Not to be a TOTAL tourist, but I have to tell you about one of the most exciting things I've done so far
(okay, there have been many)
I put on my Tinker Bell wings and paid Big Ben a little visit
They only give small private tours, which are free but require a bit of planning ahead
(even Tinker Bell needed a background check)
It was so exciting to be inside one of the most recognized structures in the world!
We climbed a dizzying 334 steps
We climbed a dizzying 334 steps
And literally gasped when we saw the backside of the clock face made of white glass
We could see the shadows of the hands and numbers
Absolutely magnificent
Absolutely magnificent
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| Notice the light bulbs on the opposite wall? They light the face at night |
One piece of glass opens for maintenance and for shooing birds away (which has stopped the clock in the past)
Peter Pan flies through that little window sometimes too :)
The clock was built in Victorian times
This famous clock is still wound three times a week by hand
They use a sophisticated method of changing the speed of the pendulum swing...
weighing it down with coins!
Afraid of heights: Need Not Apply
We wore 'ear defenders' (ear plugs)
for the chime and bongs at noon
We held on to the wall for support due to the vibration
It was spectacular
Although there are 5 bells, Big Ben is the name of the biggest bell
It has a crack and hole in it
The tune of the famous Westminster chime came from Handel's Messiah
During the First World War, the clock tower's lights and chime were turned off
to hide in the darkness from low flying enemy blimps
And although its lights also went out during WWII, the chime remained a sound of hope for the city
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| Nearby 'London Eye' in Spring |
If you reside in the UK (and at least 12 yrs old),
you absolutely must contact your local council and go on this behind-the-scenes tour
Watch out for that 'cheeky' Peter Pan and Capt'n Hook on the way there :)
Exterior photos by me
Interior photos & clock face cleaners from parliament.uk
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