Big Ben to Temporarily Stop for Winter Time Adjustment... and Precise Maintenance Behind the Scenes

As every year, the famous Big Ben clock in London is preparing to temporarily stop during the night of Saturday – Sunday, as part of a precise operation to move its hands in preparation for the transition to winter time.

This stop, which lasts from 4 PM on Saturday until 2 AM on Sunday, always triggers a wave of angry messages from London residents, as Ian Westworth, one of the veteran technicians responsible for the clock's maintenance, recounts.

Westworth, who has worked at the Palace of Westminster for over two decades, explains that "the only two times the clock can be stopped are in spring and autumn to change the time."

During this stop, the lights on the clock face are turned off to inform passersby that the displayed time is inaccurate, while a team of four technicians conducts comprehensive maintenance on the complex mechanism.

The clock, which weighs five tons and was inaugurated in 1859, has only stopped twice due to major malfunctions, the most notable being in 1976 when its repair took nine months.

During World War II, only its lighting was turned off, while its bells continued to chime.

Despite the installation of a modern elevator during the restoration work between 2017 and 2022, climbing 334 steps to the top of the tower remains part of the work ritual, and is even a favorite activity for tourists who have booked tours until January next year.

Westworth confidently concludes: "As long as there is a good team, Big Ben will continue to operate for another 160 years," referring to the clock's national legacy that transcends generations.