London's iconic clock tower, the Big Ben, has been a beloved symbol of the city for over a century. With its Gothic Revival style, imposing size, and accurate timekeeping, the Big Ben has captured the attention of people from around the world. Recently, I had the opportunity to visit this impressive landmark and witness firsthand its newly renovated structure. The details of the clock face were breathtaking, with its intricate opal glass pieces and copper hands stretching over 4 meters in length. As I stood below the tower and looked up at the sun setting behind it, I couldn't help but feel awed by its grandeur. Join me on a journey to discover the fascinating history, fun facts, renovation, and architecture of the Big Ben, and appreciate the significance of this iconic landmark in the UK's rich cultural heritage.
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The Shard, through my eyes. /
One of the most beautiful if not the most beautiful building in London. Such a wonderful piece of architecture which I love to photograph. Such an iconic building in the London skyline and also one of the most recognised buildings in the world.
I will leave you with 5 interesting facts about The Shard:
1. It’s actually the tallest building in Western Europe
The Shard, at 306 metres tall, briefly held the top spot for the whole of Europe before two buildings in Moscow overtook it within a year!
2. It’s made up of 11,000 glass panels on its exterior
The building is named as it is modelled on a shard of glass, and its 11,000 panels have a total area of 56,000 square metres.
3. It hosts what might just be the ultimate penthouse
The enormous apartment is 224m high, covers two floors, has been compared in size to a seven-bedroom mansion and has a reported price tag of £50 million.
4. The average lift speed is 6 metres per second
Though the lifts are very smooth and entertain passengers with video ceiling panels, bring some chewing gum in case your ears pop!
5. Romeo the Fox.
A fox, nicknamed Romeo by staff, was found on the 72nd storey and is believed to have survived on food left by construction workers.
