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How To Visit Big Ben in 2024: Tickets, Access, Tours, And More

Cecilia Rinaldi Last Updated: March 26, 2024

Big Ben is a landmark clock tower in the heart of Westminster, London. It’s an iconic attraction that’s difficult to tour if you’re not a native Brit. If you’re planning a visit, this quick guide on how to visit Big Ben will help you know what to expect.

Pro Tip:  Planning what to do on your trip to London? Bookmark this post in your browser so you can easily find it when you’re in the city. Check out our  guide to London  for more planning resources, our  top London tours  for a memorable trip, and the  top things to do in London .

Visiting Big Ben

According to Britannica, the tower was originally known as St. Stephens Tower. It was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 in honour of the Queen’s 60th Jubilee. Technically, only the bell is nicknamed Big Ben, but if you say “Big Ben,” everyone will know you mean more than just the bell. It has been a pillar of timekeeping for decades.

Great news for travelers: Big Ben is back in action! After a six-year restoration, it reopened to the public in 2023. Now, you can step inside, immerse yourself in history, and experience the timeless charm of this iconic clock tower.  Let’s jump into the most important things you need to know about visiting Big Ben in London.

• Access and tickets
• How long to budget for your visit
• What to see at Big Ben
• Facts and history of Big Ben
• Places to eat nearby

Big Ben Access and Tickets

Big Ben underwent extensive restoration from 2017 to 2023. The Great Bell (nicknamed Big Ben) has just been repaired. And the clock tower (Elizabeth Tower) has recently had all the scaffolding removed and is ready to show off in all your pictures.

Previously, only UK residents had the privilege of touring Big Ben. However, there’s great news! Now, both UK-based and international visitors aged 11 and over are warmly welcomed to experience the magnificence of Big Ben. Here are some important things to know before your visit to Big Ben:

• Get ready for a climb! It’s 334 steps to the top!
• Wear comfortable shoes.
• Be prepared for any weather conditions as you ascend to a height of 62 meters.
• Be aware of the high noise levels from the clock mechanism and bells.
• Remember, no eating or drinking allowed in the Elizabeth Tower, so hydrate beforehand.

The closest metro stations to Big Ben are Westminster Station and Waterloo Station. Both stations are within walking distance of Big Ben.

• Tickets for tours in the first half of 2024 are sold out.
• Next tickets will be available on Wednesday, April 10th, for tours in July.
• Tickets are released every second Wednesday of the month at 10:00 am local time.
• Tour tickets cost £30 for adults and £15 for children aged 11-17.
• UK residents can get a free tour by contacting a Member of the House of Commons or House of Lords.
• Tickets can only be purchased online through the UK Parliament website.
• Each person can book up to eight tickets, depending on availability.

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our article on the best London tours to take and why .

How Long To Spend at Big Ben

In total, you should plan for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes for your visit to Big Ben, including the 90-minute tour duration. This extra time allows for any necessary preparations before the tour begins and ensures you have ample time to enjoy the experience.

Pro tip: Stand anywhere on Westminster Bridge for great views of Big Ben. Or even better, stand just in front of the statue of Queen Boadicea at the foot of Westminster Bridge, close to Westminster tube station. There you can enjoy unobstructed views as the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben are just across the road.

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What To See at Big Ben

• The Great Bell (Big Ben)
• Four Smaller Bells In The Clock Tower
• The Elizabeth Tower (The Clock Tower)

Facts and History of Big Ben 

Here are some interesting facts about Big Ben from the official Parliament website to help you understand how incredible this timekeeping monument is.

• It’s commonly known as Big Ben but that’s just the nickname for the bell (which isn’t visible from the street). Also, the bell’s real name is the Great Bell and the clock tower is called the Elizabeth Tower.
• It was built in 1848 during the Victorian period.
• Big Ben (the bell) weighs 13.76 tons, and the tower is 96 metres tall.
• The clock tower has 399 steps. Visitors are warned they need to be fit enough to manage the steps.
• Pennies carefully placed on the bell’s pendulum ensure the chiming is always accurate.
• There are four other smaller bells in the clock tower.
• Not even World War II could stop Big Ben’s chimes. It suffered a direct hit during the war but continued its hourly bongs.
• The government planned to use fake Big Ben bongs during World War II to confuse Nazi planes trying to find Westminster.
• There are no credible historical references as to why it is called Big Ben. Some say it honours a 19th-century heavyweight boxing champion called Benjamin Caunt whose nickname was Big Ben.
• It’s not quite the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but Big Ben does lean very slightly by 4 degrees.
• The renovations, which will be completed in 2022, are the most extensive in its history.

Places To Eat Nearby

With Big Ben closed for refurbishments, there is no on-site café or restaurant. However, there are many options nearby, one of which has amazing views. 

Westminster Abbey Kiosk : ££ | Quick Snack —Although it’s not indoors, nonetheless, it’s handy for a quick bite to eat. Light snacks, sandwiches, hotdogs, pastries, and cakes as well as hot and cold drinks. You’ll find it near the Sanctuary at the Westminster Abbey west gates.  

Storey’s Gate Café : ££ | Coffee Shop —This building was once the home of King Charles II’s birdkeeper Edward Storey. It now sells healthy snacks and light lunches. Vegans and vegetarians will find it has an attractive selection. 

Riverside Café : ££ | Great Views —There’s an enjoyable walk through the scenic Victoria Tower Gardens, next to Parliament to get to this café. It has the best views of the Houses of Parliament and the River Thames. Moreover, it serves a full English breakfast as well as pizza, paninis, pasta, and sandwiches. You can also buy beverages like tea, lattes, coffee, cappuccinos, mochas, and cold drinks.  

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16-24s go free on available tours up until 11th December - choose your tour and book your free ticket now!

Book tickets for a tour

Following the announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, all public tours and events at UK Parliament have been cancelled until further notice. If your booked tour or event has been affected, our bookings team will be in touch with you as soon as possible.

Self-guided audio tours of the Palace of Westminster

Suitable for all ages, you can select a language and set your own pace. Through the video and audio stories on the multimedia device, discover the history, art, and architecture of the building, and what happens today at UK Parliament.

In person at UK Parliament

English guided tours

Discover the history, heritage and work of UK Parliament on a fun and informative tour delivered by an expert guide.

Big Ben Tour

Book an official tour of Big Ben and explore the famous Elizabeth Tower at UK Parliament. On your 334-step climb, you'll stand behind the iconic clock faces, see the Victorian clock mechanism in action and look up at the famous Big Ben bell as it strikes the hour. This tour is only suitable for those aged 11 and over who are comfortable climbing 334 steps unaided and able to sustain moderate physical exertion for up to 90 minutes.

The State Apartments of Speaker's House tour

Find out about the history and traditions of role of the Speaker and see where the current Speaker conducts official business. This year only, your ticket will include a special display which tells the story of the Speaker's and UK Parliament's diplomatic relationship to other Commonwealth countries and its significance around the world today. Please note the tour content is best suited to those aged 16+.

Big Ben preview tour

This tour is suitable for those aged 11 and over, who are comfortable climbing 300+ steps.

Get a first look inside the Elizabeth Tower and see some of the extensive refurbishment and conservation work carried out over the last six years. On your 334-step climb, you'll stand behind the iconic clock faces, see the Victorian clock mechanism in action and look up at the world-famous Big Ben bell as it strikes the hour.

Book tickets for an online tour or talk

Inside the elizabeth tower.

Discover the 19th century technical achievements inside the Elizabeth Tower, from the construction of the innovative 334-step spiral stairwell to the casting of Big Ben's famous quarter bells in 1856. Join UK Parliament's Estate Archivist and Historian, Dr Mark Collins, as he discusses how the Elizabeth Tower conservation project has reinvigorated Victorian technology for the 21st century.

Online & in-person options

How the Elizabeth Tower was built

With the Elizabeth Tower conservation almost complete, UK Parliament's Estate Archivist and Historian Dr Mark Collins reflects on its construction nearly 180 years ago. In this talk he explains the architectural and design challenges faced by the architect, and what unique methods were used to construct the tower and install Big Ben.

Guided online tour of the Palace of Westminster

Your presenter takes you on a guided 360° virtual tour. You will have a detailed look inside several rooms including the Commons Chamber, Lords Chamber and Central Lobby with its magnificent octagonal ceiling.

