This four-faced tower was originally called the Clock Tower or St Stephen’s Tower. That changed in 2012 when the Palace of Westminster’s famous feature was renamed Elizabeth Tower to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 60th anniversary on the throne. Regardless of those official names, it will always remain Big Ben. The clock’s mechanism was cutting-edge technology when it was finished in 1859. However, the speed of its 13 foot pendulum is still regulated by adding or subtracting from a stack of British pennies. Every tourist to London will snap at least one photo of this landmark. Then they are disappointed to learn it requires U.K. citizenship and a signed disclaimer before climbing the 334 stairs to the pinnacle.
