The chimes of Big Ben

[charissamarluk]

freakin' awesome video... i favorited it... thanks !!

[cindy1000000]

Cool :-D

[daverkl]

...... I SAID.... IT'S BLOODY LOUD

[miserybusiness112907]

just wanna stand right inside that bell.

[penguinsknowbest]

jee i really wanna go to london

[basshunterfreakjeuh]

anyway.. you should be deaf after making this vid XD

[basshunterfreakjeuh]

im going to london in two weeks =D its going to be so cool!! but first i will have to do a task about Big Ben...

[mscottmillen]

Thats how my big ben works

[ilovetogofast88]

So THAT'S how Big Ben works

[CarlyAllHeart1]

I've always wanted to go to London and see Big Ben. I think England would be exciting to visit =)

[JoshuaMouncer]

I live in Norfolk, I think I'm going to London sometime and then hopefully I will be able to see Big Ben :D

[Magicking788]

I thought noone was ever allowed up to the very top where the bell was or at least thtswhat I heard

[coppertyler]

These videos are made by the people who run Big Ben

[Star13570]

love Big Ben, what a remarkable piece of work. It makes the most beautiful sounds. I love America, but I would love to live in England.

[MattAbel24]

@Star13570 Come over then, there's plenty of room.

[bigglessy]

while on work experience at parliament, I thankfully had the privilige of going on the big ben tour on it's 150th anniversary year, it truly is incredible to see how many steps there are, the workings of the hreat clock and also to hear the great bells chime less than 3 meters away. anyone who contacts their local mp should ask for a tour asap, it is amazing.

[MyDavid1960]

wow....always wonderd how it worked........

[TheFredston440]

I think I heared the mechanism after each strike of big ben,just about.

[iPodman102]

I LOVE HEARING THIS EVERY HOUR

[KHCoasterKid]

Keep the awesome videos coming UKParliament!

[neilam6]

id hate 2 be stood next 2 that! lol

[SlimeTron5000]

Is the bell supposed to be C♯?

[SlimeTron5000]

Is the bell supposed to be C♯?

[ArthurStern]

Hiya Big Fellow, Im looking forward to your sound at New Years Eve.

[WolfDOuka]

This sound sends tremors within my own body, sweet, satisfying tremors of listening to such a lovely tune, as simple as that may be.

Big Ben truly is an amazing work of Art!

Kudos to the Architects and all those involved in the making of this wonderful tower!

[selenaroks]

how do u get up there

[StevenBlakemore1994]

I hope the camera person was wearing ear muffs!

[kevin212122]

what i was told for a long time was that the tower its self was big ben but then i learned the bell is called big ben. This is the coolest bell tower EVER.

[Christianrocker1990]

that's gotta be loud in person, ESPECIALLY that lose.

[mrjohnnynofear]

Stand strong and ring long Big Ben! Respect from a U.S. Yank

[MegaCooper19]

- All through tis hour -

- Lord be my guide -

- Stand by thy tower -

- Big Ben will strike -

first two lines are definite other two were drowned out by the chimes

[MegaCooper19]

don't ever work in the tower you go deaf after a day

[belly838]

it is the best video of big ben on youtube,!!!!!! i came from germany and i didnt see big ben

[Jared1452]

Thats my alarm clock lol :).

[StevenBlakemore1994]

yeah. the chime sequence is also called Westminster Chimes (not hard to remember, just think where Big Ben is) Also the Bell is called Big Ben not the tower, but the name seems to have been adopted for the tower too.

[cowplain35]

Bing bong bing bong,bing bong bing bong,Bing Crosby,Bing Crosby,Bob hope no hope,bing bong,thankyou please,lol.

[Engerlingraucher]

Happy Birthday, Big Ben! 150 years...

[cantleysugar]

Sounds like the end of the world!

[menslady125]

That has got to be an incredible experience...standing up there in the tower seeing the bell being rung.

[LellesByxor]

Indeed.

[AbstinentUser]

surely youd be deafened :P

[Invaderzim2015]

i totally agree with you 100% it was probably amazing to be up there when Big Ben strikes its bells.....i mean look at that huge bell! i wonder how they got it up there????

[destroyallnerds]

it's probably incredibly loud too.

would hurt your ears.

I wonder if you;d go deaf standing inside one of the bells.

[shvybzik]

Hi. I'm just a yank who's really fascinated by this clock and has enjoyed seeing this video. I love America but also hope to someday have the pleasure of visiting England. That's allowed, right? ;)

[Kell1295]

It's the magick clock we've heard tell of

throws time back to what it was

[emmettsgirl981]

@shvybzik

Of course it is. I'm a girl in New Zealand who's fascinated by this clock, too, and my Dad says he'll take me to England one day to see it. My dad has been to England when i was little, like 9 by the way.

