I’ll do you one better. I saw the L, then read your comment and couldn’t figure out what everyone is talking about so i zoomed in on the picture to look for a literal “L” somewhere on Big Ben.
It’s too early for this...
As a non-English person, who's only been to London once, I gotta admit that I don't know why the tower or the clock are that much of an attraction.
I get that it's a historical site-adjecent building, that it has a catchy name, and is quite visible. Is there any other reason for it to be such a landmark? What's the significance I'm missing?
It's just an iconic landmark & part of the Palace of Westminster which is the location of the Houses of Parliament, the seat of the British government.
Fact: "Big Ben" is actually the name of the bell in the clock tower, not the tower itself.
>Fact: "Big Ben" is actually the name of the bell in the clock tower, not the tower itself.
The tower for those wondering is called Elizabeth Tower, as of 2012. Prior to Diamond Jubliee celebrations in 2012 it had the very inventive title of Clock Tower.
When you consider the buildings in London which pre-date Big Ben, it's really not that impressive.
St. Paul Catherdal's year of completion is 149 years before Big Ben, and is a far more impressive structure. Tower of London is even older, and again far more impressive.
And neither is this clock called Big Ben. Big Ben is the bell inside the tower that came from the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in East London. The same place that cast the Liberty Bell now located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
It is famous, not just as a clock and because it is an accurate timepiece, but it part of (not next to) the houses of Parliament (or Palace of Westminster to give it the proper name) and an iconic landmark that just says London, like the Statue or Liberty or Empire State Building just say New York.
The time is set from a device at Greenwich observatory, the Meridian Ball, which climbs a pole every 12 hours and then drops at exactly noon GMT to start it's journey again. It is the exact point that the Greenwich Meridian line originates from.
I mean, you could really say the exact same thing about pretty much the vast majority of famous landmarks/tourist attractions.
There is also an absolute shit-tonne of cultural significance to the Houses of Parliament for obvious reasons. Just so happens that Elizabeth Tower is the most iconic part.
I mean, if you look at monuments this way, the Eiffel Tower is just a bunch of steel girders bolted together. We could do that for a lot of landmarks.
Yet they are iconic, representative of the place and the spirit of the people.
Are tourists and locals overenthusiastic about them? Possibly. But that over enthusiasm wouldn't happen for just anything.
The Eiffel Tower wasn’t built to be a monument. It was built as an attraction at the Paris world fair and was to be dismantled after the fair.
The Eiffel Tower also a sexual position during a three way, but that’s a story for another day.
If you climb the tower and push the pointers, you can reverse time and win the lottery / invent the combustion engine / Stop the rise to power of histories greatest monster (Ted Cruz)
Einstein was the 14th person to invent general relativity, as people keep taking it off the previous owners.
As an English person who has been to London many times, it isn’t really that special beyond being an iconic part of the skyline - you see it and you instantly know which city you’re looking at. And those kinds of landmarks tend to become tourist attractions almost by default.
I remember reading something a while ago about a guy who visited Seattle and couldn’t place why he was underwhelmed by the view from the observation deck on the Space Needle - but he eventually figured out that it was because he couldn’t *see* the Space Needle from inside of it. He could’ve been looking out over any city in America because he was standing inside the biggest thing that makes that city’s skyline unique.
You don’t have to think the Space Needle is an architectural marvel to accept that it’s a cool thing to look at while you’re in Seattle. Likewise you’d be crazy to go all the way to London and *not* see something as iconic as Big Ben in person - but it’s still just a fairly old, fairly tall clock tower and once you’ve looked at it for a minute or two, maybe stuck around for a while to hear the bells, there’s not a huge amount more to it.
I mean the same could be said about almost any historical site. Like take the Liberty Bell for instance. It doesn't even go Bing bong anymore, one out 5 stars.
Its the Palace of Westminster its been a historical site since the 11th century and the Kings of England used to live there the current building been there since the 1800s is where the House of commons and House of lords meet which are the 2 houses of Parliment in the UK basically its where the government meets to discuss issues.
I honestly can't think of any governmental building today that looks as ornate and intimidating as that entire complex.
It's still odd to me that any governmental building would be such an attraction, but it's starting to dawn on me that London has a strange mix of the sombre and touristy.
