![]() ![]() ![]() The renovations, which will be completed in 2022, are the most extensive in its history.It’s not quite the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but Big Ben does lean very slightly by 4 degrees.Some say it honours a 19th-century heavyweight boxing champion called Benjamin Caunt whose nickname was Big Ben. There are no credible historical references as to why it is called Big Ben.The government planned to use fake Big Ben bongs during World War II to confuse Nazi planes trying to find Westminster.It suffered a direct hit during the war but continued its hourly bongs. Not even World War II could stop Big Ben’s chimes.There are four other smaller bells in the clock tower.Pennies carefully placed on the bell’s pendulum ensure the chiming is always accurate.Visitors are warned they need to be fit enough to manage the steps. It’s appeared in movies, been printed on t-shirts and has become a lasting symbol of Great. The world famous clock has told time and its bells have rung through the streets of London for more than 150 years. ![]() Learn more about Big Ben and its history. Big Benthe 315-foot tower atop the Palace of Westminsterwill be shut down in early 2017 to undergo 42 million worth of repairs.
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