Big Ben not for everyone

Is the most famous clock in the world threatened with terrorist attack? The UK authorities strictly limited the possibility of visiting Big Ben and for the present are not announcing any "loosening" of the new standards!

Big Ben is a symbol, that for many years was associated with London and that every tourist who arrives here wants to see. Unfortunately - now visiting Big Ben is almost impossible. Only 3 groups of 16 people per day can enter the clock tower. Not only that, to find yourself in this group, you have to be extremely lucky, because no one from "the crowd" will be permitted to visit Big Ben.

Under the new rules to enter the tower, you need to write an application, give the reason of the visit and then wait from 3 to 6 months to get the consent! That's not all - tourists who will not be discouraged by such a long period of waiting will have to fight next difficulty: to go up, you must be a native British, which of course does not exempt anyone from waiting for the acceptance of the application. When one lucky person finally manage to get the consent and appear at the specified date under the clock, one have to pass the control in the presence of armed guards, they take one’s  picture for the pass, and finally the person can enter the tower. For 75 minutes. Is it worth it? Some still say yes.

The UK authorities explain that Big Ben is already such a well-known building that there is a real threat of terrorist attack - this is an excellent point, very presentable building, which in the case of the terrorist attack would put this act of the terrorist in the center of all the world news.