Elizabeth Tower reveals eastern dial as conservation works continue

The main change to the iconic home of Big Ben in March 2018 will be the visibility of the East clock dial (facing the London Eye), while the South clock dial (facing the Victoria Tower) will be covered by scaffolding.
 
The clock dials are currently undergoing works which include repairing the glass and metalwork, removing the hands and replacing them with temporary hands while the originals undergo conservation.

Throughout this period of conservation work the dials will need to be covered, but it is expected that one working clock face will remain visible at all times.

These essential conservation works are taking place to ensure the UK's most famous clock continues to function well into the future.

The works will also:

• Repair problems identified with the Elizabeth Tower and the Great Clock, which cannot be rectified whilst the clock is in action.

• Conserve significant elements of the Tower, as designed by architects Charles Barry and Augustus Welby Pugin.

• Repair and redecorate the interior, renew the building services and make improvements to health and safety and fire protection systems.

• Improve energy efficiency to reduce the Tower's environmental impact.

• In order to provide a better means of emergency evacuation, and to improve accessibility for a wider range of people, a lift will be installed within the existing ventilation shaft of the Tower.

Further Information

Further details about the Elizabeth Tower and Big Ben, including historical information and a Q&A about the conservation project can be found here.