When you stand on the south bank of the Thames, gazing up at Big Ben as the morning fog lifts, you’re not just looking at a clock. You’re watching the heartbeat of London. For over 170 years, its chimes have marked the start of parliamentary sessions, the end of New Year’s Eve celebrations, and the quiet moments between rush hour crowds at Westminster. But after years of repairs, delays, and public curiosity, the future of Big Ben - officially renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 - is no longer a question of if it will change, but how.
What’s Actually Happening to the Tower?
The last major restoration, which began in 2017, was supposed to take three years. It took eight. The scaffolding came down in 2022, but the work didn’t stop. Inside, the 13.7-ton bell known as Big Ben was rehung on new bearings, the clock’s original 1850s mechanism was cleaned and reassembled by hand, and the four dials were restored with 312 pieces of hand-blown Opal glass - the same type made in the historic glassworks of Stourbridge. The copper roofing was replaced with 2,500 new tiles, each shaped to match the original Victorian profile.
But here’s what most tourists don’t see: the tower now has a new seismic isolation system. After the 2019 structural survey found cracks in the masonry from decades of vibration from the Jubilee Line below, engineers installed 16 steel dampers between the tower’s base and its foundation. Think of it like shock absorbers for a car - only this car is a 96-meter-high Gothic Revival monument standing right next to the Houses of Parliament.
Will You Ever Hear Big Ben Again?
For much of the restoration, the bell was silenced. Not because it was broken - but because the noise from hammering and drilling would’ve damaged the delicate clockwork. Now, the bell rings again. But only on special occasions. The BBC confirmed in early 2025 that Big Ben will chime on Remembrance Sunday, the King’s Birthday, and New Year’s Eve - no longer every hour. The reason? Energy efficiency and preservation. The bell’s hammer strikes with 100kg of force. Each chime wears down the metal. By limiting strikes to major national moments, engineers estimate the bell’s lifespan could extend by another 150 years.
Locals have mixed feelings. Some miss the daily rhythm - the way it cuts through the noise of Camden Market or the hum of a District Line train at Paddington. Others appreciate the quiet. One Westminster resident, Margaret Haines, 78, told the Evening Standard: "I used to set my watch by it. Now I use my phone. But when it rings on Remembrance Day, I still stop. It’s the only time the city holds its breath."
What About the Clock Faces? Can You Still See Them Up Close?
The clock dials, each 7 meters wide, are now visible from ground level thanks to new viewing platforms installed along the Thames Path. In 2024, the London Borough of Westminster opened a free, year-round public walkway beneath the tower’s north face - the first time in over a century that visitors could stand directly under the clock without needing a parliamentary pass. The walkway features augmented reality kiosks that let you point your phone at the dial and see a live feed of the hands moving, or zoom in to read the original 1859 engraving of the Latin inscription: DOMINE SALVAM FAC REGINAM NOSTRAM VICTORIAM PRIMAM - "Lord, save our Queen Victoria the First."
For those who want to go higher, guided tours inside Elizabeth Tower are still limited to UK residents who book through Parliament’s website - and only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The climb? 334 steps. No lifts. But the view? You can see all the way to Canary Wharf, the Shard, and the green sprawl of Richmond Park on a clear day. Tours sell out months in advance. Locals joke that getting a ticket is harder than getting a table at Dishoom on a Saturday night.
Big Ben’s Role in London’s Identity
Big Ben isn’t just a landmark - it’s a cultural anchor. It’s been the backdrop for every major London moment since the Blitz: the 1953 coronation broadcast, the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony, the Brexit protests in 2019, and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022. It’s the image on every postcard, every London Underground map, every tourist’s Instagram feed. Even the chime is copyrighted - the BBC’s recording of the bell is played on BBC Radio 4’s Today program every morning at 6am, a ritual as British as tea and toast.
But its meaning is evolving. Younger Londoners, especially those from immigrant communities, don’t always see Big Ben as a symbol of the monarchy or empire. For many, it’s simply part of the skyline - like the Tower Bridge or the London Eye. A 2024 survey by the Greater London Authority found that 68% of under-35s in London consider Big Ben "a beautiful piece of engineering," not necessarily a national symbol. That shift matters. The future of the tower won’t be decided by politicians alone - it’ll be shaped by the people who live around it, who hear it every day, who don’t need to travel far to see it.
What’s Next? The 2030 Vision
By 2030, the government plans to install solar-powered LED lighting on the tower’s spire - not for decoration, but to signal the status of Parliament. A green glow means the Commons is sitting. A blue glow means it’s in recess. A red flash? That’s reserved for emergencies, like when the Speaker calls for an urgent debate. The system, developed with Imperial College London, uses real-time parliamentary data and will be the first of its kind in any historic tower in Europe.
