Big Ben

Big Ben is the Westminster riverfront’s unmistakable landmark: the gilded clock faces of Elizabeth Tower rise above the Houses of Parliament, while red buses cross the Thames beside it. Strictly speaking, Big Ben is the great bell inside, although the name has become shorthand for the whole tower.

Spend around half an hour looking up from Parliament Square and the Westminster Bridge pavement. This is an exterior landmark stop, with time to notice the stonework and find your river view. Keep bridge crossings and photographs clear of busy pedestrian routes.

Seeing the exterior is free and needs no booking. Climbing the tower is a separate, paid guided visit with advance tickets, a minimum age of eleven and 334 steps; it is not included in this short stop.