Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament are located in Westminster, on the River Thames. The Great Clock Tower of London was built as a beacon for the British Houses of Parliament. Named after Sir Benjamin Hall, the BBC first broadcast Big Ben’s chimes on December 31, 1923. The name “Big Ben” actually refers to the massive slightly cracked 13.5 ton bell which strikes on the hour. Big Ben’s 4-clock faces are 23 feet across with 14-foot “minute” hands and 9-foot “hour” hands.

The Houses of Parliament is where the House of Commons and the House of Lords meet. One of London’s best-known landmarks and a popular tourist attraction, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament are especially stunning after dark, when its buildings and clock face are illuminated.