Big Ben is one of the most iconic and recognizable landmarks in London and the world. The name Big Ben refers to the great bell inside the clock tower at the Palace of Westminster in London that chimes the hour. However, many people use the name Big Ben to refer to the iconic clock tower itself. At 96 meters (315 feet) tall, Big Ben holds a prominent place in the London skyline and is one of the most photographed buildings in the United Kingdom. But is it truly the biggest clock tower in the world? There are several factors to consider when comparing Big Ben against other large clock towers around the globe.
The History of Big Ben
Big Ben was constructed in 1859 and began keeping time on May 31, 1859. The tower was the largest four-faced chiming clock and the largest free-standing bell tower in the world at that time. Big Ben’s clock faces are 23 feet (7 meters) in diameter, and the minute hand is 14 feet long (4.3 meters). The clock dials are made of 312 pieces of opal glass. The bell itself weighs 13.7 tons (13.8 metric tons).
Big Ben was originally just called the Clock Tower but was renamed in 2012 in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. The tower has gone through several renovations, including after damage sustained in World War II. However, it has kept its iconic Victorian Gothic style. Big Ben continues to be one of London’s most prominent landmarks. Its chimes are broadcast on BBC radio and TV.
The Height of Big Ben
As mentioned previously, Big Ben stands 96 meters (315 feet) tall. This includes the height of the clock tower itself topped with a spire.
The tower has a square base with four clock faces, one on each side. The diameter of each clock face is 7 meters (23 feet). Above the clock faces is an open-air walkway encircling the tower. Higher up is the belfry that houses the great bell, Big Ben. The four clock faces are set in an iron frame 23 feet (7 meters) in diameter. Each clock dial has 312 opal glass panels. The hour numbers are 2 feet (60 cm) long.
The tower was the largest four-faced chiming clock in the world when constructed in 1859. It remains one of the tallest freestanding clock towers today. However, it is not the tallest clock tower in the world.
Taller Clock Towers
While a height of 96 meters makes Big Ben one of the tallest clock towers in the world, it is not the absolute tallest. Here are some clock towers that exceed Big Ben’s height:
- Abraj Al Bait Clock Tower in Mecca, Saudi Arabia – 601 meters (1,971 feet)
- Zhongyuan Tower in Zhengzhou, China – 384 meters (1,260 feet)
- Makkah Royal Clock Tower in Mecca, Saudi Arabia – 381 meters (1,250 feet)
- Two International Finance Centre in Hong Kong – 373 meters (1,227 feet)
- Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre in Guangzhou, China – 530 meters (1,739 feet)
- Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan – 508 meters (1,667 feet)
As shown, there are now at least six clock towers around the world that exceed Big Ben’s height of 96 meters. The tallest by far is the Abraj Al Bait Clock Tower in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. This massive clock tower has a height of 601 meters (1,971 feet), more than six times the height of Big Ben.
Other Notable Large Clock Towers
In addition to the clock towers taller than Big Ben, there are several other very large, prominent clock towers around the world:
- Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben), London – 96 meters (315 feet)
- Deutsche Post Tower, Bonn, Germany – 186 meters (610 feet)
- McGraw Tower, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York – 173 meters (570 feet)
- Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai – 468 meters (1,535 feet)
- Spasskaya Clock Tower, Kremlin, Moscow – 71 meters (233 feet)
- Rajabai Clock Tower, Mumbai – 85 meters (280 feet)
- Tower of Americas, San Antonio – 231 meters (758 feet)
- Peace Tower, Ottawa – 92 meters (301 feet)
Some of these famous towers with clocks include the Deutsche Post Tower in Bonn, Germany, McGraw Tower at Cornell University, and the Spasskaya Clock Tower in the Kremlin in Moscow. None surpass Big Ben’s height but still stand very tall in their respective cities’ skylines.
