Big Ben Tours
Not very often have I been emotional when trying out a visitor experience, but standing in the belfry at the top of Big Ben as it chimed 6 o’clock, was one such time! The chimes of Big Ben are part of the very fabric of growing up in Britain, synonymous daily events as well as signifying milestones; who hasn’t heard Big Ben bringing in the New Year. Having completed a £80m refurbishment back in 2022, Big Ben is now open to the public to climb the 334 spiral steps & experience the clock tower and belfry up close and personal. Find out how you can access this NEW Big Ben tour plus some handy hints and tips to help you get the most from your visit.
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Big Ben, (photo; Phil Loach)
NEW Big Ben Tours
This NEW 90 minute Big Ben tour only started during the summer of 2023 & allows the general public access to this iconic visitor attraction in London. Tickets are limited, released in batches & are quickly snapped up so there’s an element of planning ahead with this tour. Worth knowing that Big Ben Tour tickets are released on the second Wednesday of each month & 10am and you do need to be ready to go as the tickets go live. In fact, the first tranche of tickets released, for visits taking during the summer 3 months, sold out in just 13.5 minutes so you’ve got to be on the ball with this attraction.
Once you’re through airport-style security, you’ll make your way through to Westminster Hall where you are free to wander until your tour begins. Whilst you can take photos within Westminster Hall before you start your tour, you’ll be asked to store all your belonging in secure lockers, including mobile phones and cameras. Just as I’m a firm believer in earning your view at attractions of the like of The Monument, the lack of access to mobile technology does ensure you remain present during the tour. Rather than viewing Big Ben through a lens or perfecting a pose for social media, you and those around you can focus clearly on the attraction before you.
Each tour starts on the hour and waits for no stragglers, so ensure you’ve left sufficient time to arrive at the meeting point located in the corner of Westminster Hall. The beauty of this 90 minute tour is that it’s timed to perfection so you’re in a range of prime positions as each quarter of the hour rings out with the prime spot being reserved for the Belfry as it chimes in the hour. The second great advantage of this tour is that numbers are limited to a maximum of 16 people that gives you a very personal guided tour.
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Big Ben following a £80 million transformation
Big Ben Tour; Tried & Tested
There are 334 spiral steps to climb so be prepared to undertake around 100 steps at a time, (our first rest stop was at step 134), before being offering a short break in one of the exhibition spaces. This allows your tour guide an opportunity to talk around Big Ben’s construction, clock workings, architecture & place in history whilst also doubling up by giving you a much-need breather. Indeed the whole tour is very well thought out and the combination of timing, the chiming of the bells, the small number in each party, a knowledgeable guide and your own personal journey around the clock tower gives you a feeling of uniqueness. Hearing Big Ben chime the hour, 334 steps up from the ground and on an open platform, surrounded by 360 degree views around London – it’s pretty special. I thought it couldn’t get any better and then we descended a short way and found ourselves standing directly behind the clock faces where we literally stood watching time tick on.
As you descend and complete your tour, you have the option of visiting the Jubilee Cafe for refreshments or the gift shop. Whilst I’m not really keen on gift shops, the Jubilee shop is worth a visit as it’s packed with House of Parliament/House of Lords branded gifts – I couldn’t resist a tin of House of Commons teabags! Alternatively, when Parliament is sitting & subject to availability, you can opt to sit in the public galleries at either the House of Commons or House of Lords. Simply let the tour guides know if you wish to do this and they will exchange your pass. Look out for our hints and tips below to help you get the best from your visit.
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Big Ben (photo; Phil Loach)
Big Ben Tours; Hints & Tips
1. New tickets go on sale on the second Wednesday of each month at 10am. Tickets sell out fast, so you need to ready to go the moment tickets are released over at Big Ben Tours.
2. Tours always start on the hour. If you elect for 10am or 11am tours, you’ll get more bongs for your money. You might think the 12noon tour to be the ideal time but consider that you’ll be at the bottom of Big Ben for 12noon and by the time you reach the Belfry it will be 1pm.
3. You do need to take account that you will need to climb all 334 steps – there’s no other way to the top! Visitors must be age 11 years & over.
4. Aim to arrive at Westminster 30 minutes before the time of you tour as you will need to pass through airport-style security before being admitted into Westminster Hall. The tour waits for no-one so stragglers will not be admitted once you have left Westminster Hall.
5. Be aware that you will be refused entry if you arrive in unsuitable footwear. On the day of our visit, a hot sunny day, we know of 3 people that were turned away for wearing flipflops. They state that footwear should fully enclose the foot, (no open toe or heal shoes). Sandals, flipflops, backless footwear, high heels are all banned and if you were thinking of undertaking the climb in bare feet…they too are banned!
6. Depending upon the weather, it can be windy in the Belfry so appropriate clothing is advised.
7. All belongings, including mobile phones and cameras, will need to be stored in lockers before your tour begins, (no additional charge). You are advised to restrict your belongings and luggage larger than 60cm x 40cm is not permitted.
8. As you’ve already cleared security and within the building, on the days Parliament is sitting & subject to availability, you can sit in the public galleries to watch debates. Simply let the tour guides know if you wish to do this and they will exchange your passes around, (no charge).
9. The best news with this tour is you get to be up close and closer with bells that chime for Big Ben so of course you must expect high noise levels from the clock mechanism & bells. You will be provided with earplugs to use in the Belfry.
10. Worth a visit to the gift shop to check out an array of Houses of Commons/Lords branded gifts.
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