There’s something strangely satisfying about looking behind the scenes of an iconic building and there are fewer buildings more famous than the Houses of Parliament and the iconic Clock Tower. The tower was renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012 in honour of Queen Elizabeths jubilee and stands 96 meters tall housing 11 floors. The Elizabeth Tower is often mistakenly called Big Ben which is actually the name of the bell within the tower inscribed with the name of Sir Benjamin Hall, First Commissioner for Works after whom it is believed the bell takes it’s name.

Within the belfry (whose bells were first broadcast by the BBC in 1932) is a spiral with 334 steps with a total of 399 to the lantern (the Ayrton Light) and an elevator is also expected to be added during the current restoration work. You can take a trip up the historic staircase (without having sore legs in the morning) by watching the video below: