Big Ben Quiz: Elizabeth Tower, the Great Bell and London, UK
This Big Ben quiz explores London's most famous clock tower in the UK, with questions on why it was renamed the Elizabeth Tower, the architect Augustus Pugin, the 1834 fire, the first cracked bell, the pennies used to fine-tune the pendulum, the Ayrton Light, the long silence during restoration, the 334 steps, the slight lean and the BBC's broadcasts of the chimes. Ten questions.
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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 90 Seconds
Names
In 2012, the clock tower known as Big Ben was renamed in honor of what?
Architects
Which architect designed the clock tower, his last major work?
Fires
The tower was built after which event destroyed most of the old Palace of Westminster?
Bells
What happened to the first Great Bell, cast in 1856?
Clocks
What do engineers add to or remove from the clock's pendulum to adjust its timekeeping?
Lights
What does the Ayrton Light at the top of the tower show?
Restoration
From 2017 to 2022, why was Big Ben mostly silent?
Steps
How many steps lead to the top of the Elizabeth Tower?
Tilt
What surprising fact is true about the Elizabeth Tower?
Broadcasts
The BBC first broadcast Big Ben's chimes on the radio in which year?
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Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions
- Q1: In 2012, the clock tower known as Big Ben was renamed in honor of what?
Answer: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee
It had been called the Clock Tower. Big Ben is the nickname of the Great Bell inside, but people use it for the whole tower.
- Q2: Which architect designed the clock tower, his last major work?
Answer: Augustus Pugin
Pugin worked with Charles Barry, who designed the new Palace of Westminster. Pugin famously said of the tower's design, I never worked so hard in my life.
- Q3: The tower was built after which event destroyed most of the old Palace of Westminster?
Answer: A great fire in 1834
The fire started when old wooden tally sticks were burned in a furnace. Painter J.M.W. Turner watched and painted the blaze.
- Q4: What happened to the first Great Bell, cast in 1856?
Answer: It cracked during testing
A second bell was cast in 1858, but it also cracked. It was turned so the hammer would strike a different spot, and it still rings with a slightly cracked tone.
- Q5: What do engineers add to or remove from the clock's pendulum to adjust its timekeeping?
Answer: Old penny coins
Adding one penny makes the clock gain about two-fifths of a second a day. The pennies sit on a small tray on the pendulum.
- Q6: What does the Ayrton Light at the top of the tower show?
Answer: That Parliament is sitting after dark
It was installed in the 1880s so Queen Victoria could see from Buckingham Palace whether members were at work. It is named after a politician, Acton Smee Ayrton.
- Q7: From 2017 to 2022, why was Big Ben mostly silent?
Answer: The tower was being restored
It still rang for special events such as New Year's Eve and Remembrance Sunday. The restoration revealed the clock dials' original Prussian blue color.
- Q8: How many steps lead to the top of the Elizabeth Tower?
Answer: 334
There is no public lift. Tours for visitors were restarted after the restoration was completed.
- Q9: What surprising fact is true about the Elizabeth Tower?
Answer: It leans slightly to the northwest
The lean is very small, about a quarter of a degree, partly due to ground movement over the decades. It is visible to the naked eye only with care.
- Q10: The BBC first broadcast Big Ben's chimes on the radio in which year?
Answer: 1923
The chimes are still heard before some news programs. On New Year's Eve, millions listen as they ring in the new year.
Big Ben Quiz – London's Famous Clock Tower
Big Ben is one of the most famous landmarks in London, UK, and a symbol of Britain around the world. Strictly speaking, Big Ben is the nickname of the Great Bell inside the clock tower at the north end of the Palace of Westminster. The tower itself was called the Clock Tower until 2012, when it was renamed the Elizabeth Tower for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.
The tower was built after a great fire in 1834 destroyed most of the old Palace of Westminster. Architect Charles Barry designed the new palace, and Augustus Pugin designed the clock tower in the Gothic Revival style. It was completed in 1859. The first bell, cast in 1856, cracked during testing, and its replacement also cracked, though it still rings.
The Great Clock is famous for its accuracy. Engineers fine-tune it by adding or removing old pennies on the pendulum. The four clock dials are about 7 meters across. Above them, the Ayrton Light shines when Parliament is sitting after dark.
From 2017 to 2022, the tower underwent major restoration, and the bell was mostly silent. Workers repaired stonework, restored the clock and revealed the dials' original Prussian blue color. Visitors climb 334 steps to see the bells.
The BBC has broadcast the chimes since 1923, and they ring in the New Year for millions.
The tower stands beside Westminster Bridge and the River Thames, opposite the London Eye. Nearby are Westminster Abbey, Parliament Square and Downing Street, making the area one of the most visited in London.
This quiz covers the history, engineering, traditions and secrets of Big Ben.
What This Quiz Teaches
This quiz is perfect for travelers, history fans and London lovers.
- Why the tower was renamed the Elizabeth Tower
- Augustus Pugin and the 1834 fire
- The cracked Great Bell
- Pennies on the pendulum and the Ayrton Light
- The 2017 to 2022 restoration and the 334 steps
- The tower's lean and the BBC broadcasts
Quick Facts About Big Ben
- The Great Bell weighs about 13.7 tons.
- The minute hands are about 4.2 meters long.
- The tower is about 96 meters tall.
- Each clock dial contains 312 pieces of glass.
- Below each dial is a Latin prayer for Queen Victoria.
- The tower once had a prison room for members of Parliament.
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