Free online event

Meet the Contractors: Shepley Engineers

In a series of talks in which we meet some of the contractors involved in repairing and restoring the Elizabeth Tower, John Barnett-Pattison of Cumbria and Yorkshire-based Shepley Engineers returns to present live the talk he gave in June 2021.

Online event

Elizabeth Tower: from construction to conservation

Since 2017 the Elizabeth Tower has been undergoing significant restoration, from the gilt cross and orb at its tip, to the bottom of its 334-step staircase. These monthly talks explore the story of the clock tower, from its beginnings in 1859 to the most complex conservation project in its history.

People behind Big Ben: The Cumbria Clock Company

Keith Scobie-Youngs from The Cumbria Clock Company reveals the latest in the conservation of Big Ben. Learn about the installation of the bell hammers, linkages and electric winding system, plus a few interesting discoveries made along the way.

How UK Parliament Works

Do you want to discover more about the inner workings of UK Parliament? Join this interactive workshop to find out more about how the House of Commons and House of Lords work and how you can get involved.

Peeresses, Parliament and Prejudice

To mark the centenary of former Suffragette Viscountess Rhondda's case seeking admission to the House of Lords, this talk by Dr Duncan Sutherland recounts the story of the campaign and explores why full political equality for women took so long.

Help Our Mothers: Lucy Baldwin's Campaign

Join the 9th annual Speaker's Advisory Committee on Works of Art International Women's Day lecture online. Historian Dr Susan Williams discusses Lady Lucy Baldwin's campaign to improve women's care during childbirth.

Heritage photography and the Elizabeth Tower

As the Elizabeth Tower conservation nears completion, this talk reveals unpublished footage from the project. Simon Barnes, Heritage Photographer in the Parliamentary Archives, discusses his work and shares what it's like at the top of this iconic clock tower.

Book your place on one of the first guided tours of the State Apartments in Speaker's House. Discover the newly renovated rooms where the Speaker conducts official business and find out about the history and traditions of the role.

Tickets for visits to UK Parliament cannot be booked at present due to the health situation. Please sign up to UK Parliament's visit newsletter to be the first to hear when the building is open again for visitors, and to find out all the ways that you can still visit us virtually.

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About the Big Ben

History of the big ben, tips for your visit, how to arrive.

Big Ben, a London landmark and global icon, refers not only to a magnificent clock but also to the towering structure that houses it. Big Ben Tower has captured the imaginations of people worldwide. While many associate the name “Big Ben” with the towering clock itself, it originally referred to the immense hour bell housed within. This majestic structure, officially known as the Elizabeth Tower since 2012, stands proudly at the northern end of the Houses of Parliament, situated in Westminster, London. Rising to a remarkable height of 315 feet, the tower’s grandeur is matched only by the precision of its clockwork. Its hands, measuring 9 and 14 feet, respectively, gracefully sweep across the clock face. The chimes of Big Ben have been broadcast by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as a daily time signal since 1924, a tradition stemming from its synchronization with the Royal Greenwich Observatory. Though inside Big Ben the interior remains largely off-limits to the public, taking a Big Ben tour provides a glimpse into the intricate mechanisms of this historic timepiece. The clock’s hands, measuring 9 and 14 feet, sweep gracefully across its face, ensuring precise timekeeping. Surrounded by the political hub of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben is not just a clock; it’s a symbol of London’s rich history and architectural excellence. It stands as a testament to human ingenuity and remains a timeless emblem of the city’s enduring legacy.

An architectural marvel and symbol of London, Big Ben’s history is steeped in fascinating details. Its official name, the Elizabeth Tower, was bestowed in 2012 in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. However, the name “Big Ben” originally referred to the colossal hour bell housed within the tower. Big Ben construction was part of the massive rebuilding project for the Palace of Westminster, after a devastating fire in 1834. Designed by Sir Charles Barry, the tower’s construction began in 1843 and took 13 years to get complete. John Dent was appointed to build the clock to the designs of Edmund Beckett Denison. The Big Ben clock and bell were installed together in 1859. On 31st May the clock started ticking and on 11th July for the first time ever the strike of Big Ben bell was heard. Inside Big Ben, one finds the impressive Great Clock of Westminster. This remarkable timekeeping mechanism has been responsible for the famous chimes of Big Ben, which have resonated since 1924 as a daily time signal broadcast by the BBC. Big Ben ceased ringing on August 21, 2017, since the tower was undergoing a four-year renovation project, during which the bell was planned to strike solely for exceptional occasions, most notably New Year’s Eve and Remembrance Sunday. Now, since 2022 it is again in operation and open to the public.

• Big Ben Tour: Consider taking a guided tour to explore the inside of Big Ben. While access to the clock mechanism is limited, it offers unique insights into its operation.
• Tickets: Be sure to secure your Big Ben tickets in advance for a guided tour. Availability can be limited, so booking early is advisable.
• Arrive Early: Arriving early in the day will help you avoid the crowds, providing a more enjoyable Big Ben tour.
• Respect the Tower: Remember that Big Ben is not just an iconic landmark; it’s also a functioning parliamentary building. Respect any restricted areas and follow visitor guidelines for Big Ben parliament.
• Photography: Capture the beauty of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament from various angles. The tower’s impressive height makes for stunning photographs.
• Check Opening Times: Ensure you know the tower’s opening hours to plan your visit accordingly.
• Security: Be prepared for security checks before entering. Follow any instructions from security personnel.

Embark on a captivating guided tour of Big Ben, the symbol of London. Secure your Big Ben tickets today for an unforgettable experience. Prices are incredibly reasonable, with tickets priced at £25 for adults and just £10 for children aged 11-17. Children under 11 can join for free. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to explore the history and architecture of the iconic tower up close with a knowledgeable guide. Book your Big Ben tour now!

To arrive at Big Ben, you can use various modes of public transportation, as it is located in the heart of London. Here are some options: By London Underground (Tube): The closest Tube station to Big Ben is Westminster Station, served by the Circle, District, and Jubilee lines. From there, it’s just a short walk to the tower. By Bus: Several bus routes pass near Big Ben, and you can plan your journey using Transport for London’s (TfL) bus services. Buses include 148, 211, 24, 453, 88, and 91. By Train: You can take a train to either London Waterloo Station (approximately a 17-minute walk away) or London Victoria Station (approximately a 20-minute walk away). Taxi or Ride-Sharing: Taxi and ride-sharing services are widely available in London. You can get dropped off near Big Ben.

Other attractions

London Bridge

Tower of London

British Museum

Westminster Abbey

Wembley Stadium

Buckingham Palace

Madame Tussauds

Victoria and Albert Museum

Travels With My Tripod

Behind the Scenes Tour of Big Ben – Review and Tips

Big Ben, or more accurately the Elizabeth Tower, is one of London’s most famous landmarks. Recognisable all over the world, it’s one of the city’s most popular tourist destinations.

Have you ever wondered though what it’s like to go inside? What would it be like to experience climbing to the top and standing next to the bells as they ring? I took one of the behind-the-scenes tours recently to find out!

How to book a Big Ben tour

Climbing the elizabeth tower, big ben in action, behind the dials, is it worth doing a big ben tour, houses of parliament tour, all you need to know.

Until quite recently, getting a tour inside Big Ben was only available to UK residents. It also took some effort to arrange. However, since the project to renovate Big Ben was completed in 2023, Big Ben is now open to the public.

Tickets for the Big Ben tour can be booked online directly from the UK Parliament website . These can be booked by anyone, and are available to non-UK residents as well. Because of this they sell out very quickly and you do need to book some time in advance.

Tickets are released to the public on the second Wednesday of every month at 10:00am UK time. The slots are offered for tours scheduled for 3 months ahead, so if you book in December, you’ll get slots in March. There are up to 6 tours a day, with the earliest starting at 9:45 a.m. and the latest at 4:45 p.m. If you can see dates showing as available but you see a request for a voucher code, it means this date/time isn’t available to the public.

Tickets sell out within minutes, so you need to be quick. Also quite often a time slot will show availability but tickets will be sold out when you select it. I assume this is because people have tickets in their basket while they check out. It’s worth persevering though as sometimes these slots will show availability again after a few minutes.

Tickets cost £30 for an adult and £15 for a child aged 11 to 17. Children under the age of 11 are not permitted.

The link to book tickets is here .

The Big Ben tour

It’s recommended that you arrive at least 30 minutes before the start time of your tour.

When you arrive at the Houses of Parliament, you’re first allocated a visitor’s pass. Next is the airport-style security checks. Depending on how busy it is, it can take up to 30-45 minutes to go through security. The queue starts outside the building, so bear this in mind if it’s wet or cold. You can read more about what items are restricted here .

Once you pass through security, you are directed into the enormous Westminster Hall where you check in to the tour. Look out for the Big Ben Tour banner to make sure you’re in the right spot. Here you’ll also be asked to put your belongings into a locker. Photos aren’t allowed on the tour, so you’ll have to leave cameras and phones behind too.

Toilets are available at the start and end of the tour in Westminster Hall, but there aren’t any inside the tower itself. There’s also a gift shop there too selling a selection of souvenirs. This closes at 5:30 p.m. so bear this in mind if you’re on one of the later tours as it will be closed by the time the tour finishes.

The Big Ben tours are limited to a maximum of around 15 or 16 people, so although it’s not particularly spacious inside the tower, it doesn’t feel that crowded.

Once everyone is gathered and signed in, the guide leads your group across the courtyard outside towards the tower. You then walk through an innocuous looking wooden door next to a small road. This is the one and only entrance to the Elizabeth tower.

The tour begins in a small room just inside the entrance to the tower. Once everyone is seated, the guide gives some details about what you’ll be seeing on the tour.

Once the introduction is done, the tour begins and you start climbing.

You’ll be climbing a lot of stairs, so it’s advisable to wear sensible shoes. There are 334 in total to the top of the tower. Don’t worry though – the climb is done in stages so you do get a chance to recover. Unlike the uneven stairs you find in some old towers, the stairs in the Elizabeth Tower are easy to climb. There’s also a solid handrail to assist if needed.

Once you reach the first stage, after climbing 114 of the 334 steps, you’re able to sit down and catch your breath. Here the guide tells you some facts about Big Ben.

Then it’s back to the stairs, and you head up a few more stories to the 4 th stage. Here you get to sit down again and learn more facts about how Big Ben was designed and built.

The next stop is after 290 steps and is one of the highlights. This is the Mechanism room where you get to see the heart of Big Ben. It’s an impressive sight, looking at this complex system of cogs and steel ropes ticking away and moving almost imperceptibly. The tour is timed so that you’ll be in there when the bells ring at 45 minutes past the hour, and you get to see the mechanism in action. You may also get to see one of the old pennies used to keep the clock in time.

It’s quite an experience to see and feel the clock in action. As the bells ring, there’s a lot of mechanical clanking and whirring and you can feel the vibrations through the floor.

You’re almost at the top of the tower now, and after climbing another 40 or so stairs you enter the Belfry. This is a pretty special moment! You’re now within touching distance of the 5 bells, including the 13-ton bell known as Big Ben. At this point you need to put in your ear plugs (handed out earlier on the tour) as you are just moments away from the bells ringing on the hour.

It’s an incredible experience to see the hammers strike the bells, and feel and hear them ring. It’s very loud, and you can feel the vibrations through your whole body as the bells ring out across London.

The tour then moves down a couple of stories and the next stop is a walk behind the four clock faces. This tour literally does take you behind the scenes.

After this, you begin the descent back down the stairs although there’s one final stop on the way down. At this stop on the second floor you’ll get to find out more about the restoration as well as giving your legs a chance to recover.

Overall, it’s an amazing experience and if you’re lucky enough to be able to get tickets I’d definitely recommend it. The tour takes about 90 minutes and is timed so you’ll be right in the middle of things when the bells ring. As well as seeing behind the scenes of this iconic London landmark, you’ll also get to learn about the history of the tower and its recent restoration.

Tip – if you want to get the most bongs for your buck, try to book a morning tour. You’ll get to experience 10 or 11 bongs instead of 1 or 2 if you book early afternoon.

Once you get back to Westminster Hall, you’re able to swap your security pass for another one that allows you to explore some of the Houses of Parliament. You can even watch a debate from the public viewing gallery if parliament is in session. If you have the time it’s well worth having a wander even if you aren’t booked on a Houses of Parliament tour.

Dates : Book 3 months in advance online Times : 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. depending on availability Nearest Station : Westminster Cost : £30 (adult), £15 (child aged 11 or over) Tour Duration : 90 minutes

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The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Big Ben & Houses of Parliament

Big ben and the houses of parliament ultimate guide.

Out of all the London landmarks scattered throughout the city that can be visited with free walking tours, none are more recognizable or synonymous with London’s culture than the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

The Houses of Parliament and its magnificent clock tower (famously nicknamed “Big Ben”) have become iconic symbols of London for centuries, and it’s hard not to imagine these two attractions when an image of London comes to mind.

The Houses of Parliament (also known as the Palace of Westminster – not to be confused with the nearby Westminster Abbey) was originally built as a royal palace and residence during the reign of Henry VIII. In 1547, the building was given to the British Parliament, and it has been its permanent location ever since.

Big Ben (now named The Elizabeth Tower) which is located at the north end of the Palace of Westminster, stands at 96 metres in height and also contains the second largest four-faced chiming clock in the world.

Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament Highlights

Unbeknownst to many visitors admiring its glorious architecture and massive clock tower from the outside, the Palace of Westminster actually serves as a meeting point for British politicians; and if you’re lucky enough, during your visit to London you may even be able to sit in on a House of Commons meeting (for free!).

But that’s not all the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben have to offer. Inside the Palace of Westminster you can see plaques commemorating the trials of William Wallace, Guy Fawkes and Charles I (just to name a few); and the oldest section of the palace (The Hall) is an architectural delight which contains the largest hammer-beamed room in the world.

St. Stephen’s Hall is another famous section inside the Palace of Westminster, which is located at the far end of Westminster Hall. St. Stephen’s Hall was once used as a royal chapel, and some of the most important parliamentary events in British history took place here.

Special Tips

Getting There

Visiting big ben and the houses of parliament, big ben tours:.

This guided tour of the Big Ben (the Elizabeth Tower) takes you up a narrow 334-step spiral stairwell to the belfry where Big Ben, the Great Bell, hangs. Along the route, your guide will reveal details of the most extensive and complex conservation project in the Tower’s history. This vital conservation work involved over 500 people from across the UK and their traditional crafts including stone masonry, glass blowing, gilding, plastering, cast iron and clock mechanics.

On this tour, visitors will see the inner workings of the clock mechanism, stand next to the world-famous Big Ben bell as it strikes the hour, and step behind the dials. Visitors are also welcome to explore medieval Westminster Hall afterwards.

• Child (aged 11-17) £15. Visitors must be aged 11 years and over.

How to book: These highly popular tours tend to sell out on the day of release. Tickets are released three months in advance, on the second Wednesday of every month at 10am. Tickets can only be purchased  online and visitors will be able to book a maximum of eight tickets per person, depending on availability.

Speaker’s House guided tours:

This is a visit of the State Apartments of Speaker’s House , the part of the Palace of Westminster where the Speaker conducts official business and lives. A guide will share the history and traditions of the role of the Speaker and show the artworks on display.

Tour highlights include the Grand Staircase, the Crimson Drawing Room, the State Dining Room, and the State Bedroom.

• Young adult (16-24) £12
• Concessions (UK Armed Forces) £12
• Visitors with a disability can book a free ticket for their essential companion

How to book:  Tours can be booked online or at the ticket office which is at the front of Portcullis House (post code SW1A 2LW).

Self-guided audio tours of the Palace of Westminster:

Using a multimedia device, visitors on this self-guided tour are guided through famous spaces including medieval Westminster Hall, the House of Commons Chamber, House of Lords Chamber, and other spaces. The multimedia device is available in 10 languages -English, British Sign Language, Welsh, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Mandarin, Russian, and Brazilian Portuguese.

• Adult £26 (£28 on the day)
• Young adult (16-24) £19 (£21 on the day)
• Children under 5 go free but still require a ticket for entry.
• Concessions (UK Armed Forces) £19 (£21 on the day)

*One child free with each full paying adult included in adult and child package.

How to book: Tours can be booked online or at the ticket office which is at the front of Portcullis House (post code SW1A 2LW).

Guided tours of the Palace of Westminster:

Discover the history and work of UK Parliament on guided tour of the Palace of Westminster . Your is offered in English and includes the House of Commons, House of Lords, and Westminster Hall. Your guide will share the history, art, and architecture of the building, as well as giving you an insight into the Houses of Commons and Lords today.

