If you had an older brother or sister who hogged the limelight, you may empathise with the smaller bells. Once inside the clock tower, if you wanted to get some steps in, you will relish the 334 steps to the Belfry where Big Ben hangs. It is equivalent to 21 London buses being stacked on top of each other. The huge clock tower stands loud and proud, towering at 96 metres at the north end of the Houses of Parliament in Westminster next to the River Thames. The giant bell clocks in at a whopping 13 tonnes, which is around the same weight as 14 walruses. The bell is certainly big, so at least that part of its name is correct.
It underwent a rechristening of sorts in 2012 when it was renamed Elizabeth Tower in honour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. The Clock Tower was Big Ben's original name. So what exactly is Big Ben? Many may not know this, but Big Ben is the name of the bell inside the Clock Tower. Despite being universally known as Big Ben - the hashtag #BigBen has even garnered over 3.2 million hashtags on Instagram - no part of the building is actually called this. Many people mistakenly refer to the Houses of Parliament's iconic tower as Big Ben. During its entire existence it has been referred to by an incorrect name, which should be enough to give anyone, even a building, a complex. What happens when nicknames get out of control? Just ask Big Ben.
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