Using your cell phone to call back to the US while you’re in Europe is made all the more worthwhile if you’re standing at the base of some of Europes greatest landmarks in the finest European Cities. This week we cover Londons (and 1 of Great Britains) most recognised landmarks – Big Ben.

Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock though is usually used to refer to the clock or the clock tower. It is the largest four-faced chiming clock in the World. It is also the 3rd tallest free standing clock tower in the World. With each dial of the clock face being 23 feet square, while Big Ben’s minute hands are an impressive 14 feet long! It also recently celebrated its 150th anniversary a year ago in May 2009 which celebrated it’s current 4 faced form, however the clock itself has been a clock tower at Westminster since 1288. The tower had to be re-built in 1834 after it was destroyed by fire.

Who Built Big Ben?

Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin was an English architect and designer, known best for his work in reviving the Gothic style. He is particularly known for being the architect behind Big Ben, but also was the creative mind behind Scarisbrick Hall, many churches, the Palace of Westminster and designed several buildings in Australia and Ireland. The design for the Clock Tower was Pugin’s last design before his final descent into madness and death. The design was also aided by Edmund Beckett Denison and George Airy. Construction was entrusted to clockmaker Edward John Dent.

Five Interesting Big Ben Facts

• In 1945, a flock of starlings landed on the minute hand of Big Ben and put the time back by five minutes.
• Despite the heavy bombing the clock ran accurately and chimed throughout the Blitz
• The clockwork mechanism weighs over 5 tons.
• On top of the clocks pendulum is a small stack of old penny coins; these are to adjust the time of the clock. Adding or removing a penny will change the clock’s speed by 0.4 seconds per day.
• Due to changes in ground conditions since construction the tower leans slightly to the north-west.

The clock is famous for its reliability. Despite being one of the world’s most famous tourist attractions, the interior of the tower is not open to overseas visitors.

You may not be able to call from the top of Big Ben, but you’ll still want to call back to the US when you’re stood at the foot of it. The only solution to calling the US from Europe.

See more great European landmarks. Or read more about UK cities and UK landmarks.