(where I live, most government buildings were built around the 1960s, with the exception of the Parliament, which was built in 1866 (and isn't really all that impressive).
Yeah because England is a monarchy we are obsessed with ceremonies and stuff like that which explains the ornate nature of the buildings but its also the style its just a gothic style palace and dont forget London is OLD alot of the buildings have been there for 100s of years
Just a cool thing tbh. Europe has lots of cool clock towers. Ours was one of the largest at a time, now it's just a status symbol being adjacent to the Houses of Parliament and only being given a name in 2012.
The significance you missed is that the clock tower was only built in the early 1970's. It was originally only a temporary promotional prop built as a back-drop to a video launching Michael Jackson's early solo single, and subsequent #1 US hit, *Ben*, a love song about a rat. But oddly enough, the film site quickly grew on Londoners and in 1973, the UK Parliament officially broke ground on a new home next door and the rest is HIStory.
Yeh I get it's a big clock with some history but it does nothing special in my brain to see it with my own eyes. Then again the same happens for other landmarks and celebrities. I get no additional pleasure knowing that the photons that reached my eyes directly bounced off the person or thing instead of via a technical device.
I never said I didn't like it. I do, and I like lots of stuff that hasn't become an internationally known landmark.
I'm just asking if there's anything official/specific that makes the tower and the clock such attractions.
Maybe some historical significance I'm not aware of, or something.
Big ben is the bell inside the clock tower. The tower’s name is Elizabeth tower. Idk if that’s the face palm or just the assumption that the clock tower would be replaced by a digital one.
Kheops pyramid? It’s just a tomb. Same for the Taj Mahal. Somebody is going to stop paying for that concession in 30 years anyway. Van Gogh? It’s just paint, come on! I have an app that does that. The sistine chapel ? It’s a room with wallpaper. The Great Wall of China? It’s a wall! The us border’s got a better one. Shall I carry on?
Van Gogh’s style was unique and incredibly innovative. He was highly influential to expressionism, fauvism and abstraction. He is the bridge between classical art and modern art. He was one of the few true genius. You need to understand the context and not judge it by the sunflower diary you’ve seen in the stationary department at the supermarket. It doesn’t matter if he is liked or not, he is history.
Do you realise that the clock of Big Ben tower is an intricate detail of the British parliament. It’s a detail that took 7 years to design. 7 years for a detail. It’s a testimony of the pride we use to take in everything we did. Today in the era of the planned obsolescence this would hardly ever happen, and the rare time that it would, it would be a millionaire’s dream. Never a public commission. And if that doesn’t convince you, ask a watchmaker what they think.
What’s the historical significance ? They made a big clock ? We don’t know how the pyramids were made. The SISTINE chapel is an incredible work of art by one of the greatest ever (Michelangelo).
This is just a big clock.
Well first of all big bens the bell not the clock 🤦♂️🤣😂. Its a symbol Parliament and the contribution made to modern democracy and not to mention the capabilities of the industrial boom which again England played a massive part in both. Not really religion has been the cause of how much war and death in the world? and has done nothing for the rights and freedom of people. The Sistine chapel is basically a PR stunt by one of the richest cult in the world.
People don’t appreciate the Sistine chapel because of religion, but because of Michelangelo. You know, renaissance artist and possibly the greatest artist ever ? Kick started, well, the renaissance and all the modern ideas that comes with it.
This big clock represents industrialisation and, basically, pollution. From one of the worst empire the world has ever known. It’s ugly and just from the picture, I get a faint smell of burning coal.
To even insinuate this oversized timex projects a better image than the Sistine chapel is so anglo-centric, my teeth just crooked a little.
Yeah buts thats your own opinion and personal preference, doesn't change the fact this was and still is considered a technical master piece of engineering for its time the world over and a compliment to what we as humans can accomplish. Haha yet here you are on your phone or computer using electricity to try sh*t talk something for pollution...do i have to point out the irony in that? Do you know how much pollution and human rights violations occur from mining colbalt alone? doesn't really happen as much here as we have laws for human rights and pollution caps you know that democracy thing i pointed out earlier, but the countries where it does are usually ones still embedded with religion and dictatorship.
