The bells of Big Ben are coming back (Picture: Getty)
Londoners and visitors to the UK capital have rarely heard Big Ben chime these past few years.
The world-famous clock tower, in Westminster, last echoed out its iconic chime in 2017, before the bell fell virtually silent during a years-long conservation effort costing £80 million.
Test chimes briefly rang in October 2022, in preparation for the sound becoming a regular feature once more, now that the restoration work on its tower is almost complete.
It’s worth quickly noting that ‘Big Ben’ is technically only the name of the bell, with the tower officially titled the Elizabeth Tower, and the clock itself called the Great Clock.
However, the whole structure is commonly referred to simply as ‘Big Ben’.
So, when can you next hear its chime?
When will Big Ben chime again?
Big Ben will officially start chiming again on Sunday, November 13 2022.
Big Ben has been pretty quiet since restoration work began in 2017 (Picture: Getty)
This date is Remembrance Sunday, so the bongs will ring out 11 times to mark the beginning of the two minutes silence.
From then on, the bells will start to chime again as normal – as it’s planned that this will ‘mark the official moment of permanent reconnection’, UK Parliament says.
Beforehand, the bells will start being tested from Tuesday, November 8 onwards to ensure they are working properly.
More: London
The sound will be intermittent at first, but soon after you’ll hear them every 15 minutes (which is known as the ‘quarter bells’).
They will then strike 11 times at 11am on Friday, November 11 (Remembrance Day, also called Armistice Day) – which Big Ben has done throughout the restoration process.
Is the Big Ben tower restoration finished?
According to UK Parliament, the refurbishment of Big Ben is just about finished.
On its website, it says: ‘Work to the exterior is now complete and the majority of works inside the Tower are close to conclusion.
The iconic London landmark has basically completed restoration work – with it due to reopen to visitors in 2023 (Picture: Getty)
‘Soon after the bells have returned to regular service, the Ayrton Light will be reconnected, power supplies activated and fire safety works completed. The principal contractor will remain on site until December 2022 to ensure works have been completed to a satisfactory standard.’
However, you won’t be able to visit inside Big Ben – or more accurately, the Elizabeth Tower – until 2023.
UK Parliament’s website adds there still needs to be ‘installation and testing of new exhibition spaces, workshops and tour routes’ before it can be reopened to the public.
MORE : When is Remembrance Day 2022 and are poppies on sale?
MORE : Will London Christmas lights be switched on in 2022 amid energy bill crisis?
MORE : ‘Will we see the Eiffel Tower fall?’ ‘Rusty’ Paris landmark is ‘crumbling’
Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Share your views in the comments below
The London landmark is back!