There are also plans to digitize the clock’s mechanism. A new digital twin - a real-time 3D model fed by sensors inside the tower - will be available to the public on the Parliament website. You’ll be able to watch the gears turn, see the temperature and humidity levels affecting the pendulum, and even simulate how the clock would run if the weather turned to snow. It’s not replacing the mechanical clock - it’s protecting it. If the original ever fails, this digital record will let future engineers rebuild it exactly as it was.
How to Experience Big Ben Today
Here’s what you can do right now, whether you’re a local, a tourist, or someone who just moved to London:
- Walk the Thames Path from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge at sunrise. The light hits the clock face just right - you’ll see the golden hands glow against the stone.
- Grab a coffee from St. John’s Coffee on Victoria Street and sit on the bench opposite Parliament. You’ll hear the chimes without the crowd.
- Check the Parliament website for tour dates. If you’re a UK resident, book three months ahead. If you’re not, you can still view the exterior from the free public spaces.
- Download the London Soundscape app. It lets you listen to Big Ben’s chime from anywhere in the city - even if you’re in Croydon or Stratford.
- On New Year’s Eve, don’t just go to Trafalgar Square. Walk to the South Bank. The view from the London Eye platform is unobstructed, and the chime echoes off the river in a way you won’t hear anywhere else.
Why This Matters Beyond the Tourists
Big Ben isn’t just about history. It’s about continuity. In a city where skyscrapers rise faster than rents, where the Tube is always under repair, and where the pub down the road might close next month, Big Ben still ticks. It’s one of the few things in London that hasn’t been rewritten by tech, profit, or politics - not yet, anyway.
Its future isn’t about becoming a museum piece. It’s about staying alive - quietly, reliably, and with purpose. The same way a Londoner still knows which bus to catch at 8:17am, or where to find the best pie and mash in East London, Big Ben remains a constant. It doesn’t need to be loud to matter. It just needs to keep ringing.
Is Big Ben still called Big Ben, or is it Elizabeth Tower now?
The tower itself is officially named Elizabeth Tower, renamed in 2012 to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. But the great bell inside - the one that chimes the hours - is still called Big Ben. Most Londoners use "Big Ben" to refer to both, and the name is too ingrained to change. Official documents use "Elizabeth Tower," but the street signs, bus announcements, and tourist maps still say "Big Ben."
Can tourists go inside Big Ben?
Only UK residents can book guided tours inside Elizabeth Tower, and only through the UK Parliament website. Tours are limited to Tuesdays and Thursdays, and you must book at least three months in advance. International visitors cannot join these tours. However, the exterior is fully accessible, and new viewing platforms along the Thames Path offer excellent photo opportunities without needing a pass.
When does Big Ben chime now?
Big Ben no longer chimes every hour. Since 2023, it rings only on major national occasions: Remembrance Sunday, the King’s Official Birthday, New Year’s Eve, and during state funerals or significant parliamentary moments. The bell is silenced during the day to reduce wear. You can still hear the quarter bells chime every 15 minutes - they’re still active and powered by the original 1850s mechanism.
Is the clock accurate?
Yes - and it’s famously precise. The clock’s pendulum is adjusted by adding or removing old British pennies (yes, actual coins) to the weight. One penny changes the time by 0.4 seconds per day. In 2024, the clock was found to be running 1.8 seconds fast, so two pennies were removed. It’s now accurate to within half a second. It’s the oldest mechanical clock in the world still operating with its original design.
Why is Big Ben so important to Londoners?
For many, Big Ben is more than a landmark - it’s a sound of home. It’s the noise that signals the start of the day, the end of a protest, or the quiet moment before fireworks on New Year’s Eve. It’s been there through wars, pandemics, and political upheavals. Even if you don’t look at it, you hear it. That constant rhythm gives Londoners a sense of stability in a city that’s always changing. It’s not just a clock - it’s a shared memory.
What Comes After 2030?
The next decade will test whether Big Ben can remain a living part of London - not just a relic. Plans are already being discussed for a public art installation around the tower’s base, designed by a team of London-based artists to reflect the city’s multicultural identity. One proposal includes a mosaic of voices - recorded from 100 Londoners - that plays softly when the bell chimes, creating a soundscape of the city’s heartbeat.
One thing’s certain: Big Ben won’t be replaced. It won’t be turned into a digital billboard or a Starbucks. It’s too much a part of London’s soul. As long as the pendulum swings and the copper bell rings, the city will keep ticking - one chime at a time.