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Elizabeth Tower in London: Big Ben is set to usher in the new year
Photo: HENRY NICHOLLS / REUTERS
London is making a big comeback on New Year's Eve: Big Ben is set to ring twelve times at the turn of the year to welcome 2022.
After a long restoration, the dials of the famous London tower clock can now be fully seen again.
The clock tower of the British Parliament is still largely scaffolded below the clock, as it has been extensively restored for around four years.
With a few exceptions, the Londoners had to do without the typical sounds of Big Ben, as officially only the big bell is called.
Starting next spring, however, the ringing should be heard regularly again.
If you are lucky, you could hear a few tones again in the days before New Year's Eve: A few test runs are necessary before the turn of the year.
"It's iconic - it's probably the most famous watch in the world, and it's a great privilege to be able to touch every screw and nut on it," said one of the watch mechanics from the PA news agency.
The £ 80 million restoration of the Elizabeth Tower should be completed this year.
However, because of the pandemic, work had to be suspended for months.
ptz / dpa
