A list of the tallest structures with clocks on their exterior that can be seen from the ground. The list includes various structures with a working clock face or faces on their exteriors. The first type of structure are proper Clock towers which are structures that fulfil the definition of a tower with a clock face or faces on the exterior wall or walls. Possibly the most famous example is the colloquially termed Big Ben. Some structures of this type were originally built as bell towers and had the clocks added later, such as the Springfield Campanille. Some clock towers of this type are freestanding, such as the Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower, while others are attached to, or on top of, buildings such as the tower on the Philadelphia City Hall. The second set of structures are buildings (rather than towers) that had clock faces on the exterior as part of their original design such as the Wrigley Building. The third set of structures are buildings that have had a clock face or faces added after the original building was constructed such as the Palace of Culture and Science. This division of structures with clock faces follows the general terminology used in related articles and follows Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) criteria.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] For the purposes of comparison and clarity this list includes all structures with clocks and clock faces of the types previously described. The list includes all clock 'tower' structures with a height of at least 40m (130feet).
bold | Denotes structure is the tallest of its type (as described below) in the world | |
Denotes freestanding clock tower fulfilling the strict definition | ||
Denotes clock tower fulfilling the strict definition, either attached to or on top of another structure | ||
Denotes structure that was designed as multi-functional structure; this included clock faces | ||
Denotes structure where the clock faces were not in the original design but were added after the completion of the structure |
A structure which is at least 50% 'occupiable' and fulfils the CTBUH definition[8] | ||
Tower | A structure which is less than 50% occupiable and fulfils the CTBUH definition | |
---|---|---|
Freestanding Tower | A tower that is not attached to or located on top of another building – a standalone structure. A category used by CTBUH[9] | |
Tower Building | A tower that is located on top of or attached to another building. A category used by CTBUH[10] |
Rank | Name | Image | Number of faces | Chiming | Year | Type of structure | Main function | Country | City | Remarks | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Abraj Al Bait Towers | 601m (1,972feet) | 4 | No | 2012 | Building[11] | Hotel | Saudi Arabia | Tallest building with clock faces. The clock faces are the faces highest above the ground on any structure | |||
2 | NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building | 240m (790feet) | 4 | No | 2000 (building) 2002 (clocks added) | Building | Offices | Japan | Clock faces are 15m (49feet) | [12] | ||
3 | 230.7m (756.9feet) | 4 | No | 1955 (building) 2000 (clocks added) | Building | Offices (original) Multi-use (current) | Poland | Building constructed in 1955. Clock faces added in 2000. Clock faces are 6.3m (20.7feet) | [13] | |||
4 | 213.4m (700.1feet) | 4 | No | 1912 | Building | Offices (original) Offices/Hotel (current) | USA | Clock faces are 8m (26feet) | [14] | |||
5 | Philadelphia City Hall | 167m (548feet) | 4 | No | 1901 | Tower Building | Offices | USA | Clock faces are 7.9m (25.9feet) | |||
6 | 159.4m (523feet) | 4 | No | 1943 | Building | Offices (original) Offices/Residential (current) | USA | Building completed in 1942. Addition of clock tower 1943 | [15] [16] [17] | |||
7 | 151m (495feet) | 1 | No | 1916 | Building | Offices (original) Hotel (current) | USA | Clock faces 6.7m (22feet) Due to the installation of an undersized motor, the clock failed to work properly through much of the 20th century | [18] | |||