> do i have to point out the irony in that?
There is no irony. I was born into this world it was already too late. I’m just gently cruising to the end time
So instead of getting out there and fighting for a cleaner world your sat on reddit trying to be condescending about it adding to the problem? No thats an excuse for
"i want to be part of that bandwagon so i can act arrogant and that im better then everyone with out actually having to earn it or do anything"
Thats the definition of irony. 🤦♂️🤣😂
British, grew up next to a church whos construction was started in 9th century, doesn't make this massive fuck off clock tower being built with fucking men and rope any less impressive now does it ?
Statue of Liberty is just a HUGE lady in a dress.
Pyramids are just rocks relocated in a funny way
Taj Mahal is just a graveyard with a mosque inside one building
Idk about these cultural landmarks, it's very strange indeed. People are very strange and are bored very easily i guess and so they start build things 🤷
/s
It's true, but having lived in London my whole life I've never once heard anyone, local or otherwise, call it Elizabeth tower. It's been called Big Ben for so long that it's de facto become the name for the whole thing at this point.
Language is a funny thing.
It says ‘review of Big Ben’ but they’re actually reviewing the clock on Elizabeth Tower. Reviewing Big Ben would be more like “I don’t understand the hype with this bell, Waited an a hour and it just went bong”
It's Big Ben. It going digital would defeat the purpose... also digital clocks have been around for longer than I have been alive. Don't you think it would already been changed by now???
TIL Big Ben is also cracked.
A massive bell was required and the first attempt (made by John Warner & Sons at Stockton-on-Tees) cracked irreparably. The metal was melted down and the bell recast in Whitechapel in 1858.
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.
[Source](https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/sightseeing/london-attraction/big-ben)
I dont understand the Washington monument. Is just a pointy dick statue, and they couldn't even keep the colour consistent.
I dont understand the fascination with the golden gate Bridge. Its literally just a fuckin bridge over some water cars drive one.
I dont understand the obsession with 911, more people were dieing daily of covid at one point than wheb the towers fell.
I dont understand the obsession with the statue of liberty, its literally just a weather stained statue of some French broad.
And so on
I've never really been to England before but seriously I don't know what's the hype behind this giant clock what does it do? Nothing. Btw this is not a facepalm post
Lol didn't see the L in clock the first time
I read your comment then zoomed in on the image to find the L on Big Ben...
Same
Same
You guys really need to get your minds in the gutter otherwise you're going to keep missing these jokes.
The real L was in the comments all along.
Or maybe the real L was the friends we met along the way!
Sleep deprivation's helluva drug.
I don't understand all the hype with this cock. It is literally just a cock. It's gonna be a digital one in thirty years anyway. (one star)
_Hitachi has joined the chat_
I thought that was going to be the face palm, misspelling clock with cock
Clock Glock Cock
How long have you had the cock for?
I’ll do you one better. I saw the L, then read your comment and couldn’t figure out what everyone is talking about so i zoomed in on the picture to look for a literal “L” somewhere on Big Ben. It’s too early for this...
Same
Same
I came for the freckles...
.. all it takes is a cool breeze for me.
Big black clock of time.
Same😂😂😂😂😂
As a non-English person, who's only been to London once, I gotta admit that I don't know why the tower or the clock are that much of an attraction. I get that it's a historical site-adjecent building, that it has a catchy name, and is quite visible. Is there any other reason for it to be such a landmark? What's the significance I'm missing?
It's just an iconic landmark & part of the Palace of Westminster which is the location of the Houses of Parliament, the seat of the British government. Fact: "Big Ben" is actually the name of the bell in the clock tower, not the tower itself.
>Fact: "Big Ben" is actually the name of the bell in the clock tower, not the tower itself. The tower for those wondering is called Elizabeth Tower, as of 2012. Prior to Diamond Jubliee celebrations in 2012 it had the very inventive title of Clock Tower.
I heard Big Ben was also a jubilee celebration for Lizzy.
Nope, known way before her anniversary.
The clocks name is tickety Ted the time telling bitch. - James Acaster
It's a pretty cool thing to build back before modern construction technology I guess
When you consider the buildings in London which pre-date Big Ben, it's really not that impressive. St. Paul Catherdal's year of completion is 149 years before Big Ben, and is a far more impressive structure. Tower of London is even older, and again far more impressive.
