Big Ben is Just the Bell, Not the Clocktower

If you're a tourist in London, you undoubtedly want to see all the iconic locations, like Big Ben, London Bridge, and Buckingham Palace. It turns out that you probably aren't visiting Big Ben for the reasons you believe you are when you go there. The clock tower that we have all seen in images and movies is not Big Ben.

Built in 1834, the famous House of Parliament clock tower. Clock Tower was its then-name, which was incredibly creative. After that, it was formally renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012. Where did the moniker "Big Ben" come from then? Inside the tower, there is a bell.

Big Ben is a 13-ton bell with a renowned ring. There is controversy around the "Ben" portion of the bell's name. We don't even know why it has the name Big Ben because it has had it for such a long time, but there are two hypotheses. According to one story, the bell was given Sir Benjamin Hall's name since he oversaw the original building's construction. The other hypothesis is that well-known boxer Benjamin Caunt is responsible for the nickname.