Comparison Table of Clock Tower Heights
Clock Tower | Location | Height (meters) |
---|---|---|
Abraj Al Bait | Mecca, Saudi Arabia | 601 m |
Zhongyuan Tower | Zhengzhou, China | 384 m |
Makkah Royal Clock Tower | Mecca, Saudi Arabia | 381 m |
Two International Finance Centre | Hong Kong | 373 m |
Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre | Guangzhou, China | 530 m |
Taipei 101 | Taipei, Taiwan | 508 m |
Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) | London, UK | 96 m |
Deutsche Post Tower | Bonn, Germany | 186 m |
McGraw Tower | Ithaca, NY, US | 173 m |
Oriental Pearl Tower | Shanghai, China | 468 m |
Spasskaya Clock Tower | Moscow, Russia | 71 m |
Rajabai Clock Tower | Mumbai, India | 85 m |
Tower of Americas | San Antonio, US | 231 m |
Peace Tower | Ottawa, Canada | 92 m |
This table provides a comparison of some of the tallest clock towers in the world and their locations. It clearly shows that Big Ben, while very large, is exceeded in height by numerous other clock towers around the world. The Abraj Al Bait tower in Mecca is by far the tallest at over 600 meters.
Key Takeaways from Height Comparison
Some key facts demonstrated in the height comparison:
- At 96 meters, Big Ben is one of the tallest freestanding clock towers, but not the absolute tallest.
- At least 6 other clock towers exceed Big Ben’s height, with the tallest over 600 meters tall.
- Many famous clock towers come close to or exceed 100 meters in height.
- Big Ben maintains its status as one of the most iconic and recognizable towers due to its history, architecture, and prominence in London’s skyline.
- While other towers are taller, Big Ben stands out for its singular role in London’s identity.
So in summary, while Big Ben is not technically the biggest clock tower when measured by height alone, it maintains enormous significance and visibility as one of the largest and most important timepieces in the world.
Big Ben’s Clock Faces
Another aspect that contributes to Big Ben’s massive size are its huge clock faces. As mentioned earlier, each of the four clock faces has a diameter of 7 meters (23 feet).
The hour numbers on each clock face are 2 feet (60 cm) tall. The minute hand on each clock stretches 14 feet long (4.3 meters).
Each clock dial includes 312 individual pieces of opal glass. The opal glass helps make the clock faces luminous at night.
So while Big Ben is not the tallest tower, the sheer size of its famous four clock faces do make it one of the largest timepieces in the world. The enormous dials and far-reaching minute hands contribute to making Big Ben such an imposing sight.
Comparison of Large Clock Faces
Here is a comparison of some other large clock faces around the world:
- Big Ben – 4 dials, 7 meters (23 ft) diameter
- Abraj Al Bait, Mecca – 4 dials, 43 meters (141 ft) diameter
- Allen-Bradley Clock Tower, Milwaukee – 4 dials, 40 feet (12 m) diameter
- Bovet Fleurier tower, Geneva – 1 dial, 6 meters (20 ft) diameter
- Czech National Bank, Prague – 1 dial, 5 meters (16 ft) diameter
- Main Building, Eastern Michigan University – 4 dials, 12 feet (3.7 m) diameter
- Minneapolis City Hall – 1 dial, 7.6 meters (25 ft) diameter
- Rajabai Clock Tower, Mumbai – 1 dial, 5 meters (16 ft) diameter
This shows that Big Ben’s clock faces are among the largest, but again exceeded by the world’s tallest clock tower in Mecca, which has dials over 40 meters wide. However, Big Ben remains one of the most massive and impressive set of clock faces in terms of sheer size and architectural presence.
Why Big Ben Stands Out
While Big Ben is neither the tallest tower nor possesses the largest clock faces, it remains one of the most prominent and iconic clock towers in the world. Here are some of the key reasons Big Ben stands out:
- One of the largest freestanding clock towers in the world
- Distinctive Victorian Gothic architectural style
- Prominent location in central London next to the Houses of Parliament
- Integral part of London’s iconic skyline
- Renowned four-faced chiming clock mechanism
- Incredible size and luminosity of its clock faces at night
- Symbolic value as a global icon of London and Britain
Big Ben is instantly recognizable around the world as a symbol of London. It has featured prominently in films, shows, tourism, and photography. The tower’s central location, unique architecture, iconic clock faces, and sheer colossal size make it a structural landmark that is intrinsically linked to London’s identity. Big Ben stands out not necessarily for being the “biggest” but for its distinctive design and cultural significance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Big Ben is not technically the largest clock tower in the world in sheer height or clock face width, it remains one of the biggest, most prominent and iconic timepieces globally. The 96-meter tower has stood tall in London for over 150 years and its sheer size and distinctive Gothic design make it a globally renowned cultural symbol. So while modern construction has exceeded Big Ben in scale, no other clock tower can match its significance or architectural magnificence as a testament to London’s heritage. Big Ben stands alone both literally and figuratively as a pillar of British tradition and one of the greatest towers of the modern age.