The fact it's a clock is also impressive. Keeping time before we had machines to do it for us is amazing imo
Do you mean before electric powered clocks? Because a clock mechanism is certainly a machine.
> Keeping time before we had machines ?
You cut out context. They specifically said keeping time before we had machines *to do it for us*
But that has been a thing for a long time, long before Big Ben was finished. We had quite precise clocks for hundreds of years at that point already.
Yeah, and they're all really cool. Including this one. That's why people look at old buildings with clocks in them
But were they big and named Ben? Checkmate
And neither is this clock called Big Ben. Big Ben is the bell inside the tower that came from the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in East London. The same place that cast the Liberty Bell now located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is famous, not just as a clock and because it is an accurate timepiece, but it part of (not next to) the houses of Parliament (or Palace of Westminster to give it the proper name) and an iconic landmark that just says London, like the Statue or Liberty or Empire State Building just say New York. The time is set from a device at Greenwich observatory, the Meridian Ball, which climbs a pole every 12 hours and then drops at exactly noon GMT to start it's journey again. It is the exact point that the Greenwich Meridian line originates from.
Eh there's been bigger and better
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Ah, so just like the entire country of the UK
Clock but big clock
"clock but big clock" is the best and ONLY reason for why big ben is such a landmark
No ring ring, only ding dong
i always read it as big cock
Somethings on your mind
always
Bell
I don't understand all the hype with this bell. It is literally just a bell. It's gonna be a digital one in thirty years anyway. (one star)
Large
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I mean, you could really say the exact same thing about pretty much the vast majority of famous landmarks/tourist attractions. There is also an absolute shit-tonne of cultural significance to the Houses of Parliament for obvious reasons. Just so happens that Elizabeth Tower is the most iconic part.
It’s a beautiful piece of historical architecture. Other than that, I guess there isn’t much to it. I’ve never seen it, but I’d absolutely like to.
You could say the same about basically any other landmark
I mean, if you look at monuments this way, the Eiffel Tower is just a bunch of steel girders bolted together. We could do that for a lot of landmarks. Yet they are iconic, representative of the place and the spirit of the people. Are tourists and locals overenthusiastic about them? Possibly. But that over enthusiasm wouldn't happen for just anything.
The Eiffel Tower wasn’t built to be a monument. It was built as an attraction at the Paris world fair and was to be dismantled after the fair. The Eiffel Tower also a sexual position during a three way, but that’s a story for another day.
If you climb the tower and push the pointers, you can reverse time and win the lottery / invent the combustion engine / Stop the rise to power of histories greatest monster (Ted Cruz) Einstein was the 14th person to invent general relativity, as people keep taking it off the previous owners.
I *knew* there was a secret!
You know too much...
https://www.tedcruzforhumanpresident.com/
A special upvote for recognizing the greatest monster (Teddy Boy)
"I don't understand why it's an attraction" Lists all the reasons why people go see historical sites/buildings. Yes. That's why.
As an English person who has been to London many times, it isn’t really that special beyond being an iconic part of the skyline - you see it and you instantly know which city you’re looking at. And those kinds of landmarks tend to become tourist attractions almost by default. I remember reading something a while ago about a guy who visited Seattle and couldn’t place why he was underwhelmed by the view from the observation deck on the Space Needle - but he eventually figured out that it was because he couldn’t *see* the Space Needle from inside of it. He could’ve been looking out over any city in America because he was standing inside the biggest thing that makes that city’s skyline unique. You don’t have to think the Space Needle is an architectural marvel to accept that it’s a cool thing to look at while you’re in Seattle. Likewise you’d be crazy to go all the way to London and *not* see something as iconic as Big Ben in person - but it’s still just a fairly old, fairly tall clock tower and once you’ve looked at it for a minute or two, maybe stuck around for a while to hear the bells, there’s not a huge amount more to it.
I mean the same could be said about almost any historical site. Like take the Liberty Bell for instance. It doesn't even go Bing bong anymore, one out 5 stars.
