The Bell...The Bell....... (Big Ben)

Member Name: andycharger

Product:	Big Ben
Date:	24/08/01 (117 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good for the tourists

Disadvantages: Badly described as the tower.

When you think of Big Ben, you think of News at Ten or the New Years Eve Celebrations dont you?
Well you would be wrong about that then wouldnt you.
Big Ben is actually the Bell that sits inside of the huge, ornately decorated clocktower attached to the Houses of Parliament on the North Bank of the Thames in London.
It is the Bell that produces the DONGS that you hear when it strikes the hours out across the city. There are 2 theories about its name.
Firstly, The great bell is named after the first Commissioner of Works, Sir Benjamin Hall.
Secondly,It was named after a famous heavyweight boxer called Benjamin Caunt. Apparently, it was because his punch was strong enough to make the bell chime!
You decide which one you want!

But people are not going to look at a bell are they?
They dont want the illusion shattered that Big Ben is not a Clocktower do they?
So I will not shatter that illusion (oops! Too late!). I will refer to the clocktower as Big Ben.

History.
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It was built in a Victorian Goth style between 1840 and 1860 by Sir Charles Barry and A W Pugin. The designers built it to replace a royal palace that once stood there. Hence its name as the Westminster Palace.
Inside is aPrison Cell where MPs can be taken if they prove too unruly. It was last used in the 1880's!
During the Blitz, it recieved heavy damage and was rebuilt in 1950.
It has 4 faces, all telling the correct time.
Inside the tower are the 39 Steps made famous by Hitchcock and Buchanan.

Local famous neighbours.
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To one side you have the River Thames. Westminster Bridge Crosses in front of the Clock.
Nextdoor is the Houses of Parliament. This houses both the House of Lords and House of Commons. When we see MP's hurling abuse of each other on TV, it is in the shadows of Big Ben that they do it.
Nextdoor but one is Westminster Abbey.
This is
the Abbey that wed Prince Andrew in the 1980's to Sarah Fergusson. It has seen many other famous events too such as the Funeral of Princess Diana.
Not far from the Clocktower is Downing Street. About 150 Yards away. Tony Blair could walk that far!

Best way to see it.
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Night time viewing is highly recommended. The Clock faces are lit up magnificently. However, if you want a closer look....
Speak to your local MP. Tours can be arranged by them for you to visit the inside of the famous structure and you get to see the House of Commons too!
worth doing as I have done this and it was free!

Getting there.
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By foot.
Head along the Embankment and you will not be able to miss it. Or, from the South of the river, cross over at Westminster Bridge. You wil not miss the tower.

By Tube.
Jubilee Line to Westminster.

By Bus.
Not sure of the numbers but a good way to see the town is on an open top bus tour. It costs £10 daily.

Website?
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There is a Houses of Parliament website but it does not mention Big Ben much
http://www.parliament.uk/hophome.htm

How about having a look at it?
There is a web cam!
http://uk2.multimap.com/map/cam.cgi?client=cam &camname=Bigben

Summary: