Actions

Here's Why London's Big Ben Will Be Quieter Than Usual Until 2021

After the clock strikes noon on Aug. 21, the iconic bell will be pretty quiet for four years.

Here's Why London's Big Ben Will Be Quieter Than Usual Until 2021

By: Briana Koeneman

Posted

Every hour on the hour, Big Ben's trademark chime rings out across London.

But after the clock strikes noon on Aug. 21, the iconic bell will be pretty quiet until 2021.

That's because the clock tower Big Ben calls home will be undergoing extensive restoration work for the next four years. The bell must be disabled during that time to keep workers safe.

This will be the longest London has gone without regularly hearing Big Ben since the clock started chiming 157 years ago.

The bell last went quiet back in 2007 during maintenance work. Before that, a period of refurbishment forced it to fall silent from 1983 to 1985.

But the U.K. government says the famous bell will still toll for important events like New Year's Eve and Remembrance Sunday.

And it looks like the rest of the U.K. Parliament building is in need of a face-lift, too. Lawmakers are looking to make huge renovations that could take up to 32 years to complete.