[valicourt]

Hope you can come :)

[AwesomeDude541]

THE BIG BEN TOWER IS LIKE SO SWEET!

[theparliamentalist]

hahahahahahah! what a comment...

[killingstrategy]

Rofl, for some reason, I got the creeps watching and listening to this :/

[malcior180]

the hammer must be heavy

[bigglessy]

a couple of hundred kilos.

[0SukMunky0]

That has to be unbearably loud in person....

[GrnArrow092]

150 years... that's not quite as old as a clock in my city. It was installed on a church during the 1850's before the Spanish-American war. Nontheless, it's nice to see a British icon keep ticking after all these years. I hope we'll see another 150 years from this wonderful clock.

[tom1984uk]

Happy birthday big ben. 1859-2009

[ArthurStern]

Sorry, a day or so to late.

Happy birthday Big Ben. 150 years old. I dont know what your magic is. The promising sound of freedom and democracy, the amazing chimes of liberty?

But as an old tower you are still a gorgeous stone bloke with a beautiful voice.

Congratulations

From Holland with love.

[guy1086]

I share the same birthday as the big ben

[ArthurStern]

@ guy1086

Happy birthday to you too!

[circuitmouse]

How oddly encouraging that the ultimate symbol of Western imperialism also was the sound that represented freedom during the Second World War.

[Xidus933]

0:25 I dare you to stick your hand in there.

[bentsimon]

I'll put each foot in, one by one, followed by my hands, and then my head.

During the process I shall not be wearing ear defenders, and I will film the result and have someone post it up here.

Wish me luck.

[ArthurStern]

During WWII and the occupation by the nazis of the Netherlands, it was under occupation rule forbidden to listen to the BBC. (The fine was the death penalty). Still some people listened to the BBC. Every BBC broadcast was introduced by the chimes of Big Ben. My grandparents lived under this awful nazi occupation and listened to the BBC in the cellar. In those dark days the chimes of your Big Ben were their only promise and hope for democracy and freedom to this country of mine.

[CULAVE]

ArthurStern- Thankyou for your kind words about the United Kingdom. regards

[ArthurStern]

Youre welcome. And thank your grand parents for liberating my country from the nazi occupation.

[DarthJedi2005]

That must be one of the loudest noises in the world! Standing right up there next to it! No wonder there's no dialogue, you wouldn't be able to hear it!

[jesusfreakmusic]

lol!

[marsvltor2]

Bells are a part of English heritage. A good ring is an essential part of a real church, which in itself is a quentissential part of British culture. They have been around long before I was born, and will be around long after.

[cowplain35]

If that gong keeps hitting on the same point,it will wear a whole in it eventually,they must turn it round from time to time,or get a new one.

[DelicateKiller13]

wow, that musta been loud. O_O

[jdfarns]

My favorite sound anywhere in the world

[Misterpew]

I just watched this real loud. It was rather cool.

[DelicateKiller13]

try playing it on Surround Sound, jesus man, I think I woke me neighbors. XD

[ArthurStern]

@ Delicate "surround sound" Killer13: Bloody hell, as much I adore the chimes of the Big Ben, strangely enough I feel so blessed that in the middle of the night, asleep, you are not my neighbour. ;-)

[razorfire122]

HAPPY B-DAY BIG BEN! ^_^

Btw i think westminster is a 1,000 years old, i think, i watched a documentary about great British bulidings and i think it was westminster that is a 1,000 years old.

[SirFeathers]

All the Howard Miller Grandfather clocks have this Westminster chime.

[LEWBCompany2009]

happy birthday! 150 years and still standing strong!

[barrythemod]

Raising my glass to BB.Long may you ring!

[snowgirl1052]

Happy Birthday Big Ben!

[wellychef]

happy birthday big ben 150 years old today! 127 years before i was born to the day!

[sarahsarahsarah98]

i was watching one mintue wonder

[sarahsarahsarah98]

They use pennys as well

[anillondon89]

This building needs to be knocked down and replaced - it looks to much like a church to be govermnent

[EvanC0912]

i really dream to live in a city with a clock tower as one of its landmark such as london (w/ its big ben ) or moscow (w/ kremlin spasskaya clock tower)

[zatu97]

Wow I LOV LONDON

[cpe1999]

Terrible sound

[Engerlingraucher]

It's better than nothing... ;-)

[mike20021969]

is it true that if you stood next to this bell when without ear protection,that when it is struck it could make you permanently deaf?

[WaterCrane]

It's certainly plausible; it's loud enough when you're standing on Westminster Bridge; Big Ben is one big bell!

