a coin speeds the clock by 2 fifths of a second every 24 hours.

The name "Big Ben" actually refers only to the 13 tonne bell located within the clock tower. The tower itself is actually called simply "The Clock Tower".

Changes in ground conditions in the 150 years since the tower was constructed have led to it leaning to the north-west at an angle of about 1 in 250.

At the bottom of each clock face there are gold letters showing Latin text which translates "O Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First".

Each of the four clock faces has a diameter of over 7 meters. They are cleaned once every 5 years by abseiling cleaners.

There are cells in the tower where Members of Parliament can be imprisoned for a breach of parliamentary privilege.

The clock tower was the last building designed by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin before he went mad.

When parliament is in session green light is visible above the clock.

The tower has appeared to be wholly or partially destroyed in an episode of Dr Who as well as in two films - The Avengers and Mars Attacks!.

The bottom 200 feet of the tower is built from brick and stone cladding with the remainder of the tower made from cast iron.

As well as the main bell there are four other bells which ring at quarter hour intervals and play the notes G#, F#, E, and B.

A 2008 poll of two thousand people revealed Big Ben as Britain's most popular land mark - with Stone Henge coming second.