A rare look inside London's Big Ben

As the Queen celebrates her 60 years on the throne with a Diamond Jubliee, the iconic London landmark Big Ben celebrates 153 years on the London skyline. To mark the occasion, the city lets American TV cameras inside for the first time. Click through to see images of what lies inside the tower, which symbolizes London around the globe.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

The clock on the famous tower first started ticking on May 31, 1859. While the clock and the tower are now known as Big Ben, the name originally referred to just the Great Bell inside the clock tower.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

The clock's mechanic uses pennies to speed up or slow down the pendulum to keep it accurate. It is the most accurate clock ever built.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

Big Ben has been striking every hour on the hour for the last 150 years. The first time it rang, Queen Victoria was on the throne. The Victoria Tower faces Big Ben across Westminster Palace.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

It is a total of 334 steps to the top of Big Ben, not quite high enough to see the East London foundry where Big Ben, the bell, was cast. The bell weighs 13-and-a-half tons.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

As the Queen celebrates her 60 years on the throne with a Diamond Jubliee, the iconic London landmark Big Ben celebrates 153 years on the London skyline.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

The clock on the famous tower first started ticking on May 31, 1859. While the clock and the tower are now known as Big Ben, the name originally referred to just the Great Bell inside the clock tower.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

The clock's mechanic uses pennies to speed up or slow down the pendulum to keep it accurate. It is the most accurate clock ever built.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

Big Ben has been striking every hour on the hour for the last 150 years. The first time it rang, Queen Victoria was on the throne. The Victoria Tower faces Big Ben across Westminster Palace.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

It is a total of 334 steps to the top of Big Ben, not quite high enough to see the East London foundry where Big Ben, the bell, was cast. The bell weighs 13-and-a-half tons.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

As the Queen celebrates her 60 years on the throne with a Diamond Jubliee, the iconic London landmark Big Ben celebrates 153 years on the London skyline.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

The clock on the famous tower first started ticking on May 31, 1859. While the clock and the tower are now known as Big Ben, the name originally referred to just the Great Bell inside the clock tower.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

The clock's mechanic uses pennies to speed up or slow down the pendulum to keep it accurate. It is the most accurate clock ever built.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

Big Ben has been striking every hour on the hour for the last 150 years. The first time it rang, Queen Victoria was on the throne. The Victoria Tower faces Big Ben across Westminster Palace.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

It is a total of 334 steps to the top of Big Ben, not quite high enough to see the East London foundry where Big Ben, the bell, was cast. The bell weighs 13-and-a-half tons.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

As the Queen celebrates her 60 years on the throne with a Diamond Jubliee, the iconic London landmark Big Ben celebrates 153 years on the London skyline.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

The clock on the famous tower first started ticking on May 31, 1859. While the clock and the tower are now known as Big Ben, the name originally referred to just the Great Bell inside the clock tower.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

The clock's mechanic uses pennies to speed up or slow down the pendulum to keep it accurate. It is the most accurate clock ever built.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

Big Ben has been striking every hour on the hour for the last 150 years. The first time it rang, Queen Victoria was on the throne. The Victoria Tower faces Big Ben across Westminster Palace.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

It is a total of 334 steps to the top of Big Ben, not quite high enough to see the East London foundry where Big Ben, the bell, was cast. The bell weighs 13-and-a-half tons.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

As the Queen celebrates her 60 years on the throne with a Diamond Jubliee, the iconic London landmark Big Ben celebrates 153 years on the London skyline.on skyline.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

The clock on the famous tower first started ticking on May 31, 1859. While the clock and the tower are now known as Big Ben, the name originally referred to just the Great Bell inside the clock tower.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

The clock's mechanic uses pennies to speed up or slow down the pendulum to keep it accurate. It is the most accurate clock ever built.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

Big Ben has been striking every hour on the hour for the last 150 years. The first time it rang, Queen Victoria was on the throne. The Victoria Tower faces Big Ben across Westminster Palace.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

It is a total of 334 steps to the top of Big Ben, not quite high enough to see the East London foundry where Big Ben, the bell, was cast. The bell weighs 13-and-a-half tons.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

As the Queen celebrates her 60 years on the throne with a Diamond Jubliee, the iconic London landmark Big Ben celebrates 153 years on the London skyline.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

The clock on the famous tower first started ticking on May 31, 1859. While the clock and the tower are now known as Big Ben, the name originally referred to just the Great Bell inside the clock tower.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

The clock's mechanic uses pennies to speed up or slow down the pendulum to keep it accurate. It is the most accurate clock ever built.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

Big Ben has been striking every hour on the hour for the last 150 years. The first time it rang, Queen Victoria was on the throne. The Victoria Tower faces Big Ben across Westminster Palace.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

It is a total of 334 steps to the top of Big Ben, not quite high enough to see the East London foundry where Big Ben, the bell, was cast. The bell weighs 13-and-a-half tons.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

As the Queen celebrates her 60 years on the throne with a Diamond Jubliee, the iconic London landmark Big Ben celebrates 153 years on the London skyline.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

The clock on the famous tower first started ticking on May 31, 1859. While the clock and the tower are now known as Big Ben, the name originally referred to just the Great Bell inside the clock tower.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

The clock's mechanic uses pennies to speed up or slow down the pendulum to keep it accurate. It is the most accurate clock ever built.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

Big Ben has been striking every hour on the hour for the last 150 years. The first time it rang, Queen Victoria was on the throne. The Victoria Tower faces Big Ben across Westminster Palace.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

It is a total of 334 steps to the top of Big Ben, not quite high enough to see the East London foundry where Big Ben, the bell, was cast. The bell weighs 13-and-a-half tons.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

As the Queen celebrates her 60 years on the throne with a Diamond Jubliee, the iconic London landmark Big Ben celebrates 153 years on the London skyline.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

The clock on the famous tower first started ticking on May 31, 1859. While the clock and the tower are now known as Big Ben, the name originally referred to just the Great Bell inside the clock tower.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

The clock's mechanic uses pennies to speed up or slow down the pendulum to keep it accurate. It is the most accurate clock ever built.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

Big Ben has been striking every hour on the hour for the last 150 years. The first time it rang, Queen Victoria was on the throne. The Victoria Tower faces Big Ben across Westminster Palace.

Complete Coverage: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee