Travelsmartplanet

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Sometimes while riding along, you just snap the shot at the exact right moment – this one was on the Hop On Hop Off bus in London and captures the amazing mosaic of architecture found in this city.

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You get two photo ops for the price of one in London because Big Ben (in the re-named Elizabeth Tower) stands right next to the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament). Big Ben is the name of the largest bell. When built, in 1859, the clock was the largest and most accurate four-faced striking and chiming clock in the world. In August 2017, renovation work began in order to include a lift, and to re-glaze and repaint the clock dials. Though the clock could chime throughout the work being done, it was too loud for the workers so the bells will remain silent except for such occasions as New Year’s Eve and Remembrance Sunday. Here we caught it from the top of the Hop On Hop Off bus with the tour guide telling us about it.

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Even jaded tour guides (Martin from Trafalgar) who have been to palaces so many times still look up in awe at the wonder of it all.