Bells you can actually ring in Perth. This tour puts you inside the Bell Tower in Barrack Square, where the famous Swan Bells connect 14th-century London to modern Perth, and you get hands-on chiming. Guides bring the whole setup to life, and the views from the top level are the kind you plan your day around.

I love the practical, try-it-yourself part. You get instruction, then you ring the bells yourself, plus you leave with a bell chiming certificate. I also love timing this for the big moments, especially the ANZAC bell ringing at 12pm and the sweeping sightlines over the Swan River and the city.

One thing to consider is the schedule. On Monday and Thursday from 12pm to 1pm, bell ringers perform in concert and the regular chiming demonstrations do not run, so if you want the demo portion, pick your time carefully.

Quick highlights

• Hands-on bell ringing with guided instruction, not just a look-and-listen stop
• ANZAC bell at noon you can plan around, with the chance to see it ring
• Open-air observation deck views over the Swan River, Perth, and Elizabeth Quay
• 14th-century bell origin story tied to St Martin-in-the-Fields in London
• Free video postcard you can record on site, plus a souvenir certificate

Where the Swan Bells live, and why it feels special

The Perth Bell Tower sits in the heart of the city in Barrack Square, so you are not commuting out to some far-off attraction. The building is designed for showing you the bells in action and taking you up through the public areas, then up again to the observation deck. Even if you only have a short block of time, it is the kind of stop that gives you both story and skyline.

What makes it work is the mix of scale and access. This is one of the largest musical instrument setups in the world, with the Swan Bells made from twelve historic bells that trace back to the 14th century, originally made for St Martin-in-the-Fields in London. In other words, you are not just learning about bells. You are stepping into the place where their sound is put to use.

Also, the experience is flexible. You choose an entry time, using a mobile ticket. That matters if you are juggling a day with other Perth plans and want to aim for a specific moment like the noon ringing.

Ticket value: what $15.78 buys you in real time

At $15.78 per person, the value comes from how much participation you get for a short visit. The whole experience runs about 45 minutes, which is long enough for a guided flow, but short enough that you are not committing half your day.

Your ticket includes an experienced guide, the history of the bells, and the chance to chime the historic bells yourself. That is the key part for me. If it was only a viewing tour, the price would feel harder to justify. Here, you get instruction plus the actual ringing moment, and you leave with a certificate and the option for a free video postcard.

The main tradeoff is that you still have a fixed time window. Some people love every minute of the spoken story and instruction. Others can feel that the group pace limits how long the guide can spend on the details. If you are the type who wants a long Q and A, plan to ask a question at the end rather than expecting a slow conversational pace.

Timing tips for the chiming demos and the noon ANZAC ring

Your best move is to pick your entry time based on what you want to hear most. The bell chiming demonstrations run Monday through Saturday every half hour between 10:30am and 2:30pm. That gives you plenty of choices during the day.

But pay attention to the schedule note: every Monday and Thursday from 12pm to 1pm, the bell ringers perform in concert and regular chiming demonstrations do not run. If you arrive during that hour, you might still hear bells, but you will not get the same demo format.

Now, the big moment. The experience includes the ANZAC bell ringing at 12pm, and you can watch for it from the level 5 viewing platform. If you can swing it, aiming to be in place around noon is a smart payoff. The views from the tower top are also at their best when the light is clear and you can see the river shimmer and the city grid.

Inside the Bell Tower: your route through the public areas

Once you enter, you get access to all five public areas. The building is set up so the story of the bells and how they are rung is not just text on a wall. You move through spaces that explain where the bells came from, why they ended up in Australia, and what makes bell ringing an art instead of a simple knock and strike.

A major part of the experience is the history thread. The bells you hear in Perth come from a famous London church, St Martin-in-the-Fields near Trafalgar Square. The Swan Bells are linked to twelve historic bells made for that setting, and you also learn about the path from 14th-century London to modern-day Perth. That timeline is the backbone of the tour, and it keeps the chiming demos from feeling random.

It is also the kind of tour where your guide can shape the energy. In the past, names like Howard, Angela, Jeff, and Liliana have shown up as strong guides in the experience. If your guide uses humor or focuses extra on the mechanics, the whole tower visit feels more alive.

Hands-on bell ringing: what it is like to actually do it

This is the moment that turns a sightseeing stop into something you remember. You are not just watching a bell get rung. You get instruction, then you ring the bells yourself.

Expect that it is harder than it looks. People often assume it is a quick pull or a simple timing trick. But bells are heavy, and bell ringing requires strength and coordination. That is part of the thrill. When you finally get it right, the sound clicks into place and you understand why bell ringing has a whole tradition and training behind it.

There is also a fun group dynamic. In past experiences, people have had a chance to ring different sounding bells, so the group ends up hearing a range of tones rather than every person repeating the same exact sound. For families, it is a great way to keep kids interested without turning it into a long lecture.

