Big Ben to fall silent for 3 years as £29 million renovation begins

London's Big Ben is closing its doors to visitors- starting today. The iconic clock tower is scheduled to undergo a 29 million-pound renovation project which is expected to last 3 three years. The renovation is scheduled to begin early in the new year and will involve the repair of the clock hands, pendulum and general mechanism. Famous for its 13.7 tonne Great Bell, The Big Ben will fall silent to allow the renovation work to take place. This will be the first time since 2007 that the Big Ben will be silenced, the BBC reported.
The renovation is mandatory as the mechanism of the clock is in a "chronic state", parliamentary officials said. They feared that it may fail to work if the renovation is not carried out on a priority basis.