Discover when and why Big Ben has stopped over 160 years—from the cracked bell to the 2017–2022 restoration—and how coins and upkeep keep the clock precise.
Big Ben is more than a timepiece—it’s a shorthand for London and the UK itself. For over 160 years its chimes have kept the city in step, and the 19th-century mechanism remains a benchmark of accuracy. Even so, no machine is flawless. Here’s when and why Big Ben has stopped, and how it is kept running.
The clock began operating in 1859, but almost immediately came the first serious problem. The main bell, meant to strike the hours, cracked. The fix was to rotate it so the hammer hit a different spot.
Later, in 1976, wear and tear forced the clock to a halt. Repairs took nearly nine months. Another planned pause came in 2007, when the clock was temporarily switched off for maintenance.
A true great silence came in 2017, when a major restoration of the tower began. The work lasted nearly five years; during that time the clock was out of action, and the chimes sounded only on special occasions—such as New Year’s Eve.
The restoration wrapped in 2022. The clock not only returned to service but also to its historic look: the hands and numerals were repainted blue, as in the 19th century.
Even after the restoration, the mechanism was temporarily switched off again in August 2022. This was deliberate: important components of the updated mechanism had to be fitted. Planned pauses like this are routine to keep the clock accurate and reliable.
Despite its age, the clockwork runs without modern digital technology. Its accuracy is adjusted in an unusual way—by adding or removing old coins. That fine-tunes the rate to within 0.4 seconds a day.
Regular inspections and maintenance keep it in working order. That’s what allows the legendary Big Ben to hold its accuracy even after all these years.