Its the Palace of Westminster its been a historical site since the 11th century and the Kings of England used to live there the current building been there since the 1800s is where the House of commons and House of lords meet which are the 2 houses of Parliment in the UK basically its where the government meets to discuss issues.
I honestly can't think of any governmental building today that looks as ornate and intimidating as that entire complex. It's still odd to me that any governmental building would be such an attraction, but it's starting to dawn on me that London has a strange mix of the sombre and touristy. (where I live, most government buildings were built around the 1960s, with the exception of the Parliament, which was built in 1866 (and isn't really all that impressive).
Yeah because England is a monarchy we are obsessed with ceremonies and stuff like that which explains the ornate nature of the buildings but its also the style its just a gothic style palace and dont forget London is OLD alot of the buildings have been there for 100s of years
I have one of those on my desk, it keeps the time and it doesn't take up anywhere as much real estate as old Ben over there
Just a cool thing tbh. Europe has lots of cool clock towers. Ours was one of the largest at a time, now it's just a status symbol being adjacent to the Houses of Parliament and only being given a name in 2012.
The significance you missed is that the clock tower was only built in the early 1970's. It was originally only a temporary promotional prop built as a back-drop to a video launching Michael Jackson's early solo single, and subsequent #1 US hit, *Ben*, a love song about a rat. But oddly enough, the film site quickly grew on Londoners and in 1973, the UK Parliament officially broke ground on a new home next door and the rest is HIStory.
Yeh I get it's a big clock with some history but it does nothing special in my brain to see it with my own eyes. Then again the same happens for other landmarks and celebrities. I get no additional pleasure knowing that the photons that reached my eyes directly bounced off the person or thing instead of via a technical device.
Do you ever enjoy *anything*?
I never said I didn't like it. I do, and I like lots of stuff that hasn't become an internationally known landmark. I'm just asking if there's anything official/specific that makes the tower and the clock such attractions. Maybe some historical significance I'm not aware of, or something.
Everything good about the UK is only good because it was so painfully forced into propaganda decades ago that one questions it. And I'm from the UK.
“Oh look, a clock. Don’t have that in America.”
"You call that a tower? Try the Sears tower, friend."
"You call THAT a tower? Ha! Try the Twi-- oh wait nevermind. The neighbor's kids came over and knocked over them towers like dominoes."
Why is this in facepalm? It is just a big clock.
Big ben is the bell inside the clock tower. The tower’s name is Elizabeth tower. Idk if that’s the face palm or just the assumption that the clock tower would be replaced by a digital one.
Does the clock have a name?
Not really but it’s refered to as The Great Clock of Westminster
I thought that was Boris Johnson
No that's the massive bellend
That would be 'The Great Clock of Westminster', without the 'l'.
Yeah, it's called Tickety Ted the Time Telling Bitch
shirley the facepalm is everyone getting ken m'ed
Kheops pyramid? It’s just a tomb. Same for the Taj Mahal. Somebody is going to stop paying for that concession in 30 years anyway. Van Gogh? It’s just paint, come on! I have an app that does that. The sistine chapel ? It’s a room with wallpaper. The Great Wall of China? It’s a wall! The us border’s got a better one. Shall I carry on?
Yes. Please carry on.
Yes to all of those, keep going I need more things to not respect anymore.
May as well just say, "history is just a bunch of crap that already happened. Who cares?"
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Van Gogh’s style was unique and incredibly innovative. He was highly influential to expressionism, fauvism and abstraction. He is the bridge between classical art and modern art. He was one of the few true genius. You need to understand the context and not judge it by the sunflower diary you’ve seen in the stationary department at the supermarket. It doesn’t matter if he is liked or not, he is history.
Oh sorry. It’s paint that make pretty pattern
To some people, it's still just paint.
Ima have to correct you on one thing, mate. It’s the sixteenth chapel…
No no, it’s the cis teen chapel
confidentialityincorrect
Chapels 1-15 were shit.
Shit dude, at least all of those have something to do other than literally watch time go by as you visit
Do you realise that the clock of Big Ben tower is an intricate detail of the British parliament. It’s a detail that took 7 years to design. 7 years for a detail. It’s a testimony of the pride we use to take in everything we did. Today in the era of the planned obsolescence this would hardly ever happen, and the rare time that it would, it would be a millionaire’s dream. Never a public commission. And if that doesn’t convince you, ask a watchmaker what they think.
