The bells and clock of the Elizabeth Tower - better known as Big Ben are being stopped for major repairs.
The tower will be covered with scaffolding for up to 3 years.
See the details in this story from the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36138203
I've hunted around since hearing of this for the first time on last night's news but I can't find anywhere what the starting day is.
I have read two articles that say the repares start next year, but they don't say if they will stop the chimes before then. It sounds like it will keep chiming until 2017 though. https://www.google.com/amp/www.9news.com.au/amp/world/2016/04/27/08/24/london-s-big-ben-to-fall-silent-for-several-months-due-to-repairs?client=ms-android-virgin-us#
Adding to the coverage: http://tinyurl.com/h99xh36
Nigel beat me to the punch.
www.cnn.com/2016/04/26/europe/londons-big-ben-to-fall-silent/index.html
I'm getting there just in time (next month). I'll appreciate it all the more. I've always thought it was charming that the Great Clock was adjusted by putting pennies on the mechanism. Thanks for the heads up!
To be certain: All the reports I've read suggest the bell won't be silent until 2017.
Am I missing something? Or just defining "soon" differently? :-)
D
No, that's soon.
Like get them while you can - this trip - because when you return in the next several years, things may well be not as you expect.
