The Bell Tower, Perth, Guía del visitante y qué hacer cerca

The Bell Tower, also known as the Swan Bells, is a tall glass and copper spire on Barrack Square in Perth, Western Australia, right on the edge of the Swan River. It houses 18 bells, including 12 that came from a famous London church, and it is one of the most recognisable modern landmarks on the Perth waterfront.

The story behind it

The heart of the tower is a set of 12 bells from St Martin-in-the-Fields, the church beside Trafalgar Square in London. They were presented to Western Australia by the British as a gift for Australia's Bicentenary in 1988, and they crossed the world to find a new home on the river.

A purpose-built tower was designed to hold them, and it opened around the turn of the millennium. Its modern spire gives the old bells an unusual setting: centuries of English bell-ringing tradition inside a glass structure looking out over the Swan River. The name Swan Bells comes from the river itself.

What to look for

• The spire's glass and copper design, which looks quite different from every angle as the light moves across it.
• The bells themselves, which you can see up close from the viewing levels inside the tower.
• The view across the Swan River and back towards the city skyline from the upper levels.
• The open space of Barrack Square around the base, where ferries come and go and people gather by the water.

Tips for your visit

• You can go inside the tower to see the bells and climb to the viewing levels, so check current opening hours and entry details before you go.
• Allow about an hour if you plan to go in, or 15 to 20 minutes if you only want to see it from outside.
• Late afternoon is a pleasant time, when the light is softer on the river and the glass.
• It is close to Elizabeth Quay and the city centre, and ferries leave from nearby jetties, so it combines easily with a walk along the waterfront.

Explore it on a quest

The Bell Tower sits on one of the best stretches of Perth's riverfront, and the easiest way to enjoy the area is on foot at your own pace. Discover the streets and sights around it on one of Questo's self-guided quests: the app leads you from place to place, tells you about each one as you arrive and sets a puzzle right in front of you. Browse the quests in Perth to find one that suits your day.