It may be one of Britain’s most iconic monuments, but for many expectant tourists, Big Ben is a huge disappointment.
The beloved clock tower has more than 32,000 reviews on TripAdvisor, and while it has racked up more than 19,000 5-star ratings, the attraction has a legion of haters.
Some 764 people have visited the travel website to give Big Ben a “terrible” 1-star review and provide constructive criticism.
The most recent skeptic, Leo N, visited the country in September 2023, but spent two months carefully crafting his comments and finally published his thoughts in November.
The review said: “Only a big clock is really starting… Nothing special really I could just go to my grandmother’s house and see a clock except Big Ben 10 times bigger (by the way, where did the “Big Ben?”
It may be one of Britain’s most iconic monuments, but for many expectant tourists, Big Ben is a huge disappointment.
Disgruntled visitors on Tripadvisor have complained about everything from the architecture to the location to the abundance of pigeons.
The great clock has stood proudly beside the River Thames since the mid-19th century, but even that doesn’t make it immune to criticism.
Laird Cook had traveled from Inverness in Scotland to see Big Ben, but was bitterly disappointed by the popular attraction.
Viewing the 19th-century building as a mere timekeeping tool was a recurring theme among dissatisfied visitors, with Trojan P advising readers in June 2023 to “just look at your wristwatch.”
On a similar note, Daniel B boasted that his Apple Watch was much better than Big Ben as it could take your pulse, something the iconic Palace of Westminster failed to do.
He added: “Please update the bell to ring a bird every hour, or change the bell sound to 50 Cent.”
Laird Cook had traveled from Inverness in Scotland to see Big Ben, or more accurately Elizabeth Tower, as Big Ben is the name of the bell inside it, but was bitterly disappointed by the popular attraction.
He said: ‘Big Ben, a large clock tower attached to the Houses of Parliament, rings from time to time… if you want to see Big Ben, look it up on the internet, it looks much better without all the rush of tourists with selfie sticks !
I could use a few birds of prey to kill the pigeons!
And Ferdie G simply dismissed the building’s quintessential neo-Gothic architecture as “average”, adding that “it would be better if it were digital as (it’s) quite difficult to read”.
Some 764 people have visited the travel website to give Big Ben a “terrible” 1-star review and provide constructive criticism.
Big Ben underwent an £80 million restoration plan over five years between 2017 and 2022 and the presence of scaffolding and builders’ equipment ruined the aesthetic for hundreds of visitors to London during this time.
Aimee T visited before construction, in May 2014, and was disappointed by the height of the clock tower.
“So I went to the famous Big Ben last week,” he said. ‘Let me tell you, we should change the name to Medium Ben. I’ve seen bigger Lego towers! It will come back if they build it higher.’
Big Ben has made many appearances in popular culture, including the 2005 futuristic thriller V for Vendetta, where Parliament is destroyed in the final act of the film.
Iliya M didn’t like the reference point so much that he wished the ending of the film was real.
He said: “Absolutely terrible. I would never go again. I’m glad they ruined it in V for Vendetta.”
Big Ben underwent an £80 million restoration plan (pictured) over five years between 2017 and 2022 and the presence of scaffolding and builders’ equipment spoiled the aesthetics for hundreds of visitors to London during this time.
Everyone might refer to the iconic structure as Big Ben, but it’s actually called the Elizabeth Tower – Big Ben is the bell hidden inside the building (pictured: the bell and Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons).
Big Ben has made many appearances in popular culture, including the 2005 futuristic thriller V for Vendetta (pictured), where Parliament is destroyed in the final act of the film.
The building’s location, with stunning views of the Thames, Westminster Bridge and the London Eye, is one of the main reasons why tourists from around the world flock to look at the great clock, but Josh found that the banks of the river were too close for comfort
Daniel B said: ‘Please update the bell to have a bird come out every hour, or change the bell sound to 50 Cent’
The harsh critic suggested his smartwatch was much better than Big Ben because it could measure your pulse, unlike the old tower.
“It’s just a big watch and the whole experience left me unsettled.”
The building’s location, with stunning views of the Thames, Westminster Bridge and the London Eye, is one of the main reasons why tourists from around the world flock to look at the great clock, but Josh found that the banks of the river were too close for comfort.
“Nice watch, but I fell into the river when I was looking at the tower and fell over the side into the freezing Thames,” he said.