You can’t talk about London attractions without picturing Big Ben. That famous clock tower—standing tall above the Thames, close to Westminster Abbey—captures a kind of magic that’s hard to explain unless you’ve walked past it after dark, heard its chimes echoing over the city, or seen it pop up yet again in a bestseller, classic novel, or the latest gritty TV drama. It’s more than just a timekeeper—it’s a kind of literary shorthand for drama, anticipation, and tradition, recognised worldwide. There’s a reason people say you haven’t truly visited London until you’ve taken in the sight of Big Ben looming above Parliament Square, with red buses rumbling and pigeons strutting nearby. But have you ever noticed how often it shows up in the pages of fiction or on screen—and why it keeps popping up?
Walk along the South Bank and look at the skyline. Big Ben isn’t just an architectural star—it’s a character in its own right, especially in stories set in or about London. Charles Dickens used London landmarks to ground his stories in grit and reality, and the famous bell-and-clock tower has turned up in more than just travel guides. One of the earliest references appears in Virginia Woolf’s "Mrs Dalloway"—the striking of the clock punctuates Clarissa’s day and, by extension, the passing of time, life, and memories washed over the city. It’s almost poetic—except it’s also grounding; every Londoner understands that rhythmic chime that ties together moment and mood.
In more recent times, authors like Neil Gaiman (in "Neverwhere") and Ben Aaronovitch (with his Rivers of London series) drop Big Ben into their work—it’s both a backdrop and a signifier. Even crime novels set in Westminster or historical fiction tracing the Blitz harness Big Ben’s looming structure as a symbol: safety, endurance, and sometimes, anxious waiting. The chimes have become a literary device, used to build suspense or signal a new chapter. There’s hardly a landmark in the world with as much literary mileage as London’s most famous clock. And it isn’t just in highbrow literature; think of every chase scene in a London-set blockbuster, or the sweetly nostalgic setting of Paddington Bear’s adventures.
When Harry Potter races across the skies of London, the visual of Big Ben popping into view lets everyone know: magic, history, and the city are about to collide. The BBC’s adaptation of Sherlock makes sure to pan past it in almost every London episode, tying the city’s history into the current day. Children’s books from "Peter Pan" to "The Horniman’s Clock's Adventures" give the tower new roles. It’s an anchor, an inspiration, and a silent observer to joy, heartbreak, and everyday life. Writing local fiction these days without even a subtle nod to Big Ben would almost feel rude—like skipping out on tea or scowling at a beefeater. And don’t forget—Big Ben isn’t the official name (that’s the Great Bell, not the clock tower), but ask any Londoner and they’ll insist that’s what it should stay.
There’s practical value, sure. Big Ben is the ultimate shorthand for place—plant it in your story, and readers know exactly where the action’s happening. But it’s also tangled up in British identity. Some writers say the chimes remind them of their childhood, schooldays, or even moments of national crisis and hope—think of the comforting sound during New Year’s broadcasts or when the country marks a moment of silence. In 1940, while the Blitz shook London, broadcasts of Big Ben’s chimes were sent across occupied Europe via the BBC World Service. For Londoners, it signalled endurance. For writers and filmmakers, that blend of everydayness and historical heft is irresistible.
Let’s run through some numbers. According to VisitBritain, nearly two in three tourists visiting the capital between 2015 and 2022 placed Big Ben and Westminster on their must-see list. The London Literary Crawl, which runs tours past famous book locations (including the tower), doubled its bookings after lockdowns. Even non-locals know the tower thanks to its regular cameos in movies, from "V for Vendetta" to "The Thirty-Nine Steps."
For London-based screenwriters, Big Ben is the universal visual cue; when you show it, the whole world knows the location and mood instantly. The tower’s silhouette (especially backlit by sunset) is shorthand for home, endings, or sometimes the tension ticking down in a thriller. Advertising agencies use it as a prop in everything from Christmas TV adverts to viral YouTube clips for British banks—it makes an instant emotional connection with everyone from local school kids to international visitors. Even social media influencers and TikTokers know a quick selfie with Big Ben in the background gives extra punch to any "day in London" post.
