The pendulum in Big Ben’s clock weighs 660 pounds (300 kg) and swings about 7.9 million times each year!
Big Ben Tower (UK) - Facts for Kids
Don't want random?
Search name of person, animal, place, thing, etc.
Share
Facts About Big Ben Tower (UK) For Kids
Big Ben’s tower contains 11 floors connected by 334 steps — that’s like climbing to the top of a 32-story building!
Big Ben’s clock mechanism has over 1,000 parts and weighs about 5 tons — as heavy as an adult male elephant!
The minute hands on Big Ben’s clock faces travel at a speed of 0.014 miles per hour — slower than a snail!
Conservation & Maintenance
During the extensive restoration of the Elizabeth Tower (commonly known as Big Ben) from 2017 to 2022, the restoration team used over 96,000 pieces of scaffolding!
Special sound-dampening devices were installed to protect the workers’ hearing from Big Ben’s loud bells!
The recent restoration of Big Ben from 2017 to 2022 included installing a lift to make it easier for maintenance workers to reach the top of the tower!
The Elizabeth Tower’s (commonly known as Big Ben) clock faces were completely dismantled during restoration, with each piece carefully labeled and photographed!
Global Impact & Recognition
Big Ben is featured on millions of postcards and photos, making it one of the most photographed buildings in the world!
The sound of Big Ben’s chimes is protected by copyright and can only be used with special permission from the BBC!
The Big Ben tower appears on the back of the British £5 note, making it a part of everyday life in the UK!
Big Ben’s chimes have been used as a time signal by the BBC since 1923, making it the voice of British time!
The Big Ben tower receives over 2 million visitors each year, making it one of London’s most popular attractions!
Big Ben has appeared on countless TV shows and movies, including “Peter Pan” and “Mary Poppins”!
