Big Ben - on the Screen

A visual history of London's Big Ben as depicted in the movies.

Some quick facts: One of Britain's most famous tourist attractions. Big Ben started working in May 1859. The name "Big Ben" is actually the name of the giant bell in the belfry of the clock tower. The bell weighs nearly 14 tons. The bell is struck by a hammer from the outside. The clock's official name is The Great Westminster Clock. It is accurate within one second. The clock tower is 316ft high. The tower has no elevator, there are 334 limestone steps to the top.

Walt Disney's classic animated adaptation of Peter Pan (1953) featured Peter, Wendy and co briefly stopping at Big Ben before flying off to Never Never Land.

Disney's magical musical Mary Poppins (1964). Here Mary is floating above the city with her umbrella.

More Disney and the climax to The Great Mouse Detective (1986) takes place inside Big Ben.

The scenes inside the clock tower contains some of the first uses of CGI in a Disney animated film. Vincent Price provides the voice of the villain Professor Ratigan.

London Films produced many film classics including The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933), Things to Come (1936), The Four Feathers (1939). The Thief of Baghdad (1940) and The Third Man (1949).

London stood still, a demonstration of Klaatu's power in the sci-fi classic The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951).

Here's one for Dr. Who fans, the Daleks touring London. Not sure if this is from a film, episode or a publicity photo.

No it's not King Kong and Fay Wray on holiday in London, it's Kong's British cousin Konga carrying actor Michael Gough who does not look happy at all in this shot from Konga (1961).

After Konga left Gorgo arrived and destroyed Big Ben, Gorgo loves knocking down London landmarks, a few minutes earlier it sat on Tower Bridge until it collapsed. It was later spotted peeing on Nelson's Column, and the army had to be called in. Gorgo (1961).

George Lazenby as James Bond posing in front of Big Ben. A publicity shot for On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969).

Robert Powell hanging on for dear life on the clock face. A scene from the 1978 version of The 39 Steps, directed by Don Sharp and also starring David Warner and John Mills.

Young Sherlock Holmes (1985) Holmes (Nicolas Rowe) and Watson (Brian Cox) chase after the villain in Professor Waxflatter's flying machine, and of course passing Big Ben along the way.

Ack! Ack! Ack! Martian invaders target Big Ben in Tim Burton's Mars Attacks! (1996)

Bruce Campbell as Ash, in the alternate UK finale to Sam Raimi's Army of Darkness (1993), finds himself in a post-apocalyptic future and what looks like London after Gorgo and Konga finished playing with it.

Sean Connery as Sir August de Wynter blowing up Big Ben with his weather control machine in the disastrous The Avengers (1998) a big screen version of the fondly remembered tv series. Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman star as John Steed and Emma Peel.

London destroyed by dragons in the sci-fi adventure Reign of Fire (2002) which starred Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey. Unfortunately the movie poster was more exciting than the film itself, but the dragons looked fierce.

Owen Wilson and Jackie Chan hanging about on Big Ben in Shanghai Knights (2003).

"Remember, remember the 5th of November, the gunpowder treason and plot.

I know of no reason why the gunpowder treason should ever be forgot."

Natalie Portman as Evey watches as Westminster and Big Ben get blown up in the excellent comic book adaptation V for Vendetta (2006). Which also starred Hugo Weaving as V.

A poster for the film Sherlock Holmes - A Game of Shadows (2011).