The Swiss Glockenspiel returns to Leicester Square

One of London’s best loved landmarks has been returned to Leicester Square, reviving  a sight and sound that has given pleasure to million of Londoners.

The Glockenspiel that rang out from the corner of the Swiss Centre was gifted in 1985 by the people of the Swiss Confederation and of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the City of Westminster on the occasion of its 400th anniversary. It has now returned as a redesigned free-standing unit and Haute Living London was there to see the clock formally inaugurated yesterday.

The rebuilt Glockenspiel features a procession of 11 moving Swiss figures against a traditional Swiss alpine backdrop, the coat of arms of the 26 Swiss cantons, 27 bells and 4 Swiss Jacomas representing bell ringers. Sliding shutters protect the figure from rain, and there is a Swiss Federal Railway clock at the top of the structure. The Swiss Railway Clock, which was designed in 1944, has become a famous design icon, and the clock above the Glockenspiel has two faces on an east-west axis, one side facing Piccadilly Circus and the other Leicester Square.

The bells will chime and a five minute performance takes place five times a day Monday-Friday (at 12 noon, 5-8pm) and eight times a day at the weekend (12 noon and hourly between 2-8pm).

For more information, please visit www.MySwitzerland.com/glockenspiel

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