8 | 133.5m (438feet) | 1 | No | 1922 | Building | Offices | USA | The clock faces are 5.97m (19.59feet) | [19] | |||
9 | St. Michael's Church tower | 132m (433feet) | 4 | Yes | 1911 | Tower building | Religious | Germany | Hamburg | Largest clock faces in Germany at 8m (26feet) | [20] | |
9 | St. Peter's Church tower | 132m (433feet) | 4 | Yes | 1878 | Tower building | Religious | Germany | Hamburg | Previous 127.5m (418.3feet) m tall tower from 1516 to 1842 | [21] | |
11 | 123m (404feet) | 4 | Yes | 1521 (clocks added in C18) | Tower Building | Religious | Belgium | Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. | [22] [23] [24] | |||
12 | 122m (400feet) | 4 | Yes | 1943 | Building | Railway Station | Brazil | Clock faces are 20m (70feet) tall | [25] | |||
13 | 118m (387feet) | 4 | No | 1953 | Building | Education | Russia | University has one central tower (no clock face) and four ancillary towers upon which one clock face and a barometer and thermometer are located. The height given is for the ancillary towers. The main building is 239m (784feet). Clock faces are 9m (30feet) | [26] [27] | |||
14 | 113.2m (371.4feet) | 4 | Yes | 1959 | Tower Building | Religious | Italy | Tallest bell tower in Italy | [28] [29] | |||
15 | 112.5m (369.1feet) | 1 | Yes | 1309 | Tower building | Religious | Italy | Clock face is 8.2m (26.9feet) | [30] [31] | |||
16 | Hamburg City Hall | 112m (367feet) | 3 | No | 1897 | Building | Government | Germany | Hamburg | [32] | ||
17 | 107.6m (353feet) | 1 | Yes | 1895 | Building | Government | USA | Clock face is 5.5m (18feet) | [33] [34] | |||
18 | 105.6m (346.5feet) | 4 | No | 1905 | Tower Building | Government | Denmark | [35] | ||||
19 | 105m (344feet) | 4 | Yes | 1906 | Tower-Building | Clock Tower/Government | USA | Largest four face chiming clock in the world. Clock faces are 7.2m (23.6feet). | [36] | |||
20 | 104m (341feet) | 4 | Yes | 1932 | Tower Building | Government | France | Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. | [37] | |||
21 | 103.6m (339.9feet) | 1 | No | 1899 | Tower Building | Clock Tower/Government | Canada | Toronto | Clock face is 6m (20feet) | [38] | ||
22 | Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower | 100m (300feet) | 4 | Yes | 1908 | Freestanding Tower | Clock & bell tower | United Kingdom | Tallest freestanding clock tower in the world. Clock faces are 5.25m (17.22feet). | |||
23 | 98.5m (323.2feet) | 3 (each tower) | Yes | 1488 | Tower Building (Twin Towers) | Religious | Germany | Domes added in 1524 | [39] | |||
24 | 98.2m (322.2feet) | 4 | Yes | 1911 | Building | Offices | United Kingdom | Liverpool | [40] | |||
25 | 96m (315feet) | 4 | Yes | 1859 | Tower Building | Clock Tower/Government | United Kingdom | Clock faces are 7m (23feet). Commonly known as 'Big Ben', although this is the name of the largest chiming bell. Part of the Palace of Westminster UNESCO World Heritage site. | [41] | |||
26 | 96m (315feet) | 4 | Yes | 1904 | Tower Building | Religious | Italy | [42] | ||||
27 | 95m (312feet) | 1 | No | 14th C | Tower Building | Government | Italy | [43] | ||||
28 | 93.6m (307.1feet) | 4 | Yes | 1937 | Building | Education | USA | [44] | ||||
29 | 93.5m (306.8feet) | 4 | Yes | 1914 | Freestanding Tower | Bell Tower (original) Clock & Bell Tower (current) | USA | Clock was added in 1926. With the addition of the clock now the second tallest freestanding clock tower in the world | [45] | |||
30 | 92.5m (303.5feet) | 1 | Yes | 1857 | Tower building | Religious | Italy | [46] | ||||
31 | 92.2m (302.5feet) | 4 | Yes | 1920 | Tower Building | Clock Tower/Government | Canada | Ottawa | [47] | |||
32 | 92m (302feet) | 4 | Yes | 1930 | Tower Building | Government | Australia | Clock faces are 4.9m (16.1feet) | [48] | |||
32 | 92m (302feet) | 1 | Yes | 1838 | Tower building | Clock tower | Italy | [49] | ||||
34 | 91.44m (300feet) | 4 | Yes | 1913 | Freestanding Tower | Bell Tower (original) Clock & Bell Tower (current) | USA | Currently not open to the public. With the addition of the clock now the third tallest freestanding clock tower in the world | [50] | |||
