Learn Big Ben for Kids | Famous Landmarks around the world with Ryan's World

Hey guys, did you know that this is the Elizabeth Tower? It's also nicknamed the Big Ben. I'll tell you all about it. Welcome to Ryan's World. Thanks Ryan. I'll take it over from here. Hey Combo Crew. Today I'm visiting one of the most iconic historical landmarks in London, England. Big Ben. Big Ben is a huge clock tower. In fact, it's the largest four-sided chiming clock in the world. Well, you're almost right Combo. Alphalexa, what are you doing here? This is my video. Oh Combo, as the resident Anglophile, that means I need to teach you about Big Ben. Trust me, you'll need my help. Well, all right. You lead the tour and I'll take the pictures. While people use the name Big Ben to refer to the whole tower, it's actually the name of the... Really? Then what's the name of the tower? The tower is actually called Queen Elizabeth. Fancy. Elizabeth Tower is connected to the Palace of Westminster, where the lawmakers of Great Britain get together and make decisions. I have a question Alpha. Yes Combo. Why did they build the tower? Good question Combo. In 1834, a fire destroyed the old Palace of Westminster. Oh no. The clock tower was designed as part of the new Palace of Westminster. Elizabeth Tower was completed May 31st, 1859. That seems like forever ago. It sure is a cool tower. I wonder what it's made of. Elizabeth Tower is made of brick and limestone. Its roof tiles are made of cast iron. That sounds heavy. It's not going to tip over, is it? It looks like it's leaning a little bit to me. Funny you should ask Combo. The ground underneath the tower is made of gravel and clay. Because of the soft ground, the clock tower leans about nine inches to the northeast. The tower is sturdy. There's no chance of it tipping over. The tower is 316 feet tall. That's as tall as 21 London buses stacked on top of each other. The bells are hung near the top of the tower in an area called the Belfry. What's that light at top for? That's the Ayrton light. It's a lantern that shines whenever British lawmakers are meeting in the Palace of Westminster after dark. The light can be seen from across London. There are clock faces on all four sides of the tower. Each one is made up of 312 pieces of white glass like a jigsaw puzzle. This way workers can fix the clock hands from inside the clock tower without having to remove all the glass. The numbers on the clock are displayed using Roman numerals. They look two feet tall. The hour hands on the clock are nine feet long and the minute hands are 14 feet long. Pieces of the clock light up at over seven feet. That's a big bell all right, but why do they call it Big Ben? Another great question, Combo. Some people think it was named after a boxer named Ben English Heavyweight whose nickname was Bell was named after Sir Benjamin Hall whose name was written on the bell when it was first made. Oh no, there's a crack in the bell. How are they going to ring it? Don't worry, Combo. Big Ben cracked shortly after it was hung up, but it still works. The crack gives a unique twangy sound. Fast Combo. Big Ben, ring dollar bills around it, chime every 15... Crowds of people gather outside the tower to celebrate the countdown music, fireworks, and lots of cheering as the bells ring in the new year. Combo Bunga! Happy New Year, everybody! I had a great time visiting Big Ben today. I wish I could have stayed longer. It's okay, Combo. You can see other towers inspired by Big Ben in Paris, France, Ottawa, Canada, Birmingham, England, Cardiff, Wales, and Port of Spain, Trinidad, and Tobago. Plus, there's a lot to see and do when you're in London. You can visit countless museums and historical buildings like Buckingham Palace or Westminster Abbey. You can even take a ride on the London Eye, which is a giant Ferris wheel on the banks of the Well, I love Ferris wheels. Let's see that next. Back to you, Ryan. Thank you for learning about Elizabeth Tower with me. Bye! Remember, always stay happy and rise up. Bye!