Big Ben’s Winter Pause: Inside London’s Iconic Clock

As Britain prepares to turn back its clocks this Sunday, London’s most famous landmark, Big Ben, will pause for a rare moment.

The Great Clock of Westminster, often mistakenly called Big Ben, is stopped twice a year by clockmaker Ian Westworth and his team to adjust for seasonal time changes.

This weekend, they’ll silence the chimes, dim the lights, and inspect the mechanism — including a mysterious squeak that’s appeared at quarter-to-the-hour.

Since 1859, the massive clock has stood as a symbol of precision and endurance, recently enhanced by GPS calibration from the National Physical Laboratory.

Following its restoration in 2022, Big Ben even gained a modern convenience — an elevator replacing 334 grueling steps.

Despite advances in technology, Westworth insists the clock’s true reliability comes from the dedicated hands that keep it ticking — a ritual ensuring Britain’s timeless icon remains right on time.