• Adult £33 (£35 on the day)
• Young adult (16-24) £27 (£29 on the day)
• Children under 5 go free but still require a ticket for entry. Please note the guided tour is not recommended for this age group.
• Concessions (UK Armed Forces) £27 (£29 on the day)

Opening times

Parliament recesses for three months over the summer, as well as over the Easter and Christmas holidays. During this time, there are guided tours to both the chambers and various other historic areas, as well as every Saturday any time of the year.

If you are checking out the Big Ben, you might also want to join any of the free London tours  that are available on offer.

Free Tours in Your Language

The Complete Guide to London's Big Ben

TangMan Photography/Getty Images

What to See

How to visit, what to do nearby, tips for visiting.

Big Ben is one of London's most iconic sights. Many visitors don't realize that "Big Ben" isn't the name for the ornate clock or the tower but, in fact, the giant bell that rings inside the Elizabeth Tower at the Houses of Parliament. It's over 150 years ago and chimes each hour on the hour, with the sound reverberating through Central London. Big Ben is a memorable attraction for visitors of all ages from countries around the world. It should be included in any London travel itinerary (although it's hard to miss the massive tower and clock when in the British capital). Here's everything you need to know about visiting Big Ben.

The neo-Gothic clock tower, designed by Augustus Pugin and part of Charles Barry's plans for the new Houses of Parliament after a fire destroyed the original, was built in 1859, standing at 315 feet tall. It was originally dubbed the Clock Tower and re-named in 2012 during Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee's celebrations to become the Elizabeth Tower. The four-faced clock features five bells, the biggest of which is Big Ben. It's unclear where the name of the bell comes from, although historians speculate that it may be in tribute to Sir Benjamin Hall, who oversaw the bell's installation. In 1970, the clock tower was deemed a Grade I listed building, and in 1987 it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In 2017, extensive restoration began on the Elizabeth Tower, which is set to conclude in 2021. The renovations include repairing the tower's roof, adding an elevator into the tower, and updating the clock's lighting. While the bells have been silent during the refurbishment, typically Big Ben chimes every hour on the hour, and the four smaller bells chime on the 15-minute marks. Big Ben is an iconic part of London's New Year's Eve celebrations, with the bell chiming 12 times to bring in the new year. On Remembrance Day, Big Ben's chimes are broadcast nationally to mark the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month and mark the start of two minutes' silence. The bells have also been used historically to mark British monarchs' passing, including King Edward VII.

It's impossible to visit Central London and not see Big Ben and the Elizabeth Tower. It's visible from various points throughout the city and from viewing attractions like the London Eye and Sky Garden. Some of the best glimpses of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament can be found from Westminster Bridge, Parliament Square, and across the Thames on the Albert Embankment. It's fun to see during the day and at night when the building, clock, and tower are illuminated.

Big Ben is connected to the Houses of Parliament and located across from Westminster Abbey, both of which can be included in your visit to see the massive clock and its bells. Look for the famed statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square, and don't miss the quiet Victoria Tower Gardens South around the corner for a respite from the crowds and a nice view of the river.

Sebastian Condrea

Currently, a visit to Big Ben only involves seeing the tower and clock from its exterior. Visits inside the tower have been paused during the four-year refurbishment, although they are set to resume once the works have finished (and you can still tour the Houses of Parliament in the meantime). The best way to see Big Ben is to walk across Westminster Bridge and around to Parliament Square to get a glimpse of all sides of the clock. There are great viewpoints in Parliament Square, including on the north side, where you'll find a few red phone booths that make for great photo opportunities with Big Ben in the background.

Parliament Square and Big Ben can be accessed on several London bus and tube lines. The Westminster Tube station is directly across the road from Big Ben, and visitors can access that station on the Jubilee, District, and Circle lines. Westminster Pier is adjacent to Big Ben, and there are several river tours and boat services that go past the Houses of Parliament and stop at the pier, which can be a unique way to see London's sights. Look for Thames River Boats or City Cruises . The beloved Big Bus Tours also stop in Parliament Square and offer hop-on-hop-off tours of the area.

Ashmieke Creations/Getty Images

Because Big Ben is located smack in the middle of London, there's a lot to see and do nearby. Westminster Abbey, found across Parliament Square, is open to visitors and offers guided tours, and the Houses of Parliament allow people to book guided tours of the government building. The Churchill War Rooms, St. James Park, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, and The National Gallery are all a short walk from Big Ben, and nearby Covent Garden is filled with restaurants, shops, and cafes. Across Westminster Bridge, travelers can find the London Eye, the SEA LIFE Centre London Aquarium, and the Tate Modern. The Tate Britain, one of London's best museums, is a short walk south of Parliament Square along the Thames' north side.

• Parliament Square can get extremely crowded with tourists during the summer and on holiday weekends, making it difficult to get a good photo. Try to arrive early in the morning on a weekday to avoid the crowds. Crossing the river to the Albert Embankment is also a great way to see Big Ben without throngs of people. Look for benches that overlook the river with amazing views of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.
• For an aerial view of Big Ben and the surrounding sights, head to one of London's viewing platforms, which can be found around the city. Sky Garden offers free tickets to its 37th-floor indoor garden, which has 360-views of London, and The Shard has viewing platforms on floors 68, 69, and 72 for paid ticket holders.
• Don't get sucked into one of the touristy restaurants near Parliament Square. Instead, look for iconic diner The Regency Cafe, Indian eatery The Cinnamon Club, or old school pub The Windsor Castle. There is a Starbucks a few blocks west of Parliament Square for those who need a familiar pick-me-up.
• Public toilets can be found in St. James' Park near Horseguards Parade. Some public toilets require an entry fee of 20 pence, which can now be paid with a contactless credit card.

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Reserve Your Spot with Confidence! Full Refunds with 24 Hrs Notice. Reschedule at any point, even after tour, if space allows!

Big Ben Tickets and Tours

Many people have a visit to Big Ben on their list of things to do when in London when visiting. Here I explain the ins and outs of doing so.

Included is how to take a free tour, where it is located, nearby sights and activities, and a short history.

As a local tour guide and resident of London, I love to share my knowledge of the city and this big old clock tower is one of my favorite sights!

Besides my own insights, I include tips from members of our popular London Travel Tips Facebook group.

The group has over 160k members and is made up of locals, frequent travelers to the UK, as well as first-time visitors to London.

You don't need to become a member to read the posts, comments, and recommendations.

So, check out our group once you've finished reading this post!

• Introduction
• Big Ben Tours
• Nearby Attractions
• Tips from Locals and Travelers
• Westminster Abbey Tickets
• Things to Do in Westminster

INTRODUCTION

Big Ben in London is quite probably the most recognizable clock in the world.

Its iconic four-faced chiming clock is the largest in the world and has been ticking since 1859.

It dominates the skyline in the City of Westminster in London and is just a few minutes walk from such major historic sights, as Westminster Abbey .

Would it surprise you to know that Big Ben is not the real name of this clock tower?

Its original name was simply 'The Clock Tower’. Not exactly memorable, is it?

The clock tower was renamed the Queen Elizabeth II Tower in honor of the Queen on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

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Here’s another shocker. Big Ben, the largest bell inside the Queen Elizabeth II Tower is officially named the “Great Bell”, but nobody calls it that!  

I suggest you stick with Big Ben.

You might get some strange looks if you ask someone, “How can I get to the Queen Elizabeth II Tower so I can hear the Great Bell?”

So we know where the ‘Big’ comes from just by looking at it! But who is Ben?

There are two theories as to where the moniker came from.

Some say it refers to Benjamin Hall, a Member of Parliament who oversaw the installation of the Great Bell and was a rather rotund figure!

Another theory is that it is named after Benjamin Caunt, an English heavyweight boxing champion known as Big Ben himself.

Though we will never know for sure, we do know that Big Ben is a sight to behold when in London.

Read more history and fun facts about Big Ben below .

CAN I GO INSIDE BIG BEN?

Yes! You can go inside Big Ben by taking a tour. Read just below to find out how.

TOURS OF BIG BEN

These 90-minute tours of Big Ben take you up the Elizabeth Tower, behind the clock faces, and into the belfry to see Big Ben itself.

Tickets are £25 for adults and £10 for children aged 11 - 17. Children under 11 are not permitted on a tour.

Tickets can be purchased only online via the official website . 

Visitors will be able to book a maximum of eight tickets per person, depending on availability.

Tickets are released in blocks and sell out quickly, so keep an eye on the Parliament website for the next ticket release date.

IMPORTANT : Before you book, read the website to see if the tour is suitable for you.

