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Living in the UK this moment was inevitable: a post about the Big Ben is probably not much of a surprise. Considering its popularity I am sure you have seen it a million times from every imaginable angle, so to make this a bit more interesting I have gathered some fun facts about this iconic landmark to go with the pictures!

1. Most of you will know, but this has to be clarified from the beginning. Big Ben is actually the name of the biggest bell inside the tower. Not the clock, not the tower and definitely not the building.

2. As a matter of fact the tower is called Elisabeth Tower in honor of the diamond jubilee of Queen Elisabeth in 2012. Not a bad monument to give your name to...

3. The clock is the LARGEST four face chiming clock in the world and the third largest free standing clock tower. This is even more impressive if you consider...

4. ... that it was built in 1858! One would have thought that humans would build something bigger over the last 150 years... (yes, Dubai, I am talking to you).

5. The tower is 96 meters tall. Good to know.

6. On the 10th of May 1941 two of the sides were destroyed during a bombing from the Germans. The best part is: it continued running completely accurately throughout the complete bombing and after it.

7. The actual Big Ben bell weights 13.5 tons(!). It's a good thing that you don't have to lift it ... I don't know... 16 storeys?!

8. Due to excavations of tunnels near Westminster the tower is tilting. To be exact 0.9 mm a year since 2003. Beware, Tower of Pisa, this one is not only leaning but can also sing!