If you love hands-on learning, this is your sweet spot. If you only want to watch from a distance, you may still enjoy the exhibits and the views, but the ticket value is strongest when you plan to participate.

The view from Level 5 and Level 6: river, city, and timing

The tower rewards you twice, once for the bell itself and once for the sweep of Perth. From the level 5 viewing platform, you can watch the ANZAC bell ringing at 12pm. That is a built-in reason to aim for noon if you can.

Then there is the Level 6 observation deck with open-air viewing. From up there, you get broad city and Swan River views, plus sightlines over the river toward areas like Elizabeth Quay. You can also see the Darling Range in the wider panorama, which is a nice reminder that Perth is not just flat streets. It is city meets water meets hills.

Tip: if you can, take your photos earlier in the day before crowds build, and revisit the deck closer to the bell moment. The light can shift quickly, and you end up with sharper shots right when the big bell is about to ring.

The carillon moment and the sound at the top

Up at the top, you also get a look at the 26 bell carillon setup. Depending on the flow of your tour group, you might have time to play from a range of melodies on the carillon. This part matters because it turns your experience from one specific bell demo into a broader sense of how bells can create tunes.

Even if you do not play, you still benefit from hearing the carillon sound in a tower space. Bells do not behave like typical instruments. The way sound travels in open space makes the notes feel different, more physical. It is one of the reasons people describe the experience as something different from a standard museum tour.

Souvenirs, photo options, and the little extras you will use

You get a bell chiming certificate as a souvenir, which is a small thing that lands well because it marks the activity you actually did. Some people also love the idea of recording a free video postcard to send to friends and family, since it is more personal than a standard photo.

There is also a shop on site with souvenir options. Based on what you can expect on the ground, it is a good place to grab something small for a family member who was not able to come. Prices have been described as fair compared to other nearby options, which is helpful if you want a memento without a big souvenir tax.

Who this tour fits best, and who may be less happy

This experience is family-friendly, and it works well for a wide range of ages because everyone can participate in the ringing instruction. Children must be accompanied by an adult, so plan to stay close and help with the timing and focus.

I think it is especially good if you like hands-on experiences, music-related curiosities, or you want a cultural story that does not require hours of reading. It is also a solid choice if you are short on time. A 45-minute guided visit plus a top-level view is a practical combo.

If you are the type who wants a long, slow history lecture, you may find the pacing a bit tight. The guides do a lot in a short window, and if commentary is not your favorite style, you might wish for more time on certain bell details, like how specific pieces of the setup work. That said, you can usually ask questions during the ringing instruction, so bring curiosity.

Practical booking advice before you choose a time

Here is how I would decide when to book.

• If you want the full spectacle, aim close to 12pm for the ANZAC bell ringing and plan to be at the right viewing level.
• If you want regular chiming demos, choose a time between 10:30am and 2:30pm on Monday through Saturday, but avoid Monday and Thursday from 12pm to 1pm if you specifically want the standard demo format.
• If your schedule is flexible, pick a time when light is good for photos from the observation deck. It is the part that will make you pause and look around.

Also, the tour notes that days and times can change without notice. If your goal is hearing specific bells or practicing bell chiming, it is smart to contact the supplier ahead of time to reconfirm ringing times.

Should you book the Perth Bell Tower Chiming Experience?

Yes, I think you should book it if you want a Perth stop that feels interactive and slightly unusual. For about 45 minutes, you get a guided story that ties Perth to London through historic church bells, plus you get to ring the bells yourself and see the city from up high.

I would skip or at least adjust expectations if your top priority is a long history lecture with lots of deep technical detail. The format is time-limited, and the experience is designed around participation and key moments rather than extended narration.

One more confidence check: this activity has been highly rated, with a 4.8 score and 98 percent recommended in the information you have. That lines up with what tends to matter here, great staff, real participation, and views that make the ticket feel worth it.

FAQ

Where is the Perth Bell Tower chiming experience located?

It takes place at the Bell Tower in Perth, in Barrack Square, in the heart of the city.

How long does the experience take?

Plan for about 45 minutes, approximately.

What does my ticket include?

Your ticket includes an entrance ticket to the Bell Tower, an experienced guide, history of the bell tower and historic bells, and the chance to chime the historic bells.

When do bell chiming demonstrations run?

They run Monday through Saturday every half hour between 10:30am and 2:30pm.

Are there times when regular demonstrations do not happen?

Yes. On Monday and Thursday from 12pm to 1pm, bell ringers perform in concert, and no chiming demonstrations take place during that time.

Can children participate?

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Do I get any souvenirs or media to take home?

Yes. You receive a bell chiming certificate as a souvenir, and you have the option to record a free video postcard.