The Tower That Isn’t Big Ben

Big Ben is one of the most famous clock towers in the world. It stands next to the River Thames in London, and millions of people take a photo of it every year.

The tower was built in the middle of the 1800s. It was designed by a man named Charles Barry, with help from Augustus Pugin. The architecture is tall and pointed, with stone columns and a large clock on each of its four sides.

The clock is very accurate. For more than 150 years, it has told Londoners the correct time, day and night, and it still gets plenty of attention.

But here is a surprise. Most people point at the tower and say ‘Big Ben’. In fact, ‘Big Ben’ is the name of the great bell inside, not the tower itself. The tower’s real name is the Elizabeth Tower.

So next time you see that famous photo, look up. The part that everyone photographs is not really Big Ben at all.