The bells of the Elizabeth Tower have been tolling non-stop for 157 years!
Tourists hungry for iconic photos may not have noticed, but the roof and stonework of the world's most famous clock is in dire need of repair , as well as the pendulum of the Elizabeth Tower's best-known bell, Big Ben. The rest of the bells and the tower itself are also looking for renovations, so in total, the improvement works will last no less than three years.
During them, Big Ben will sound only on very special dates , such as New Year's Eve, marking as well the longest period in history that this monument has been out of service . The last time it was in 2007, and only for six weeks; 40 years ago it did stop ringing for a few months , due also to a great renovation.
From 2017, you will have to photograph Big Ben only from the outside
"It has been running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for more than 150 years. Nobody would think of doing something like that with an engine without maintaining it," Paul Roberson, one of the watchmakers at the Palace of Westminster, explained to the BBC. However, the repairs, which will cost around €40 million, They will not only have the machinery as their object, but will also be an advantage for the 12,000 visitors who climb the tower each year: Finally, the structure will be equipped with an elevator and a bathroom.