Just a few examples:

• You must be able to climb all 334 steps unaided without assistance.
• Visitors with heart-related illnesses or who are in the later stages of pregnancy will not be allowed.
• You must arrive with sensible footwear, or you may be declined their position on the tour.
• Read more considerations here .

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Only UK residents can request a free tour by contacting a Member of the House of Commons or House of Lords directly.

These free tours tend to be sold out for up to 6 months in advance so be prepared to wait a while!

The same suitability requirements above are for free tour guests as well.

More information can be found on the  official website .

TIP: Looking for more London attractions and activities that won't cost you a thing, see our post on  free things to do in London .

HOW TO GET HERE

Big Ben is located in the City of Westminster in the heart of London.

The nearest Underground Station is Westminster (Circle, District, and Jubilee lines).  

You can also access Big Ben from Waterloo Station (Bakerloo, Northern, Waterloo, City, and Jubilee lines).

Use this Google map for directions to Big Ben from anywhere in London .

Click on the image to enlarge

If you are new to traveling on London's public transport, see our post on  using the London Underground .

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS AND TOURS

Big Ben is within walking distance of several major historical sights.

• Buckingham Palace
• St. James’s Palace  and the  Changing of the Guard
• Westminster Abbey
• 10 Downing St.
• Churchill War Rooms

Right next to Big Ben is Westminster Pier where you can catch several  Thames boat rides and cruises .

You can also simply walk across Westminster Bridge and go to the  London Eye  and the  London Dungeon .

TIP : Many of the attractions above are included with London tourist passes which can save money on tickets and tours.

TOURS THAT STOP AT BIG BEN

If you want to learn about both Big Ben and nearby sights, consider taking a tour of the area that includes a stop outside Big Ben.

Both our pay-what-you-wish Westminster Walking Tour and 6-hour pay-what-you-wish All-in-One London Tour stop outside of Big Ben.

If you can't join us for either tour, you might enjoy our GPS-led audio tour  of Westminster or our self-guided Westminster Tour .

Alternatively, you may also want to consider one of the many paid London walking tours which include stops at Big Ben.

TIPS FROM LOCALS AND TRAVELERS

Here are some thoughts about touring Big Ben from members of our London Travel Tips Facebook group.

No one said the experience was not worth it, though some people said that you can get just as good views if not better elsewhere.

Even if you are concerned about being physically fit enough, it is still recommended as there are stops along the way to catch your breath.

However, there is another consideration you might not have thought of -- fear of heights. Here is what one member had to say about that.

And lastly, here's a great tip!

You can find more advice on Big Ben and all things London on our Facebook group, so be sure to take a look.

You don't need to become a member to read the posts, comments, and advice!

Why not even post a question yourself?

HISTORY OF BIG BEN AND THE ELIZABETH TOWER 

The Queen Elizabeth II Tower stands in Westminster, connected to the Palace of Westminster.

After the old Palace of Westminster was lost in a terrible fire in 1834, a new building was designed to sit in its place.

The design of the new Palace was commissioned to architect Charles Barry.

He wanted a clock tower as part of the new palace, but he did not design it himself.

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Instead, he asked noted architect August Welby Northmore Pugin for his help in designing the tower and clock.

Pugin designed the tower in his signature Gothic Revival style.

Before he died, Pugin is quoted as saying that his designing and building of the tower was the "hardest [he'd] ever worked in [his] life."

Big Ben and the Other Bells

The Great Bell (Big Ben) was cast in April 1858 at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry (also responsible for The Liberty Bell in the United States).

It weighs 13.76 tons and was the largest bell in the British Isles until 'Great Paul' inside St. Paul's Cathedral was cast in 1881.

Big Ben is the most famous bell in the tower, but there 4 other bells.

The four smaller bells ring every 15 minutes, while Big Ben is only rung at the top of every hour.

A mechanical process triggered by the clock dials raises a hammer which is then dropped onto Ben to make the chimes.

For those wishing to set their clocks, note it is the FIRST chime of Big Ben that marks the exact time.

Times When the Bells Were Not Rung

Although Big Ben has been praised throughout its history for accurately keeping time, including during the Blitz in WWII, the chimes have been silenced on occasion.

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• During WWI the clock was silenced for two years, and the clock dials were darkened, to prevent detection by German zeppelin craft.
• On New Year’s Eve 1962, the cold weather froze the hands of the clock, causing the pendulum mechanism to fault meaning the New Year was rung in 10 minutes late!
• In 1967 the clock experienced its first - and so far only - breakdown when the airspeed regulator broke. Over 9 months the chimes were silenced for around 26 days for repairs. 
• As a mark of respect, the chimes were silenced during the funeral of Winston Churchill. The same protocol was taken during the funeral of Baroness Margaret Thatcher in 2013.

Facts and Figures

• The entire Queen Elizabeth II Tower is 315ft (96m) tall.
• Each clock face stands exactly 180ft (54.9m) off the ground.
• Each dial is nearly 23ft (7m) in diameter.
• Each dial holds over 300 individual pieces of frosted glass.
• The minute hands are each just over 13ft (4.2m) long.
• Despite appearing straight, the Tower is tilting 9.1in (230mm) to the north-west.
• Out of 650 MPs, 331 voted to approve the name change of the Clock Tower to the Queen Elizabeth Tower because the tower on the other side of Parliament was renamed the Victoria Tower in the year of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.

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• Complete Guide to Big Ben in London

By: Author Emily

Posted on Last updated: November 27, 2023

Picture London and you’ll probably picture the famous clocktower known as Big Ben. In this brief but thorough guide, we’ll explain everything you never knew you didn’t know about Big Ben. Then we’ll share some practical information for visiting Big Ben during your trip to London.

Before I go too far in this post, I want to clarify that Big Ben technically refers to only the large bell inside the clocktower.  By extension, many people use the nickname Big Ben for the entire tower. In this post, I too will use the term Big Ben to refer to the whole clocktower.

Let’s get started!

What is Big Ben?

Big Ben is the nickname given to an iconic gothic clocktower in Central London. The clocktower is one of the three main towers at the Palace of Westminster.

The chiming clocktower has four clock faces and houses five bells. The largest bell (known as Big Ben) chimes every hour, while the smaller bells chime every 15 minutes. It is currently the third tallest clocktower in the UK.

The clock itself is renowned for being one of the most accurate clocks in the world, especially notable at the time it was built. In fact, an entirely new mechanism was invented and built for the clock inside Big Ben. This new technology quickly became the gold standard for future clocktowers around the world.

Big Ben is one of the most iconic film locations in UK and is often seen in establishing scenes of films and tv shows set in London.

So what is Elizabeth Tower?

The official name of Big Ben is actually Elizabeth Tower. The clocktower itself was previously named “Clock Tower” or “St. Stephen’s tower.” It was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 for the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II. It was a fitting honor given that the largest tower is already called Victoria Tower after Queen Victoria.

Why is it called Big Ben?

The nickname Big Ben originally referred to just the largest bell, the Great Bell, which is housed inside clocktower. The bell weighs over 13 tons and was the largest bell in the UK when it was built.

That explains the “Big” but the “Ben” part is open to interpretation. The two most likely Bens for which the bell earned its nickname are Sir Benjamin Hall (an engineer who oversaw the installation of the clocktower) or Benjamin Caunt (a famous boxer at the time).

No one can say for sure how it got its nickname, but the words Big Ben are now known worldwide and associated with this specific, iconic clocktower in London.

When was Big Ben built?

The construction of Big Ben was completed in 1859. The clock first chimed on May 31, 1859.

What is Big Ben used for?

Big Ben was designed for both looks and function. The tower was immaculately designed as an important symbol of the country and democracy itself. But it was also built at time when not everyone was carrying an iPhone, so it served a practical purpose of telling the time as well.

In addition to just displaying the time, Big Ben also indicates when Parliament is in session. In 1873, a light (originally a lantern) was added and it shines when the House of Commons is in session after dark. It could be seen by the Queen in Buckingham palace so she could know when they were at work.

The clock face itself used to also only be lit when Parliament was sitting, but has been illuminated all night since 1876.

What is inside Big Ben?

The inside of Big Ben is primarily utilitarian and just used for clock and chime functions. There is a spiral staircase leading up to the belfry, where the bells and the clock’s mechanical workings can be accessed.

There is one room inside of Big Ben called the Prison Room. It was last used for a prisoner in 1880, and is now used by the Petitions Committee.

How tall is Big Ben?