35 | 91m (299feet) | 4 | Yes | 1543 | Tower Building | Clock Tower/Belfry | Belgium | Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. | [51] [52] [53] | |||
36 | 90.5m (296.9feet) | 1 | Yes | 1890 | Tower Building | Religious | Germany | older clock tower with cupola from 1500 | ||||
37 | 90m (300feet) | 1 | Yes | 1893 | Tower building | Religious | Italy | [54] | ||||
38 | 90m (300feet) | 4 | Yes | 1947 | Freestanding Tower | Clock & bell tower | Egypt | 4th tallest freestanding clock tower. Clock faces are 5.2 m (17 ft) | [55] | |||
39 | 88.1m (289feet) | 4 | No | 1911 | Building | Offices | USA | Clock faces are 7.3m (24feet). The largest four dial gravity clock in the world | [56] | |||
40 | 87m (285feet) | 1 | Yes | 1349 | Tower building | Government | Italy | [57] | ||||
41 | 87m (285feet) | 4 | Yes | 1672 | Freestanding Tower | Clock & Belfry Tower | Belgium | 5th tallest freestanding clock tower. Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. | [58] | |||
42 | 85.6m (280.8feet) | 4 | No | 1921 | Tower Building | Railway Station | Australia | Clock faces are 4.77m (15.65feet) | [59] | |||
43 | 85.3m (279.9feet) | 4 | Yes | 1878 | Freestanding Tower | Clock tower | India | 6th tallest freestanding clock tower in the world. A UNESCO World Heritage site | [60] | |||
44 | 85.3m (279.9feet) | 4 | Yes | 1963 | Tower Building | Clock Tower | USA | Clock faces are 12.25m (40.19feet) | [61] | |||
45 | 85.3m (279.9feet) | 4 | Yes | 1877 | Tower Building | Government | United Kingdom | Tallest town hall clock tower in UK. The clock faces are 4.81NaN1 | [62] [63] | |||
46 | 83m (272feet) | 1 | Yes | 1822 | Tower Building | Government | Belgium | Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. | [64] | |||
46 | 83m (272feet) | 4 | Yes | 1932 | Tower building | Religious | Italy | [65] | ||||
48 | 80.7m (264.8feet) | 4 | No | 1912 | Building | Commercial | Canada | Clock faces 6.7m (22feet). Faces are illuminated at night | [66] [67] | |||
49 | 80m (260feet) | 1 | Yes | 1852 | Building | Religious | Finland | Clock added after building completion | [68] | |||
50 | 79.25m (260.01feet) | 4 | Yes | 1908 | Tower Building | Government | Germany | Houses the Rathaus Glockenspiel which includes 43 bells and 32 animatronic figures | ||||
51 | 76m (249feet) | 4 | Yes | 1868 | Tower Building | Railway Station | United Kingdom | [69] | ||||
52 | 75m (246feet) | 4 | Yes | 1925 | Tower Building | Government | France | Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. | [70] | |||
53 | 75m (246feet) | 4 | Yes | 1554 | Tower Building | Government | France | Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site.. Destroyed in WW1 and rebuilt 1924–1932 | [71] | |||
54 | 75m (246feet) | 4 | No | 1909 | Tower Building | Commercial | Germany | Clock faces are 7m (23feet) | [72] | |||
55 | 74.7m (245.1feet) | 4 | Yes | 1898 | Building | Ferry Terminal | USA | Clock faces are 6.7m (22feet) Clock tower houses a private penthouse residence | [73] [74] | |||
55 | 74.7m (245.1feet) | 4 | No | 1909 | Tower Building | Railway Station | USA | [75] | ||||
57 | 73.5m (241.1feet) | 4 | Yes | 1928 | Tower Building | Education | Belgium | Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Rebuilt after WW2 | [76] | |||
58 | 73m (240feet) | 4 | Yes | 1894 | Tower Building | Government | USA | [77] [78] | ||||
59 | 71m (233feet) | 4 | Yes | 1851 | Tower Building | Clock Tower | Russia | The clock faces are 6.121NaN1 | [79] | |||
60 | 70m (230feet) | 4 | Yes | 1304 Rebuilt 1933–1967 | Tower Building | Commercial (original) | Belgium | Belfry originally a watchtower. Clocks added later. Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. | [80] [81] | |||
61 | 70m (230feet) | 4 | Yes | 1936 | Tower Building | Government | Belgium | Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. | [82] | |||
62 | 69m (226feet) | 4 | Yes | 1858 | Tower Building | Government | United Kingdom | [83] | ||||
