大本钟和国会大厦, 威斯敏斯特宫, 伦敦, 英国 Big Ben and Parliament, Palace of Westminster, London, England (© Puthipong Worasaran/Getty Images)

大本钟和国会大厦, 威斯敏斯特宫, 伦敦, 英国 Big Ben and Parliament, Palace of Westminster, London, England (© Puthipong Worasaran/Getty Images)

伦敦时间到！ London o'clock

威斯敏斯特宫, 伦敦, 英国

伦敦最著名的钟楼其实并不叫“大本钟”，这个名字指的是钟楼内那口重达13.5吨的巨大钟体。自1859年以来，它便为伦敦人报时，钟声响起自如今名为“伊丽莎白塔”的建筑中。2012年，在伊丽莎白二世女王登基60周年之际，这座原本称为“钟楼”的建筑被正式更名为“伊丽莎白塔”。自诞生以来，这座钟仅在维修或特殊情况下才停止运转，如一战和二战期间因轰炸受损。它的四个钟面每个直径达22.5英尺，分针长度达14英尺。钟楼高达316英尺，属于雄伟的威斯敏斯特宫的一部分，也就是英国议会的所在地。

几个世纪以来，威斯敏斯特宫始终是英国政治的核心。这座宫殿最初由忏悔者爱德华于11世纪建造，自13世纪起便成为议会所在地。此前一直是王室住所，直到1512年的一场大火迫使亨利八世迁离。1834年又一场毁灭性大火烧毁了大部分中世纪建筑群，促成了如今我们所见的哥特复兴风格。此次重建由建筑师查尔斯·巴里主持，其助手奥古斯塔斯·普金则设计了繁复的细部装饰。这座占地超过43,000平方英尺的宫殿，如今容纳着下议院、上议院以及始建于1097年的威斯敏斯特大厅。

Palace of Westminster, London, England

London's most famous clock tower isn't called Big Ben—that name belongs to the massive 13.5-ton bell inside. The Great Clock has marked time for Londoners since 1859, ringing from what is now known as the Elizabeth Tower, renamed in 2012 to honor Queen Elizabeth II during her Diamond Jubilee. At 316 feet tall, the tower is part of the grand Palace of Westminster. The clock has stopped only for maintenance and rare disruptions, such as bomb damage during each world war. Each of its four clock faces spans 22.5 feet, with the minute hands measuring 14 feet.

For centuries, the Palace of Westminster has stood at the heart of British politics. Originally built by Edward the Confessor in the 11th century, the palace has hosted Parliament since the 13th century. Previously a royal residence, it remained one until a fire in 1512 forced Henry VIII to relocate. A second devastating fire in 1834 destroyed most of the medieval complex, leading to the Gothic Revival design seen today. Architect Charles Barry led the reconstruction, while his assistant, Augustus Pugin, designed the intricate details. Covering about 27.8 acres, the palace houses the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and Westminster Hall, which dates back to 1097.