Big Ben
Tube station: Westminster (Tube Map)

Big Ben is actually the name of the 14-ton bell on which the hours are struck and is named after Sir Benjamin Hall - who was Chief Commissioner of Works when the bell was hung in 1858.

The tower rises 320 feet (106m) above the Houses of Parliament. The clock, which is 23 feet (7.5m) in diameter, was started in May 1859 - its minute hand is 14ft (7.5m) long. The sound of Big Ben can be heard during the opening sequence (Flash movie) of London-GB.com.

Big Ben is the second bell made for the clock - the first was found to have cracked during a test ringing. Today's bell, cast at Whitechapel, also has a slight crack!