63 | 67m (220feet) | 4 | No | 1881 | Free standing tower | Clock tower | India | 7th tallest freestanding clock tower. The clock faces are 3.951NaN1 | [84] | |||
64 | 67m (220feet) | 4 | No | 1902 | Tower building | Railway Station | France | [85] | ||||
65 | 67m (220feet) | 4 | No | 1929 | Tower Building | Railway Station | France | Clock face is 4m (13feet) | [86] [87] | |||
66 | 63m (207feet) | 1 | Yes | 1950 | Building | Government | Norway | Tower with clock on it is known as Oslo Rådhus 2. Clock face is 8.6m (28.2feet). Building hosts the Nobel Peace Prize each year | [88] | |||
67 | 62.5m (205.1feet) | 4 | No | 1935 | Tower Building | Government | Italy | [89] | ||||
68 | 61m (200feet) | 4 | Yes | 1933 (clock) 1929 (tower)[90] | Tower Building | Clock Tower | Italy | The clock faces are 2.41NaN1 | [91] [92] | |||
69 | 60.35m (198feet) | 4 | Yes | 1873 | Tower Building | Government | United Kingdom | The clock faces are 3.651NaN1 | [93] | |||
70 | 60m (200feet) | 4 | Yes | 1641 | Freestanding Tower | Belfry | Belgium | 8th tallest freestanding clock tower. Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. | [94] | |||
71 | 58m (190feet) | 1 | No | 1930 | Building | Offices | United Kingdom | Largest clock face in UK at 7.62m (25feet) | ||||
72 | 57m (187feet) | 4 | Yes | 1951 | Tower Building | Education | United Kingdom | [95] | ||||
73 | 56.4m (185feet) | 4 | No | 1888 | Tower Building | Railway Station | USA | [96] | ||||
74 | 54m (177feet) | 1 | No | 1926 | Tower Building | Education | New Zealand | [97] | ||||
75 | 52.7m (172.9feet) | 4 | Yes | 1891 | Building | Education | USA | [98] | ||||
76 | 51.5m (169feet) | 4 | No | 1927 | Tower Building | Education | Philippines | [99] | ||||
77 | UC Riverside Bell Tower | 49.1 m (161 ft) | 4 | Yes | 1966 | Freestanding Tower | Education | USA | Riverside | 1 of 40 Grand Carillons in the United States. 9th tallest freestanding clock tower | [100] [101] | |
78 | 48.8m (160.1feet) | 4 | Yes | 1995 | Freestanding Tower | Education | USA | 10th tallest freestanding clock tower | [102] | |||
79 | 48.5m (159.1feet) | 4 | No | 1914 | Tower Building | Railway Station | Finland | [103] [104] | ||||
80 | 45m (148feet) | 4 | No | 1922 | Freestanding Tower | Clock Tower | Canada | 11th tallest freestanding clock tower. Clock faces are 3.6m (11.8feet) | [105] | |||
81 | 45m (148feet) | 4 | No | 1896 | Tower Building | Railway Station | USA | [106] | ||||
82 | 47m (154feet) | 4 | Yes | 1460 | Tower Building | Government | Belgium | Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. | [107] | |||
83 | 44m (144feet) | 4 | Yes | 1915 | Freestanding Tower | Railway Station (former) | China | 12th tallest freestanding clock tower. Clock tower formerly part of railway terminus now a freestanding tower | [108] [109] | |||
84 | 43m (141feet) | 4 | Yes | 1869 | Freestanding Tower | Clock Tower | United Kingdom | Belfast | Height disputed in sources between 43m (141feet) and 34.5m (113.2feet)[110] If the greater height 13th tallest freestanding clock tower | [111] | ||
85 | 41.5m (136.2feet) | 1 | No | 18?? | Tower Building | Railway station | India | [112] | ||||
86 | 41m (135feet) | 1 | No | 1897 | Tower Building | Offices | Malaysia | [113] | ||||
87 | 40.3m (132.2feet) | 4 | Yes | 1377 | Tower Building | Government | Belgium | Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. | [114] | |||
88 | 40m (130feet) | 4 | Yes | C15 | Freestanding Tower | Belfry | France | Originally the western tower of the Church Saint Éloi separated by a street in 18th century. 14th tallest freestanding clock tower. Part of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage site. | [115] [116] | |||
89 | 40m (130feet) | 1 | No | 1913 | Tower Building | Government | India | [117] | ||||
90 | 40m (130feet) | 4 | Yes | 1487 | Freestanding Tower | Clock & Bell Tower | Netherlands | 15th tallest freestanding clock tower. Formerly part of the medieval city walls | [118] | |||
91 | 40m (130feet) | 4 | No | 1908 | Tower Building | Railway station | France | [119] | ||||
92 | 40m (130feet) | 4 | No | 1899 | Tower | Clock Tower | Romania | [120] | ||||