The clocktower known as Big Ben is 316 feet high. There are 334 steps from the ground to the belfry. It is #22 on the list of tallest clocktowers in the world and the third tallest in the UK.

How long did it take to build Big Ben?

It took about 16 years to build Big Ben. Construction on the clocktower began in 1843 and was not completed until 1859. If you account for the years of planning and design, it was almost 25 years in the making.

How much did it cost to build Big Ben?

Construction of the original Big Ben clocktower was surprisingly cheap, costing only about £22,000 in 1859. If you adjust that for inflation, that is roughly the equivalent of £259,600 today. That’s nothing considering the recent renovation cost a cool £69 million, double the city’s original estimate.

Is Big Ben a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

Yes. Big Ben is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was added in 1987.

Is there a Little Ben?

Sure is! There is a miniature version of Big Ben near Victoria Station called Little Ben. It’s not worth going out of our way for, but if you find yourself near Victoria Station, you should definitely pop over and take a peek.

Visiting Big Ben in London

Ready to see Big Ben for yourself? Here are a few things to know to plan a perfect visit to Big Ben.

Where is Big Ben in London?

Big Ben is located in the Westminster area of Central London. The clocktower is part of the Palace of Westminster, which is the meeting place for both houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It’s right across the Thames from the famous London Eye and just east of Westminster Abbey and St. James’s Park.

The official address of Big Ben is London SW1A 0AA, United Kingdom .

How to get to Big Ben

Big Ben is located in Central London near many of the city’s most famous tourist attractions. For that reason, it’s incredibly easy to get to on public transportation.

Big Ben is closest to Westminster station which serves the Circle, District and Jubilee lines of the London Underground train. It’s also walkable from Waterloo and Embankment stations. Several bus lines also converge and stop near Big Ben.

Lastly, the Westminster Pier is nearby and serves the river bus, which stops at several piers along the Thames.

Can you go inside Big Ben?

If you are not a UK resident, you can not go inside Big Ben. There are no tours of Big Ben, no matter how much you’re willing to pay, available to anyone who is not a UK resident.

If you are a UK resident, free tours are usually available but require some work and some waiting. You must first request a tour from a member of Parliament or the House of Lords, and then book your tour for a specific date and time. Tours are usually booked at least six months in advance.

That said, as of this update in April 2023, tours are not currently running at all. Tours were halted in 2017 for the renovation project and have not yet resumed.

How much does it cost to go inside Big Ben?

Tours of Big Ben are technically free, but only available to UK residents. Tours have not yet resumed after construction.

Can you see Big Ben from the street?

The good news is that you don’t need to go inside Big Ben or even inside the Palace of Westminster to have a great view of Big Ben. You can see the exterior of Big Ben for free from the ground. There are great views of Big Ben from the streets, sidewalks and parks around the clocktower.

Best views of Big Ben

• Westminster Bridge
• Parliament Square Garden
• Red telephone booths on George Street
• Queen’s Walk between Westminster Bridge and the London Eye

Big Ben as seen from the London Eye

Best time to visit Big Ben

Big Ben is beautiful anytime of day. However, the clocktower is best viewed just before dusk during golden hour. At that time, you can see tower light up but will have enough daylight to see the gold sparkle.

Is Big Ben still under construction?

No. The renovation project on Big Ben that began in August 2017 was completed in April 2022. All of the scaffolding surrounding the exterior of the clocktower has since been removed. She’s a beauty.

How long to spend at Big Ben?

You only need to budget about 15 minutes to see Big Ben. The tower is beautiful, but you don’t need that much time to appreciate it. We suggest gazing at Big Ben after a spin around the London Eye as you walk to St. James’s Park.

Things to do near Big Ben

• Visit Westminster Abbey
• Get a cask ale at St Stephen’s Tavern
• See the guards in front of Buckingham Palace
• Watch the birds on the Serpentine at Hyde Park
• Stroll through St. James’s Park
• Take a spin on the London Eye
• Walk down the Queen’s Walk on the south bank of the Thames from Westminster Bridge to Waterloo Bridge
• Board the River Bus from Westminster Pier and ride to Greenwich

Closing Thoughts

Big Ben is something you have to see once while you’re in London. Fortunately, based on its convenient and prominent location in London, it is kind of hard to miss even if you tried.

It’s definitely worth a stop if you’re visiting London with kids . It was surprisingly my toddler’s favorite thing in London and they made us go back three times.

Have you been to Big Ben? What’s your favorite thing to do before or after a viewing of Big Ben? Let me know if the comments.

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• What Is Cinema?

‘Heartsick’ Jennifer Lopez Cancels Ambitious Stadium Tour

By Eve Batey

Jennifer Lopez , the polymath whose acting, directing, and musical aspirations have been on overdrive in 2024, is finally taking a break. After a year that saw the release of her self-financed Amazon movie/visual album This Is Me…Now: A Love Story and its accompanying documentary/document of her marriage to Ben Affleck , The Greatest Love Story Never Told , the star has called off the third part of the “This is Me” plan. In a statement posted to her website Friday, Lopez announced that the multi-city concert tour, which was most recently titled “This Is Me... Live,” has been canceled, and direct ticket purchasers will be fully refunded.

After tapping on an “Important Announcement” link, visitors to onthejlo.com are able to view a message reading “Representatives for Live Nation announced today that the Jennifer Lopez US Summer 2024 Tour ‘THIS IS ME…LIVE’ is canceled, citing … ‘Jennifer is taking time off to be with her children, family and close friends.'" “For those who purchased through Ticketmaster, tickets will automatically be refunded – there is nothing further fans need to do," the announcement continued. "For those who purchased via third-party resale sites such as SeatGeek, StubHub, VividSeats, etc. – please reach out to your point purchase for more details.”

Via a separate button entitled “Special Message,” website visitors were told "I am completely heartsick and devastated about letting you down. Please know that I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t feel that it was absolutely necessary,"

The message, which is presumably written in Lopez's voice, continues: "I promise I will make it up to you and we will all be together again. I love you all so much. Until next time…"

Pundits were quick to link the mention of time with family to ongoing speculation about the state of the Affleck/Lopez union. The couple has only been seen together a few times in recent months, and at a media event to promote Atlas , Lopez's recently released Netflix film, a question about the couple's less-than-two-year-old marriage was met with rebukes.

“Is your divorce with Ben Affleck real?" asked a reporter at a Mexico City event to promote the streaming sci-fi film, which has a brutal 19 percent score on critical site Rotten Tomatoes.

“These rumors?” the reporter continued. “What is the truth?” Before Lopez could respond, co-star Simu Liu jumped into the fray, snapping “Okay, we’re not doing that.”

Lopez followed up with chiding words of her own, saying, “You know better than that," to the thus far unnamed reporter.

Given that and the avalanche of headlines dissecting body language, wedding ring placement, and the couple's individual appearances, many assumed that relationship ills were the cause of the tour cancellation. But it's worth noting that the tour has been struggling for months: in March, back when the concert series was called “This Is Me… Now,” weak ticket sales prompted cancellations of stops in Cleveland, Nashville, Raleigh, Atlanta, Tampa, New Orleans, and Houston, Variety reported at the time .

Significant numbers of tickets to the tour's remaining 30 shows remained unsold as of early April, and later that month, the tour's name was quietly changed to “This Is Me… Live | The Greatest Hits."

According to Variety , “sources close to Lopez insisted that the tour was not being canceled due to poor ticket sales,” but did not specify a different reason, and representatives for Lopez have not responded to Vanity Fair 's request for comment as of publication time. A look at seating charts from a sample of the planned tour dates between June and August showed a notable number of available seats as of Friday, May 31.

Regardless of the reason, the cancellation is a muffled end to what began as a splashy “surrealistic magical odyssey” that cost Lopez at least $20 million to mount. But as VF 's Richard Lawson noted in his review of the film version of This Is Me... Now , if nothing else, the movie underscores that “Lopez’s true calling is as but a humble movie star.” Perhaps the sales for her planned tour convinced the actor/dancer/ entrepreneur of that, too.

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• Entertainment

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez Kiss on the Cheek as They Attend His Son Samuel's Basketball Game

The couple were pictured attending Affleck's son's sporting event in Los Angeles on June 2

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez showed affection at a recent family event amid strain in their marriage . 

On Sunday, June 2, the couple reunited as they attended Affleck’s 12-year-old son Samuel's basketball game in Santa Monica, Calif. 

The pair were pictured sharing a kiss on the cheek as they greeted one another, before heading inside the YMCA with Affleck’s mother Chris Anne Boldt.

