After the Palace of Westminster was destroyed by fire in 1834 it was decided that the new buildings for the Houses of Parliament would include a tower and clock. The home of the proposed clock, the Elizabeth Tower was completed in 1859 and the huge clock was started on the 31st of May that year. While most refer to the tower and the clock as Big Ben, Big Ben was in fact, the name given to the massive brass bell that chimes inside the clock.

The tower housing the clock stands over 96 m tall and 334 steps lead up to the belfry, with an additional 65 steps going all the way op to the Ayrton Light at the top of the tower. Big Ben is one of the most iconic landmarks in London and one of the world’s most famous tourist attractions.