Time may be running out for Big Ben

London's Big Ben has been chiming out the hours for 156 years. But it turns out the ancient clockwork - a charming example of Victorian engineering - is a bit temperamental, and problems with accuracy (last summer it was a whole six seconds out of whack) have prompted calls to shut down and rebuild the clock, a process that could take years. Mark Phillips reports.

[knightrider]

i'm american and I visited London. I love the city it has that ancient feel to it, and I loved every bit of it! from the tower of London to the buses, Its a time capsule that needs to be chariest. America would have destoried the clock years ago, just for it being old.

[millieoconaill]

I miss that clock, here in England, its very hard to say goodbye to it for 4 years, I'm used to it ringing everyday that i go to work, its been there since i was a baby, and i really was annoyed by it when i would go to school, but i learned to love it, i really wish it would be fixed this year, I miss my favorite clock!!

[suninthebluesky]

I don't see what's wrong with Big Ben. They can change a couple of mechs and reinforce the shot bearings/ replace. They don't have to tear the whole tower down.

[NicholasWingComposer]

May Big Ben chime, toll and ring forever!

[KulbirAhluwalia]

All hail the geniuses who built this clockwork

[awells]

I've planted a tree next to Big Ben back in '07 and always visit it whenever I'm in London!!

[andrewbui]

sadly modern technology and culture is taking over the uk. just like they said, the red telephone booths are no longer used, double decker buses are more modern, classic black cabs are replaced by Uber, and so on and so forth. why does history have to be ruined.

[thebrummierailenthusiasts]

I’ve visited London a few times

And the first time I came to the British capital was 14 years ago in 2011 when I came to Westminster for the first time ever

And I remember looking up and seeing Big Ben clock tower

[lhoney]

the Elizabeth tower and big ben are so much to us Brits. look! it even survived the blitz! even if it didn't work anymore, our future generations wouldn't have the same spirit.you have a real surge of excitement when your stuck in boring traffic and you hear it go off. I'm only 11 but I know for sure that it's something special. I go to London a lot and I'm in love with its history. so many things to learn about it! it would be a real shame if it went. I was really excited because i saw it when I went to the houses of parliament a few years back with a few people i did a marathon with. (the view was spectacular) we heard it every hour and we were so excited. I've always been a true Brit and proud of it.

[simonslindsey]

I DON'T LIVE IN LONDON BUT I STILL LOVE
BIG

[dougmontgomery]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[kingpanda]

The Elizabeth Tower is everything to the city. We cant let her stop.

[derekobidowski]

last reports the whole clock mechanism is being overhauled and the whole clock tower getting restored from the top down and a lift installed for quick access to the floor to the bellfry it said the big ben's bell is only rung for new years and other events but silenced to protect workers hearing when the work is completed it says Big Ben will be chiming and striking again in 2021. its the worlds famous clock tower in London the Houses of Parlament UK or Palace of Westminster where the westminster chimes originate.

[andrewmwells]

I hope and believe the repairs done to the clock tower in recent months and years will negate this video, not that it`s a bad now. It shows what was needed to the clock five years ago, I`m just saying that the repairs done to the clock, and bell, and tower, etc. will show this video is old news. As a proud Brit, I`m proud of that great clock and am glad the recent works took so darned long. Everything worth the time is worth waiting for!!

[GreatWestern]

And the irony is it has been recently restored.

[Alagboriel]

As usual, America's media workin on a fear/terror basis.

[davidbrown]

They should replace it with a giant talking clock and get rid of the ding.

[ivybesmonte]

So that's why they're renovating it.

[marilson]

"A process that could take years". I'm a time traveller from 2022. It's done guys, piece of cake.

[Monsterftp]

As an american, I love old clocks. I can only hope that they're cleaning, oiling and rebushing the old movement and keeping it in place and as original as possible because this clock means everything to the brits, hell it means a lot to me even and any kind of modernization would ruin the charm and authenticity of this clock.