Big Ben United Kingdom

Legendary

This 150+ year old tower holds the world's most famous bell.

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For 23 years, the bell known as Big Ben was the largest in the entire United Kingdom, until two even bigger bells were cast to beat it. Today it still ranks third largest in the country, behind Great Paul at St. Paul's Cathedral and the Olympic Bell made for the 2012 London Games.

Big Ben isn't actually the name of the tower at all. It's the nickname of the Great Bell that hangs inside it, a massive 13.7-tonne bell that chimes the hour with a deep E-natural note heard across Westminster.

The tower itself was officially called the Clock Tower for most of its life. Construction began in 1845, and the tower was completed in 1859, standing 96 meters tall. In 2012, it was renamed Elizabeth Tower to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.

Getting to the top isn't easy. Visitors who take the guided tour climb 334 spiral steps just to reach the belfry, where Big Ben hangs. Along the way, they pass a small stone room once used as a prison cell for members of Parliament who misbehaved.

The bell itself has a dramatic history. The first version, cast in 1856, cracked during testing and had to be melted down and recast. Even the replacement bell cracked shortly after it started ringing in 1859, and it still carries that crack today, giving Big Ben its slightly unusual tone.

Despite being bombed during World War II, which destroyed the nearby House of Commons chamber, the tower survived completely intact, and Big Ben never stopped striking the hour.

Look up at the four giant clock faces, each one 7 meters wide, glowing at night above the Houses of Parliament. Walk along Westminster Bridge for the classic photo, with Big Ben rising behind the River Thames. If you want to go inside, book a guided tour well in advance, since spots are limited and tickets are only released once a month.