The Elizabeth Tower - Big Ben

Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the striking clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster, however, the name is usually expanded to include the clock and clock tower as well. The official name of the tower in which Big Ben is placed was originally the Clock Tower, but it was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to commemorate Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. The tower is a British cultural icon recognised all over the world. It is one of the most prominent symbols of the United Kingdom and parliamentary democracy.

In the summer of 2017, the Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben, became quiet to undertake a significant conservation project. It had been over 31 years since the last substantial maintenance work on the Elizabeth Tower, and faults with the clock hands, mechanism, and pendulum had been detected, which needed to be addressed urgently to guarantee that the clock could continue to function correctly.

Big Ben is the tallest and heaviest of the tower's five bells, weighing 13.5 long tons (13.7 tonnes; 15.1 short tons). For 23 years, it was the biggest bell in the United Kingdom.

The work has been allocated to Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd and is projected to be finished by 2021 at a cost of £61 million.

Estimate value: £61 million