Big Ben & Houses of Parliament

Palace of Westminster and Big Ben are among the most iconic symbols of London and the United Kingdom.

History

• 🏛️ Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament):
  • The current Gothic Revival building was constructed between 1840 and 1870 after the old palace was destroyed by fire in 1834.
  • It is the home of the UK Parliament (House of Commons and House of Lords).
• 🕰️ Big Ben:
  • The name officially refers to the Great Bell inside the Elizabeth Tower, although many people use “Big Ben” to mean the entire clock tower.
  • The tower was completed in 1859.
  • The Great Bell weighs about 13.5 tons.