IT’S ONE OF the most iconic landmarks in the world and now it’s going to to get a new name.

The clock tower which houses Big Ben at the UK Houses of Parliament  is to be renamed Elizabeth Tower in honour of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.

The move comes after a campaign which was backed by a large number of MPs and the leader of all three of the main party leaders to rename the tower to mark the Queen’s sixty years on the throne.

The clock tower is currently known simply – and imaginatively – as the Clock Tower.  The name Big Ben is commonly used to refer to the entire tower, but is technically the name of the huge bell at the top of the tower.

“The House of Commons Commission welcomed the proposal to rename the Clock Tower Elizabeth Tower in recognition of HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and will arrange for this decision to be implemented in an appropriate manner in due course,” a spokesman said.

The soon-to-be-renamed clock tower stands at over 96 metres high and 12 metres square. There are 334 steps up to the belfry at the top (393 if you go all the way to the latern at the very top). Here’s what it looks like when Big Ben is ringing:

(Video via UKParliament/YouTube)

- Additional report by AFP

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