[miamibeach1791]

That is one big bell!

[DVD2409]

i was in there a few years ago. its FREAKIN LOUD!!!

[stevecurwin]

Canada and Britin clock tower are the only ones that are almost identical

[livelifetothelimit]

good video.. love the sound

[Anarchemitis]

Charismatic resonance, isn't it?

[acdp87]

Amazing!

[sempreinvetta]

can play a stretch

[snowgirl1052]

Love to CRANK THIS UP! Best bell in the world.

[ArthurStern]

Memories. Oh dear, during the second world war the BBC World service news was preceded by this Big Ben sound. In occupied Holland my grandfather secretly listened to the BBC. Then it was the only line to freedom and the promise of restoration of our democracy. Years later, long after the liberation, I remember as a child the almost sacred moment for my granddad the beginning of the BBC World service radio news. This tune

[XeniaHubris]

Great story. :D

[DrGWR11]

Wow amazing quality of Big Ben! I wish I was there in person because I would really like to see all the clockwork and mechanisms :)

[troylovesmarina]

very cool

[rboos]

Thank you for posting!

[engelbertschoormans]

EXCELLENT!!!!!!

[robertgift]

Surely that clapper is not touching the bell after each strike but the last.?!

If so, that can crack the bell.

Thank you for posting this.

(Should have shown the other bells striking before Big Ben tolling. There was plenty of time to re-aim and focus.)

[badbob1983]

i don't think theres anyone behind the camera. no amount of ear protection could save you up there.

[datsingleguy079]

Actually, when the bell cracked, it was repaired and the crack was turned away from the hammer. After the bell was turned, a hole was cut in the bell to prevent the bell from cracking.

[callutt]

The crack in the bell makes that special sound and it's that sound that I think makes Big Ben so special. I can't think of how the bell would sound without the crack. The crack completes it. It sounds like London!

[Safon]

It had to be in E,but there is a crack 90° to the left from the heart,so it could be used..also the crack make that typical noise

[Safon]

amazing!

[xX0rt4Xx]

Lol, how it would feel INSIDE the bell?

It would be awesome

[tomking91]

It would be awesome if you don't mind dying of blood loss through your ears :)

[torak7]

No, you wouldn't hear anything after that! ^^

[Siren1000T1]

Excellent quality!!!

[guatelatin]

awesome!

[Elrich89]

Sends shivers down my spine.

[SamOhBollox]

Apparently, the reason why it make that specific sound is that there is a crack in the bell itself.

It was decribed as an odd "twag", but now people are used to it.

[undergroundman1993]

That must be LOOOOUUUUD up close

[sharinggon456]

i know the bells like 100 somethin year old but will it ever warn out or anyone know if they turn the bell so the hammer hits another part of the bell to keep the same tone?

[6920sdeere]

if the hammer kept on striking the same spot for around 1000 years then yes the thickness would affect the sound and make it slightly lower.

[scorpia12345]

Lovely that

[zerovideomilanes]

I love the sound of this bell ... I remember when I visited London a couple of years ago. I hope to come back soon, and maybe find a good job over there! =)

[RatcicleFan1000]

I live in Edmonton, London, I just played this.

[sanddragon99]

This is the best recorded audio EVER!

THANKS!- I am sure that the recorded sound could be used to simulate models of the clock tower!

[cragus2004]

Nice video!

[suiteliferocks9]

that bell is big!

[diegodaudt]

it must hurt ur ears

[snarnok]

It would make a good ring-tone for a mobile phone!

[Tingilyawen]

The bell is huge!

[cab0001]

Very interesting (also the other 2 videos)!

Why is visiting the Clock Tower only allowed to UK residents?

Are there no excaptions at all?

I'm from Germany and would really like to see the ancient clockwork.

I would even spend money for this;)

[hartnell114]

i didnt know we could go up and take a look!

where is more info on this please? :)

[UpperClass184]

You need to contact your local MP to arrange a tour for you. Go to the UK PARLIAMENT website and search for 'Big Ben tour' for more info. (Be aware you have to climb 334 steps.)

[angelxteddyprincess]

We heard it bong at 4 when we went to London

How famous it is

[asaenz1836]

camoanilefreak, Did not know that the Big Ben has a crack!...sounds like the Liberty Bell over in my favorite city, Philidalphia,Pennsylvania!

Other then that, it sounds lovely, wish that I had that tower (S.Stevens Tower) at my place!

[campanilefreak]

Great quality!

This bell was slightly cracked after hanging, and while they moved the striker away from the crack, they used the large quarter jack to chime the hours.

[daleburrell56]

that bell is massive

[UpperClass184]

sheer brilliance! I'm so glad i got the oportunity to go up there.