The famous landmark leans slightly to the northwest but the tilt is not considered dangerous and is unlikely to cause problems for a while.
The UK is home to many famous landmarks, but few are as iconic as its world-famous clock tower.
While it may seem perfectly upright, experts have discovered that it has a slight tilt – one that, over time, could rival one of Europe’s most famous leaning structures.
If left unchecked, the landmark could lean as much as the Tower of Pisa in roughly 4,000 years.
That landmark is, of course, Big Ben, officially known as the Elizabeth Tower, which has stood at the Palace of Westminster since 1859.
Over the years, shifting ground conditions and the construction of London’s Jubilee Line beneath the building have caused the tower to develop a 0.26-degree tilt.
That may not seem like much, but it is a 16th of the Leaning Tower of Pisa’s famous tilt.
As far as the value of the tower is concerned, estimates suggest that if it were ever put up for sale, it could be worth £500million or more, given its historic and cultural value.
Just the recent restoration work alone, completed in 2022, cost around £80million.
The four-year project involved repairing the iron framework, replacing damaged limestone, and reinforcing the tower’s structural integrity.
Engineers even had to develop a new crash system under the tower to protect it from potential structural failures.
Despite its tilt, there is no immediate cause for concern. Engineers believe the movement is slow and will not pose any danger for thousands of years.
However, the tilt adds another layer to the history of Big Ben, which has already survived bomb damage during World War 2, a major crack in its famous bell, and centuries of London’s unpredictable weather.
Nicknamed after Sir Benjamin Hall, the official who oversaw its installation, Big Ben remains one of the most recognisable landmarks in the world.
It has four giant clock faces, each measuring 22.5 feet in diameter, and is topped by a 13.5-ton Great Bell.
Despite modern technology, Big Ben still uses its original 19th-century clock mechanism and is adjusted by adding or removing pre-decimal pennies from its pendulum.
