Big Ben leaves Britons baffled after iconic landmark stuck showing wrong time

Oliver Partridge
Mon, 13 Apr 2026 11:25:21 +0000

London's iconic Big Ben landmark in Westminster has left Britons baffled after being stuck showing the same time today.

One of the four sides of the Big Ben clockface - the western dial - is trapped reading midday, and is expected to continue to do so for the next 10 days.

The freeze first came into effect early on Sunday morning, when engineers disconnected a section of the mechanism to carry out weatherproofing repairs to the western face.

According to UK Parliament, the dial has to be stopped to protect the mechanism while work is underway.

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A UK Parliament statement reads: "The hands on the Elizabeth Tower's West Dial will stop at 8am on Saturday April 11, and restart on Tuesday 21 April.

"This is to allow for repairs to weatherproofing around the dial face.The repairs are to the dial face, not the clock itself.

"However, to facilitate the work the West Dial has to be stopped to protect the dial mechanism during the repairs."

As a result, for the next 10 days, onlookers standing in the right spot can snap a photo of the Elizabeth Tower showing two different times at once.

GB News' Christopher Hope was startled to see the Western clockface stuck on 12 noon when broadcasting from Westminster at 10.15am this morning.

He wasn't alone, as droves of Londoners have taken to social media to share pictures of the stopped clockface, with some even thinking they'd hit their head.

After discovering the stopped clockface was intentional, one user wrote on Facebook: "I thought I was Cinderella" - referencing the crucial deadline set by the Fairy Godmother, marking the end of the magic in the 1950 Disney classic.

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Small, recurring work on the tower is fairly common, but nothing trumps the five-year, £80million restoration that completed in 2022.

The most extensive works to the tower in its 160-year history included repairs to the clock mechanism, changes to the colour scheme on the four clock faces to put back the Victorian blue and gold, and reinstating St George's Cross flag emblems.

The overhaul also introduced accessibility improvements, include a new lift, to conform to updated accessibility guidelines for public venues.

The result of the revamp was described as "a veritable masterclass in conservation and craftsmanship" by the judges of the Royal Institute of British Architects' Stirling Prize, although it came at a cost, going way over its original budget, which was estimated at £29million to £45million.

Parliament described the frequent maintenance of the tower as "vital to ensure that this iconic building, situated on a UNESCO World Heritage site, is safeguarded for future generations to visit and enjoy".

"The Elizabeth Tower stands as a symbol of not only the United Kingdom, but of democracy."

The bells of Big Ben have been ringing for over 160 years, despite the effects on the building of bombing during the Second World War, as well as adverse weather and growing pollution.

The clock tower was built by the Victorians to the highest possible standards, using the best craftspeople and the finest materials.

However, like other buildings of a similar age, the Elizabeth Tower suffered from problems that needed to be overcome, enciting the dramatic five-year renovation project.