Big Ben (clock tower), one of London's most iconic landmarks 伦敦地标大本钟

The Houses of Parliament and the clock tower, commonly called Big Ben, are among London's most iconic landmarks

• Big Ben and Houses of Parliament
  

The House of Commons and House of Lords are housed here in the sumptuous Palace of Westminster. Charles Barry, assisted by interior designer Augustus Pugin, built it between 1840 and 1860, when the extravagant neo-Gothic style was all the rage. The most famous feature outside the palace is the Clock Tower, commonly known as Big Ben. Ben is the bell hanging inside and is named after Benjamin Hall, the commissioner of works when the tower was completed in 1858. If you’re very keen (and a UK resident) you can apply in writing for a free tour of the Clock Tower. Thirteen-tonne Ben has rung in the New Year since 1924, and the clock gets its hands and face washed by abseiling cleaners once every five years. The best view of the whole complex is from the eastern side of Lambeth Bridge. At the opposite end of the building is Victoria Tower, completed in 1860.
The House of Commons is where Members of Parliament (MPs) meet to propose and discuss new legislation, and to grill the prime minister and other ministers. The best time to watch a debate is during Prime Minister’s Question Time at noon on Wednesday, when the incumbent PM fields a barrage of hostile questions from the Opposition. Don’t forget, though, tickets must be arranged in advance through your MP or embassy.
The layout of the Commons Chamber is based on that of St Stephen’s Chapel in the original Palace of Westminster. The current chamber, designed by Giles Gilbert Scott, replaced the earlier one destroyed by a 1941 bomb. Although the Commons is a national assembly of 646 MPs, the chamber has seating for only 437. Government members sit to the right of the Speaker and Opposition members to the left. The Speaker presides over business from a chair given by Australia, while ministers speak from a despatch box donated by New Zealand.
When Parliament is in session, visitors are admitted to the House of Commons Visitors’ Gallery via St Stephen’s Entrance. Expect to queue for an hour or two if you haven’t already organised a ticket. Parliamentary recesses last for three months over the summer and a couple of weeks over Easter and Christmas, so it’s best to ring in advance. To find out what’s being debated on a particular day, check the notice board beside the entrance, or look in the Daily Telegraph or the freebie Metro newspaper under ‘Today in Parliament’, though it has to be said that the debates leave a lot to be desired both in terms of attendance and enthusiasm. Bags and cameras must be checked at a cloakroom before you enter the gallery and no large suitcases or backpacks are allowed through the airport-style security gate.
As you’re waiting for your bags to go through the X-ray machines, look left at the stunning roof of Westminster Hall, originally built in 1099 and today the oldest surviving part of the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the English monarchy from the 11th to the early 16th centuries. Added between 1394 and 1401, it is the earliest known example of a hammer-beam roof and has been described as ‘the greatest surviving achievement of medieval English carpentry’. Westminster Hall was used for coronation banquets in medieval times, and also served as a courthouse until the 19th century. The trials of William Wallace (1305), Thomas More (1535), Guy Fawkes (1606) and Charles I (1649) all took place here. In the 20th century, monarchs and Winston Churchill lay in state here.
The House of Lords Visitors’ Gallery is also open for visits. Against a backdrop of peers’ gentle snoring, you can view the intricate Gothic interior that led poor Pugin (1812–52) to an early death from overwork and nervous strain. When Parliament is in recess, there are 75-minute guided summer tours of both chambers and other historic buildings. Times change, so telephone or check www.parliament.uk for latest details.
Houses of Parliament
Other names: Palace of Westminster, or Westminster Palace
Address: St Margaret St SW1 St Stephen’s Entrance
Transport: Metro at Westminster
Website: www.parliament.uk
Phone: 7219 4272
Hours: during Parliamentary sessions 2.30-10.30pm Mon, 11.30am-7pm Tue & Wed, 11.30am-6.30pm Thu, 9.30am-3pm Fri

瞻仰伦敦地标大本钟

英 国伦敦著名古钟或称大本钟(Big Ben or Clock Tower)，建于1859年。安装在西敏寺桥北议会大厦(Houses of Parliament)东侧高95米的钟楼上，钟楼四面的圆形钟盘，直径为6.7米，是伦敦的传统地标。作为伦敦市的标志以 及英国的象征，大本钟巨大而华丽。大本钟从1859年就为伦敦城报时，根据格林尼治时间每隔一小时敲响一次，至今将近一个半世纪，尽管这期间大本钟曾两度 裂开而重铸。现在大本钟的钟声仍然清晰、动听。自从1859年投入使用后，英国政府每隔五年就要对大本钟实施维护，包括清洗钟体、替换大本钟的报时轮系和 运转轮系等。大笨钟有四个钟面，每个钟面各由312块乳白色玻璃镶嵌而成。透过玻璃，时针和分针隐约可见，在电影《第三十九级台阶》中，男主角用双手吊在 大笨钟的时针上，跟制造爆炸的歹徒做着殊死搏斗，分针每走一秒都让人心惊胆战。
在英国，大本钟是人们庆祝新年的重点地方，收音机和电视都会播出它的钟声来迎接新一年的开始。同样地，在阵亡将士纪念日，大本钟钟声的传出表示第11个月的第11天的第11个小时及2分钟的默哀开始。
看 点
除 了在外形上出色之外，大本钟最大的特点就是准确。建造之初，英国皇家天文馆就要求大钟每个钟点的第一响准确到误差不超出一秒钟，对于这个带着笨重的机械敲 击装置、指针暴露在风吹雨打之中的巨钟来说，这个要求似乎是太苛刻了。不过，最终大笨钟还是按照要求建造完毕，并且表现良好。时钟每个钟点的撞击声，仿照 剑桥的圣玛丽教堂，悠扬的钟声配合了如下的词句：“愿这个钟头的分分秒秒，上帝导我前行，以主之能，佑吾民平安。”
议会大厦
如 今众人皆知的议会大厦本来的名字为West Minister Palace，即威斯敏斯特宫。在1834年的一场大火中，这座宫殿几乎初被毁，只留下了唯一的瓦顶的威斯敏斯特大厅。此后，又花费了几年时间重建成如今 的规模。建筑整体为大家所熟知的哥特式，盖有如同针塔般的尖顶，由查尔斯·柏利设计。著名的大本钟也在这里。

交通方式：
坐地铁可以在威斯敏斯特桥站即议会大厦下车。
开放时间 ：
每周一、周二、周四14:30-22:00，周三10:00-14:30，周五9:30-15:00