Big Ben facts: All that you need to know

It’s the world's most famous clock tower, as well as an iconic landmark in London, along with St. Paul’s Cathedral and Tower Bridge. It’s a must-see attraction for first-timers in the English capital.

Although it might look like a simple clock tower, it has a fascinating history to boast of. Here are some facts that you didn’t know about.
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• Each dial is 7 m in diameter.
  
• The minute hands are around 4.2 m long, whereas it weighs around 100 kg.
  
• The numbers are approximately 60 cm long.
  
• Each clock dial features 312 pieces of glass.
  
• Then there is a special light above the clock faces, which gets illuminated when the parliament is in session.
  
• For your information, Big Ben's timekeeping is strictly regulated by a stack of coins placed on the huge pendulum.
  
• There have been no recorded instances that the Big Ben has ever stopped working. As per the reports, even after a bomb destroyed the Commons chamber during the Second World War, the clock tower managed to survive and Big Ben continued to strike the hours.
  
• The BBC first broadcasted the chimes of Big Ben on 31 December 1923, a tradition that is followed till date.
  
• The Latin words under the clock face read DOMINE SALVAM FAC REGINAM NOSTRAM VICTORIAM PRIMAM, which means "O Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First."
  
• In June 2012, the House of Commons announced that the clock tower was to be renamed the Elizabeth Tower to honour Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.
  

Why is Big Ben called Big Ben?

Although the origin of its name is not known, there are two different theories that exist.
First, it was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, the first commissioner of works, who was also known affectionately in the house as Big Ben.

Second theory stated that it was named after a heavyweight boxing champion at that time, Benjamin Caunt, who was also known as ‘Big Ben.’

1. When was Big Ben built?
   Big Ben first rang across Westminster on 31 May 1859. A short time later, in September 1859, Big Ben cracked. A lighter hammer was fitted and the bell rotated to present an undamaged section to the hammer. This is the bell as we hear it today.
2. How tall is Big Ben?
   Elizabeth Tower stands at more than 96 metres (105yrds) tall, with 334 steps to climb up to the belfry and 399 steps to the Ayrton Light at the very top of the tower.
3. Where is Big Ben?
   Big Ben is found in the Elizabeth Tower at the north end of The Houses of Parliament in Westminster, Central London, next to the river Thames.