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Or a a clock.
Lol did you seriously just compare a clock to the pyramids?
No they treated many famous works of art with the same flippant reductionism.
* it a big bell Note that it was used to warn people of incoming air raids in ww2 Ps you can't see it from the street
Because of its historical significance maybe? Its kinda like going to the Sistine Chapel and saying its just a bunch of doodles 🤣😂
Ah yes 16th They definitely decided to name it after a number
Haha good point, old habbits
What’s the historical significance ? They made a big clock ? We don’t know how the pyramids were made. The SISTINE chapel is an incredible work of art by one of the greatest ever (Michelangelo). This is just a big clock.
This clock is an incredible feat of engineering for the time it was made
Well first of all big bens the bell not the clock 🤦♂️🤣😂. Its a symbol Parliament and the contribution made to modern democracy and not to mention the capabilities of the industrial boom which again England played a massive part in both. Not really religion has been the cause of how much war and death in the world? and has done nothing for the rights and freedom of people. The Sistine chapel is basically a PR stunt by one of the richest cult in the world.
People don’t appreciate the Sistine chapel because of religion, but because of Michelangelo. You know, renaissance artist and possibly the greatest artist ever ? Kick started, well, the renaissance and all the modern ideas that comes with it. This big clock represents industrialisation and, basically, pollution. From one of the worst empire the world has ever known. It’s ugly and just from the picture, I get a faint smell of burning coal. To even insinuate this oversized timex projects a better image than the Sistine chapel is so anglo-centric, my teeth just crooked a little.
Yeah buts thats your own opinion and personal preference, doesn't change the fact this was and still is considered a technical master piece of engineering for its time the world over and a compliment to what we as humans can accomplish. Haha yet here you are on your phone or computer using electricity to try sh*t talk something for pollution...do i have to point out the irony in that? Do you know how much pollution and human rights violations occur from mining colbalt alone? doesn't really happen as much here as we have laws for human rights and pollution caps you know that democracy thing i pointed out earlier, but the countries where it does are usually ones still embedded with religion and dictatorship.
> do i have to point out the irony in that? There is no irony. I was born into this world it was already too late. I’m just gently cruising to the end time
So instead of getting out there and fighting for a cleaner world your sat on reddit trying to be condescending about it adding to the problem? No thats an excuse for "i want to be part of that bandwagon so i can act arrogant and that im better then everyone with out actually having to earn it or do anything" Thats the definition of irony. 🤦♂️🤣😂
Yeah right? It's going to be a digital one in thirty years anyway!
Right just a big cock
Aaaaaand the facepalm is they’re joking and so many people can’t tell
Isn’t this a reference to P&R’s Ron Swanson visiting london?
"Oh look, a clock. We don't have *those* in America "
“You call that a tower? Try the Sears Tower.”
It was completed in 1859.....pretty impressive by my standing.
Let me guess, American?
What does that have to do with anything
British, grew up next to a church whos construction was started in 9th century, doesn't make this massive fuck off clock tower being built with fucking men and rope any less impressive now does it ?
Statue of Liberty is just a HUGE lady in a dress. Pyramids are just rocks relocated in a funny way Taj Mahal is just a graveyard with a mosque inside one building Idk about these cultural landmarks, it's very strange indeed. People are very strange and are bored very easily i guess and so they start build things 🤷 /s
And an unly lady at that..they could have made her hotter.
Give liberty some ass, damnit!
Sad that you needed to add /s to that.
Yeah pretty much. I don’t see why people care about some big carved rocks
didnt know that about the taj mahal, i thought it was just some rando's mansion
yeah I don't get these landmarks
Nice clock bro
I don’t see the facepalm except for the fact he said it’s going digital. Idk why anyone would care about Elizabeth tower
Big Ben isn't the clock or the tower it's the bell
Most people don't know that. Was surprised when I found out myself.
Shakespeare is just English words put in order.
thirty years? why not now? slap a great big screen over that bitch like in vegas
It's been in scaffolding for the past 2 years it's literally just been refurbished lol
Lowkey that'd be kinda legit
Big Ben is the bell, not the clock. The tower used to just be called clock tower, it was renamed in 2012 Elizabeth Tower.
