The Parliament of the United Kingdom has announced a series of renovations that will take place on Elizabeth Tower and Big Ben in London, starting in early 2017. During the renovation period, the tower and clock will be partially covered with scaffolding, which will be removed as the work progresses. Moreover, the clock mechanism will be stopped for several months, during which there will be no chiming or striking of the iconic bells. 

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The Parliament of the United Kingdom has announced a series of renovations that will take place on Elizabeth Tower and Big Ben in London, starting in early 2017. During the renovation period, the tower and clock will be partially covered with scaffolding, which will be removed as the work progresses. Moreover, the clock mechanism will be stopped for several months, during which there will be no chiming or striking of the iconic bells. The last significant conservation work on the Tower and Clock was completed in the mid 1980s and 1990s, and involved cleaning and repairing the stone, painting and gilding works, repairing the cast iron roof, and stabilizing the structure. Now, after many years without repairs, the clock mechanism is at risk of failure, and the building is at risk of long-term degradation.Furthermore, the renovations will include improvements to health and fire safety, such as the installation of an elevator inside one of the Tower?s existing ventilation...