Walk through Covent Garden during the evening rush, and you’ll notice how the city seems to actually tick. Time in London isn’t just numbers; it’s marked by noise and ritual—bells ringing, buses rolling, the slow lighting-up of the bridges. Big Ben sets the beat for everything. In fiction set here, those chimes often signal suspense: think of spy novels where the clock is running down, or romance stories where every sound of the bell pushes the lovers a little closer or further apart.
Beyond fiction, Big Ben pops up in memoirs and essays too, where real Londoners talk about hearing its sound on their commute—sometimes drowned by traffic on Westminster Bridge, sometimes clear against a morning mist. In Zadie Smith’s essays, for instance, she mentions how that sound acts as a kind of punctuation mark for the city’s anxiety and excitement. There’s a regularity about it that calms people, even when the news headlines aren’t exactly cheerful. People living nearby genuinely set their watches by it, and on special nights (like New Year’s), the crowds that gather near the tower feel like they’re part of a city-wide, real-life story, synchronised by those deep, resonant bells.
Big Ben’s presence has another effect on writers: the reminder that time moves relentlessly forward, no matter the story or crisis. Life goes on for London’s millions, echoed in the literature that captures their heartbreak, ambition, or daydreaming during a late-night wander over the Embankment. Some crime writers set their crucial plot twists or reveals right when Big Ben strikes—the instant when everyone is paying attention. For poets, that steady ticking and sudden peal is a metaphor for everything: love, loss, and the passage from youth to age, set against a landmark Londoners have trusted for generations.
If you want to really feel Big Ben’s place in British literature and storytelling, there’s more to do than just snap a photo from Westminster Bridge. Start with a literary walking tour. Several independent guides (check out London Walks or Brit Movie Tours) offer routes that take you past Big Ben and into the surrounding Westminster streets where famous stories unfolded. Pause in St. James’s Park for some creative journaling—give yourself a fictional character and let their story unfurl with the clock as your soundtrack. If you’re more of a reader than a writer, Waterstones Piccadilly and Daunt Books Marylebone regularly host book launches for local authors who weave in iconic settings just like this.
Want to spot Big Ben in fiction? Try rereading "Mrs Dalloway" or Neil Gaiman’s "Neverwhere," or go wild with the Rivers of London series. For families, Michael Bond’s Paddington stories offer delightfully gentle nods to the old clock tower. And if your idea of a literary night out means something more interactive, check out the immersive theatre productions that pop up near Southwark Playhouse or at The Vaults—Big Ben almost always gets a clever mention or two.
Interesting trivia? Here’s a favourite local fact: the accuracy of Big Ben’s clock is maintained with old pennies placed on the pendulum. And every so often, the bell itself needs repairs, which leads to a flurry of headlines and lots of Londoners worrying they’ll forget the time (or, at the very least, miss that reassuring sound). At Christmas or on Remembrance Day, listen to how radio presenters let the chimes stand alone—silent, then powerful, tying the whole country together for a moment of reflection.
Tourist tip: while you can’t climb the tower unless you’re a UK resident with an MP invite (and yes, it’s actually called the Elizabeth Tower), the best view these days comes from the open galleries of the London Eye or from the far end of Parliament Square. That said, countless pop-up exhibitions across the Southbank Centre, the Museum of London, and even small coffee shops in Charing Cross have been known to feature themes around Big Ben and its literary legacy—keep an eye out for local flyers if you fancy a themed poetry night or writing workshop.
| Year | Big Ben References in Top 100 UK Novels | Film/TV Mentions |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 7 | 3 |
| 2005 | 12 | 7 |
| 2015 | 18 | 14 |
| 2024 | 23 | 19 |
Big Ben isn’t just the most recognised clock in London—it’s the city’s chief storyteller, marking moments in both fiction and fact. So next time you’re wandering the city, listen out for the bells—they might just be the secret inspiration behind your next favourite story.