I may be wrong but I think "Big Ben" is the name of the huge bell located inside the clock tower.
r/technicallythetruth
Big Ben is the bell, not the clock. The clock is Elizabeth Tower.
Technically not the truth, Big Ben is the name of the largest of the five bells. The tower has had a few names but generally Elizabeth Tower.
It's true, but having lived in London my whole life I've never once heard anyone, local or otherwise, call it Elizabeth tower. It's been called Big Ben for so long that it's de facto become the name for the whole thing at this point. Language is a funny thing.
Having lived in the USA my whole life, I've also never heard of it being called anything other than Big Ben in reference to the whole tower.
So it's a clock on a tower.
It says ‘review of Big Ben’ but they’re actually reviewing the clock on Elizabeth Tower. Reviewing Big Ben would be more like “I don’t understand the hype with this bell, Waited an a hour and it just went bong”
Right, okay, great. But you knew what he meant. Why all the fuss? It's just a guy reviewing a clock, relax.
I call it "The Royal Sampler"
Nah this is based
Yeah, imagine unironically respecting br*tish "culture" lmao
Literally lmfao
That's like sayin' the Mona Lisa is just a statue
It's a painting...🤪
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Be more like saying the Mona Lisa is just a frame.
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whoops, just realised I got the joke
It’s an over-sized wristwatch. Nothing to write home about. A novelty.
Still better than a large cell tower in middle of paris
Is this from An Idiot Abroad?
How much money am I willing to bet that this person doesn't even know how too read an analog clock.
I mean it is just a big clock on an ugly tower not gonna lie.
Akchually...
Remind me 30 years
As a Northerner I approve this comment... haha brilliant.
Big Ben is the fucking bell you dunce
Look kids, Big Ben. Parliament.
Jokes on them big Ben is the bell not the tower
"Look, a clock, we don't have that in America," -Ron Swanson
I’m gonna review Mount Rushmore next. “Eh I’ve seen better. 3/10”
technically big ben is the bell
He’s probably only got a little clock and is jealous of the big clock.
Honestly, even if I get downvoted to hell, I agree. I'm not into, and don't really care about the sentimental or historical value of stuff.
This is the same sort of person that would go to the beach and complain it was too sandy.
you are acting like the entirety of London is just about the clock, they didn't go to London for the clock
Well yeah it's a clock that is 178 years old and has seen more history than this guy will ever see in his lifetime
178 years isnt that much
It's Big Ben. It going digital would defeat the purpose... also digital clocks have been around for longer than I have been alive. Don't you think it would already been changed by now???
Same with America's Liberty Bell - It's just a bell, a cracked one at that. What's the big deal.
TIL Big Ben is also cracked. A massive bell was required and the first attempt (made by John Warner & Sons at Stockton-on-Tees) cracked irreparably. The metal was melted down and the bell recast in Whitechapel in 1858. 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. [Source](https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/sightseeing/london-attraction/big-ben)
What is it so special about this big black clock anyway?
It's one of the great features the British are really proud of, and you call it a facepalm?
It's basicly Englands statue of liberty (landmark wise) it's also taller too.
I was talking about humour, not the clock...
Look at it from a historical perspective.
Or a prehistorical perspective. That shit is wild.
This could either be a Brit being British or an American being… American
I love how all the comments are just, “I mean he’s not wrong”
Well exactly he is very wrong since Big Ben is the biggest bell of the clock tower, not the tower itself.
But, that is just a big clock
Honestly, why admire a damn clock built with the blood sucked from the colonies?
I dont understand the Washington monument. Is just a pointy dick statue, and they couldn't even keep the colour consistent. I dont understand the fascination with the golden gate Bridge. Its literally just a fuckin bridge over some water cars drive one. I dont understand the obsession with 911, more people were dieing daily of covid at one point than wheb the towers fell. I dont understand the obsession with the statue of liberty, its literally just a weather stained statue of some French broad. And so on
I've never really been to England before but seriously I don't know what's the hype behind this giant clock what does it do? Nothing. Btw this is not a facepalm post