Lopez, 54, wore a black long-sleeved top and blue jeans for the outing, while Affleck, 51, sported a pair of blue jeans, which he paired with a maroon T-shirt under a red corduroy and shearling jacket. The actor's wedding ring could be seen on his finger during the outing as he carried a basketball.

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Affleck's ex-wife and Samuel’s mom, Jennifer Garner , was also pictured at the game. 

The couple’s latest outing comes shortly after Lopez canceled her summer tour . 

On Friday, May 31, Lopez announced that her This Is Me... Live tour is no longer happening and she is "taking time off to be with her children, family and close friends,” per a statement from Live Nation. 

TheImageDirect.com

She also shared in a statement on her On the JLo website, "I am completely heartsick and devastated about letting you down. Please know that I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t feel that it was absolutely necessary.”

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“I promise I will make it up to you and we will all be together again. I love you all so much,” she added. “Until next time…”

The tour was originally set to run from June to August.

The day before canceling her tour, Lopez was pictured with Affleck as they supported his daughter Violet , 18, at her graduation ceremony. The duo were photographed putting on a united front as they held hands at the milestone event.

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Affleck's other children Samuel and Seraphina, 15, as well as Max and Emme, the 16-year-old twins Lopez shares with ex-husband Marc Anthony, were also in attendance.

A source previously told PEOPLE that the pair’s relationship is " not in the best place at the moment ." The duo, who eloped in Las Vegas in July 2022 , have also been living separately , with the singer residing in the couple’s Beverly Hills marital home while Affleck stays in a rental a few miles away.

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Pride walk: ben platt takes the post on a tour of the nyc spots that made him loud and proud.

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For Ben Platt, his coming-out party as a pop artist on “Sing to Me Instead,” his 2018 debut studio LP, was no big queer reveal.

“When I made my first album, it was sort of received as, like, a ‘coming out’ — and it’s not even something that I anticipated,” Platt, 30, said in The Post’s exclusive video series, “Music to My Years.”

In fact, for Platt, it was all a matter of fact: The Tony-winning star of “Dear Evan Hansen” had come out as gay long before that — “when I was 12 or 13,” he said.

“If I’m going to write about my relationship or I’m going to depict it in a music video, it’s a queer relationship,” said Platt of openly expressing his sexuality. “So it was kind of a no-brainer to me. And then I didn’t really realize till after the fact that it was, like, still somewhat radical.”

And just as Pride Month begins, “Honeymind” — Platt’s third studio album that arrived on Friday, three days after the beginning of his 18-show residency at Broadway’s historic Palace Theatre — is a sweet reminder that queer love has always been here.

Get used to it.

It’s a rainbow flag that Platt is proud to wave all year round. “Having a lot of queer fans who feel like their relationships and the specific complexities and experiences of being in a queer relationship are reflected in my music … is something I love to see in my audience,” he said. “Queerness has just always been an intrinsic part of my art.”

There is an easy openness about the queer experience on “Honeymind” — with Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile ) behind the boards — but the album harks back to another time when the LGBTQ community didn’t live so out loud in the music world.

In fact, it’s ’70s singer-songwriters such as James Taylor, Cat Stevens and Paul Simon (with and without Art Garfunkel) who are the touchstone troubadours.

But right after the airy acoustic-guitar balladry of opener “Right Kind of Reckless,” you realize that we’re not in Kansas anymore. The LP’s second track, “All American Queen,” comes sashaying on out as the queer anthem we needed for Pride 2024.

“He was born in the sticks, right in the middle of fall/He wants to be a cheerleader, runs away from the ball/He’s got a song in his heart and a collection of dolls/And there’s a pale shade of pink on his bedroom wall,” Platt sings on this shimmering sunshine-pop bop.

“I wrote it with Alex Hope … and they’re also queer,” said Platt. “We loved the idea of writing about, like, a young kid growing up in America who is, like, cliche American and traditional … but he’s incredibly flamboyant. He’s a queen. I just think that that is part of the fabric of America that always has been there.”

Meanwhile, “Before I Knew You” is a heartfelt dedication to Platt’s fiancé, Noah Galvin. The two singer-actors got engaged in November 2022 and are getting hitched this fall in Brooklyn, their home borough.

The couple met when “we were like 19, 20 years old, doing a web series that never saw the light of day,” said Platt. “And we immediately had, like, an attraction to each other and started dating pretty quickly. But then I panicked and … I sent him a long text message, and I was like, ‘We should just be friends.’ ”

While the two remained friends, they eventually rekindled their romance. And last Friday, Galvin joined Kacey Musgraves , Kristin Chenoweth and Leslie Odom Jr. as one of the surprise guests that Platt will have on each night of his residency that ends June 15.

But there’s always one special spirit in the house: Judy Garland, who famously played the newly renovated venue in her career. Respect is paid when Platt closes his show with a stunning rendition of “Over the Rainbow.”

“She inspired me to want to perform and also just, you know, helped me realize my queer identity,” he said. “She’s the queen.”

For more, watch Platt give The Post an exclusive tour around the NYC spots that shaped him — including the Bowery Hotel, Joseph Leonard and the Palace Theatre.

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Jennifer Lopez’s Canceled Tour, and Society’s Twisted Pleasure in Seeing Strong Women Fail

By Jem Aswad

Executive Editor, Music

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For a variety of reasons, one of the biggest stories in entertainment this year has been the precarious state of Jennifer Lopez ’s “This Is Me… Now” tour, which was finally put out of its misery yesterday.

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Just a few days earlier, another major act canceled their own overly ambitious North American tour that was scheduled to hit many of the same arenas that J-Lo’s was — the male rock duo the Black Keys. After that news broke, people asked what that said about the state of the touring business.

But when J. Lo canceled her tour just days later, people asked what it says about her.

As a society, why do we do that?

Broadly speaking, the reasons for both cancellations are the same: An artist past their commercial prime makes an overly optimistic projection about the response to their new project, gets it wrong, and pays the price — as do their partners in the enterprise, from promoters and venues down to dancers and truck drivers, because it takes a village to put on a tour of that size, and literally hundreds of people’s livelihoods are affected by those cancelations (which is something conveniently forgotten in the thinly veiled glee much of the public seems to take in such missteps).

Granted, the pop audience that J-Lo is targeting is very different from the more-loyal, less-fickle rock fans the Black Keys were aiming at. The pop world that J-Lo inhabits has the attention span of a smart fish and is infamously unforgiving of perceived transgressions, which can span from intentional factors — like a romantic partner who fans decide they don’t like — to unintended ones like, say, a multifaceted, self-absorbed autobiographical project by someone who famously is not the world’s kindest or most gracious superstar. For all her Bronx toughness and swagger, J-Lo has always been a pop artist and she knows that game and everything that comes with it.

But fame and power put people at a remove from reality, and it’s ultimately irrelevant whether everyone in her orbit also thought this project and tour were a great idea, or whether no one dared to say, “Hey, after the disastrous failure of ‘Gigli’” — the dreadful 2003 Affleck-Lopez film that not only destroyed the pair as a commercial property, but also helped tank the first era of their relationship — “maybe reviving Bennifer as a commercial enterprise isn’t a great idea?” The end result was the same: a canceled tour and a stiff album. Artists make similar miscalculations every year.

Yet the online venom and hateration that has surrounded the failure of this enterprise has been epic in scale. The term schadenfreude — a combination of the German nouns Schaden, meaning “damage” or “harm,” and Freude, meaning “joy,” per Merriam-Webster — means taking pleasure, often illogical pleasure, in others’ misfortune. And while men certainly can be victims of it — does anyone remember Martin Shkreli and his unusually punchable face ? — society certainly seems to reserve the worst of its venom for powerful, successful, talented women.

It’s a matter of public record that women’s rights are under ferocious attack, from Iran, Afghanistan and Russia to the United States and our arguably corrupt Supreme Court, multiple state governments and even Benedictine College’s commencement . But the hate isn’t coming exclusively from men. At a certain point, we decide we don’t like a public figure anymore without really knowing — or at least without consciously thinking about — why.

Except subconsciously, it’s probably not that deep. Sometimes we just don’t like or get tired of someone’s face (cf. Shkreli, who never had a chance), sometimes we resent their success, sometimes we also resent their happiness, or at least their seeming flaunting of it. In the wider public eye, J-Lo seems to have run afoul of the latter two, and the rumors that she and Affleck may be separating after less than two years of marriage seem an almost inevitable final act before a (probably equally inevitable) redemption chapter, after everyone finally realizes how unfair they were (cf. Britney Spears).

This is a road that Beyonce also went down at the peak of her career. She (apparently) shared the challenges that her own marriage was facing — and intensified her already-deep connection with her audience — in the lyrics of her galvanizing “Lemonade” album and tour… but then made a sort of happy-ending follow-up with her 2018 duet album with husband Jay-Z, “Everything Is Love,” which landed well initially but in retrospect is self-indulgent, treacly and awkwardly self-congratulatory: It’s just hard to have much empathy for two near-billionaires singing about how difficult it was coming through the fire. Their ruling status — and the fact that people are genuinely afraid of their fanbases — enabled them to dodge the storm that usually follows such hubris.

J-Lo, as we’re seeing, hasn’t dodged those bullets. At 54, she’s at a tricky point in a pop star career: Hit singles for artists at that age are as rare as Bigfoot sightings — Cher’s “Believe” and Kylie Minogue’s “Padam Padam,” the two main examples that come to mind, were released more than a quarter-century apart — and only generationally defining stars with enormous catalogs of hits, like Paul McCartney, Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Billy Joel can tour arenas into retirement age. What’s missing from that category? Women. Most of the top-grossing female touring artists — Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Pink — are under 45. The only one who isn’t, Madonna, at 65 played to some middling audiences on her just-completed, mostly triumphant “Celebration” tour, as well as an estimated 1.6 million people at the final concert in Brazil. She’s weathered all of the above storms — and then some — and come out on top, but it’s taken hurricane-force, once-in-a-generation level of determination (and probably has taken quite a personal toll as well).

Variety pursued the reports of J. Lo’s poor ticket sales — and those of the Black Keys and others —aggressively, not for reasons of schadenfreude but because such stories are important in our corner of the media world, and it’s a sad fact of our business that bad news gets a lot more clicks than good news. Her fans swarmed on us, which comes with the turf, but the stories were hugely successful. As it does every time schadenfreude piles up on a female public figure, I was reminded of something: During the heyday of Lena Dunham’s TV series “Girls,” there was a video meme — or whatever passed for a meme in 2012 — of young women making comical, snarky opinions about show, with one of them saying, “I’ve never seen it… but I think I don’t like it.”

It was a joke, but still, that statement seems like a sadly perfect distillation of the amount of thought, let alone logic, that goes into the kind of hateration that J. Lo and so many other female public figures are receiving right now. It’s also not hard to imagine that syndrome playing a major role in many other successful women being brought down a peg after a majority of people decide they just don’t like her, not least the defeat of Hillary Clinton by her unapologetically misogynist opponent in 2016.

J. Lo is a great artist and she will be fine, and she’s clearly tough enough to weather all of this. But why should she have to? There’s obviously more going on here than just a canceled tour, and it does make one wonder whether the guilty pleasure of schadenfreude and our role in furthering it is a problem that goes beyond a few “harmless” clicks.

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Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck put on a prickly display as they awkwardly kiss in new photos

Jennifer Lopez  and Ben Affleck arrived separately to cheer on his son, Samuel  at a basketball game on Sunday, but their reunion was far from warm. 

The couple - whose marriage is reportedly under strain - met with an awkward air kiss which was a far cry from their former passionate displays of affection. 

As they leaned in for the prickly interaction, Ben patted his wife on the back rather than embrace her. 

Jennifer, 54, led the way into the YMCA building in Santa Monica and walked ahead of Ben, 51, and his mom, Christopher Anne, who had joined them. 

She looked downcast, while Ben appeared to be in a more jovial mood. Ben's ex-wife, Jennifer Garner also attended her son's sporting event and was seen tenderly helping her former mother-in-law into her car. 

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Ben and Jennifer's outing comes days after the singer announced she was canceling her US tour to focus on family. 

Tour promoter LiveNation said in a statement that Jennifer is "taking time off to be with her children, family and close friends".

She then addressed the news in her newsletter OnTheJLo where she wrote: "I am completely heartsick and devastated about letting you down. Please know that I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t feel that it was absolutely necessary.

"I promise I will make it up to you and we will all be together again. I love you all so much. Until next time." 

While  Jennifer and Ben face continued public speculation about the status of their marriage amid reports the pair are living separately as they work on their marriage, they have both been photographed separately wearing their wedding rings recently.

Ben and  Jen were pictured together on May 30 2024 for the first time in weeks . Theysnapped in Los Angeles on their way to a graduation party for Ben's daughter Violet, who recently graduated from high school.

Jennifer was quizzed over reports of marriage woes while promoting her new film, Atlas, in Mexico City recently. 

Sitting alongside her co-star, Simu Liu, Jennifer was suddenly asked:  "Is your divorce with Ben Affleck real?" Before the unidentified reporter added: "These rumors? What is the truth? Para le press le Mexicana, what is the truth of the situation?"

Jennifer appeared to laugh it off but when the reporter could be heard continuing his line of questioning, she looked directly at him and said: "You know better than that."

The pair, known to fans as Bennifer, first dated in 2002 and were engaged until 2003. They later both married other partners, JLo to singer Marc Anthony and Ben to actress Jennifer Garner, and welcomed their own kids, before they rekindled their romance in 2021 and got married in 2022.

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Payton Sandfort Trusts Gut in Big Decision

John bohnenkamp | may 30, 2024.

• Iowa Hawkeyes

It’s always been about gut feelings, Payton Sandfort said.

And while he was flying all around the nation during the NBA draft process, the Iowa forward knew he had a choice to make about whether to chase a professional path or go back to the Hawkeyes for his senior season.

The gut feeling won out.

“It’s kind of what I’ve always done in my career, and it’s helped me with the best decisions,” Sandfort said on Thursday, a day after withdrawing from the draft and choosing to come back to Iowa.

Sandfort had spent the last month trying out for various teams and going through the NBA’s Draft Combine in Chicago. He was projected as a second-round pick by many mock drafts — one even had him as a late first-rounder before the Combine.

Instead, he’ll be back with the Hawkeyes, getting to play with his brother Pryce again and his younger teammates who weren’t satisfied with last season.

“There was a lot of very positive feedback from NBA teams with a pick range, and stuff like that. You just kind of go with a feeling,” Sandfort said. “I just didn’t know if I could leave behind that feeling of regret of not getting to play with Pryce for one more year, and not seeing this thing out of what I feel we’ve helped build at Iowa.”

Sandfort, Iowa’s leading scorer last season, was coming off the best season of his career. He averaged 16.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists, while shooting 44.6 percent from the field. He was a 37.9-percent 3-point shooter on his way to being a third-team All-Big Ten selection.

But Sandfort chose the NBA draft process while maintaining his college eligibility. It’s been a test other Hawkeyes have made in the past, a chance to gain feedback from professional teams.

Sandfort worked out for the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics before the Combine, then with the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors before concluding his tour with a workout for the Utah Jazz on Wednesday afternoon.

Sandfort, who posted his announcement on social media less than two hours before the deadline to withdraw, said the lack of internet access on his two flights home kept him from making the announcement sooner.

It was the final travel lesson for Sandfort.

“I think it was really an eye-opening experience,” he said. “I learned a lot of very valuable things, met a ton of really cool people along the way. The travel was really no joke.You’re going city to city for about a month. I think I was in a hotel room 18 or 19 straight nights. It was a ton of fun, learned kind of what it takes to be a pro. I felt comfortable making the jump, but at the end of the day I just felt the pull to come back home.”

Sandfort said he appreciated the feedback he received from teams.

“A lot of it was centered around athleticism,” he said. “They know that’s not what’s going to get me drafted, they know that’s not what makes me special. A lot of it came down to shooting on the move. Obviously the NBA (3-point) line is a lot farther back. So, shooting from deeper ranges, being comfortable getting into your shot a lot of different ways, which I’ve prided myself on being able to do that. But at the end of the day, you can always improve.”

Sandfort said the various workouts taught him a lot.

“Being comfortable in your own skin is probably the most important thing I learned,” he said.

JOHN BOHNENKAMP

I was with The Hawk Eye (Burlington, Iowa) for 28 years, the last 19-plus as sports editor. I've covered Iowa basketball for the last 27 years, Iowa football for the last six seasons. I'm a 17-time APSE top-10 winner, with seven United States Basketball Writers Association writing awards and one Football Writers Association of America award (game story, 1st place, 2017).

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