Perth’s Bell Tower has a sound you can’t forget. I love how hands-on the experience is, with a chance to ring the historic bells, and I love the payoff at the top with sweeping views over the Swan River and city. One heads-up: the bell timing can be a bit tricky around 12pm on certain days, so you’ll want to plan your visit if hearing specific bells matters to you.

This is one of those rare attractions where the tour isn’t just look-and-read. You’ll hear a chiming demonstration, then get instruction on the art of bell ringing, plus you’ll get a bell chiming certificate and the option of a free video postcard to send home. If you want a long, lecture-style history, the whole experience is tighter and more activity-led than bookish.

The experience runs about 45 minutes and uses a mobile ticket, so it’s easy to slot into a day in central Perth at Barrack Square. Chiming demos run Monday through Saturday on a repeating schedule, but there are exceptions, including a concert window that can affect what’s running. If you’re aiming for the big moment at noon, I’d treat your timing like part of the fun rather than an afterthought.

Key things that make this Bell Tower chiming experience special

• Hands-on bell ringing: you don’t just listen, you practice with guided instruction
• 14th-century London connection: learn how the St Martin-in-the-Fields bells ended up in Perth
• ANZAC Bell at 12pm: a 6,500kg bell you can watch ring from a viewing platform
• Observation Deck views: Swan River, Elizabeth Quay, Perth city, and the Darling Range
• Centrally located: Barrack Square means you can combine it easily with other CBD sights

Perth Bell Tower: what you’re really buying for $15.78

At $15.78 per person, this isn’t priced like a museum ticket where you mostly stand still. You’re paying for a compact guided visit that includes history, a chiming demo, and time where you get to ring bells yourself. That mix matters, because it turns the story into something you can feel in your hands and ears.

I also like that the experience feels built for variety. You’ll get a short, guided run through the tower’s meaning, then you’ll spend real time at the top for the views, not just a quick glance. If your group has different interests, this is the kind of stop that usually lands well across ages—especially since it’s family-friendly and built around participation.

The other value point is that the tower is in the heart of Perth. You’re not paying extra for time lost to transportation, and you can pair it with other CBD activities before or after. The tour itself is about 45 minutes, which is long enough to make the visit feel complete, but short enough to keep your day from getting wrecked.

Getting in and making your timing work (mobile ticket, entry windows, and demos)

The experience uses a mobile ticket, and you make your own way to Barrack Square to enter the Bell Tower at your chosen time. Multiple entry times are available, so you’re not locked into one departure style.

What really affects your experience is the chiming schedule. Chiming demonstrations run Monday through Saturday every half hour between 10:30am and 2:30pm. That means if you arrive earlier in the day, you can usually still catch a demo without gambling too hard.

However, there’s an important exception: on Monday and Thursday from 12pm to 1pm, the bell ringers are ringing the bells in concert, and there are no chiming demonstrations during that hour. If your goal is to practice or catch a demo, this is the one time window that can change what you experience. The best move is to reconfirm ringing times before you go, since day-by-day schedules can shift.

Inside the tower: history you can hear and ringing you can try

Once inside, you get access to the Bell Tower’s public areas, and the tour style is interactive rather than just observational. You’ll hear a bell chiming demonstration and learn why these bells are such a big deal, not just as objects but as instruments. Then you get instruction on bell ringing—this is the part that surprises a lot of people.

In a bell tower, the mechanics matter. Ringing isn’t a gentle tap. It takes strength and technique, and you’ll feel that quickly when you get your turn. The experience is set up so you get guided practice, and you’re not expected to already know what to do.

The tour also builds in “proof of participation.” You’ll receive a bell chiming certificate as a souvenir, and you can record a free video postcard to send to family and friends. That means you’re leaving with something more memorable than a photo alone—plus a recording that captures the sound, which is half the point.

The Swan Bells story: 14th-century London bells in modern Perth

Here’s the core hook: the tower houses twelve bells made in the 14th century for St Martin-in-the-Fields church in London, specifically tied to the church’s historic connection with the Trafalgar Square area. Learning that origin changes how you see the bells. They stop feeling like just a local attraction and start feeling like a traveling piece of old-world craft.

I like that the tour doesn’t treat the history like a trivia dump. It’s woven into the experience so you understand why the bells came to Australia and why their movement and preservation matter. You also hear how bell ringing as an art works, which helps you connect the story to what you’re actually doing in the tower.

There’s also a modern layer to the experience, with Perth-specific bells and moments that connect today’s city to the tower’s past. The tour’s structure keeps the history relevant by linking it to sound, technique, and the instruments’ physical presence inside the building.

The noon highlight: watching the 6,500kg ANZAC Bell ring

If you can, time your visit around 12pm. The tower has a level 5 viewing platform where you can watch the 6,500kg ANZAC Bell ring at 12pm. That’s a “you can’t fake this” moment: a heavy bell ringing changes the entire atmosphere in a way that audio clips never fully capture.

The practical advice here is simple: arrive with enough buffer to get settled and find your viewing position. Since the bell ringing schedule can affect chiming demonstrations, aiming for 12pm can also mean you experience the tower in a different mode—more concert energy than a practice-focused demonstration.

If 12pm is not workable for you, that’s okay. You can still catch regular chiming demonstrations Monday through Saturday in the 10:30am–2:30pm window, and you’ll still get plenty of bell sound and ringing practice during your visit.

Observation Decks and the 26-bell carillon: views plus music

The top of the tower is where the visit turns scenic. From the Level 6 Observation Deck, you can look out over the Swan River, the city, and Elizabeth Quay. The views extend toward the Darling Range, which adds depth if the sky is clear.

The building itself matters because it frames the city from a height that many other Perth viewpoints don’t. You’ll get a sense of how the river shapes the city, and the tower’s central Barrack Square location makes that perspective feel extra handy.

There’s also the 26-bell carillon, which plays melodies. You can enjoy it at the top after you’ve handled the bells below, so your brain gets a nice contrast: first the heavy work of ringing historic bells, then the more musical outcomes from the carillon’s arrangement. If you like watching instruments turn into sound, this is a strong “end payoff.”

Who this tour fits best (and who might want a different option)

This is a good choice if you want a hands-on activity in central Perth. It’s family-friendly, and children just need to be accompanied by an adult. Service animals are allowed too, which is helpful information if you travel with one.

Because the tour is built around instruction and participation, it tends to work well for most visitors. The experience is described as one where most travelers can participate, and the overall length—about 45 minutes—helps keep it from dragging.

Who might consider skipping? If you’re expecting a long, slow museum-style experience with deep, uninterrupted commentary, you may feel the format is more activity and sound than long-form storytelling. Also, if you’re very schedule-sensitive about hearing specific bell moments or practicing at a certain time, plan around the Monday and Thursday 12pm–1pm concert window.

Practical value check: does the 45-minute format deliver?

Let’s talk value, because this is priced like a practical add-on, not a big-day theme park ticket. For $15.78, you get:

• a guided tour,
• a chiming demonstration,
• a chance to ring the bells,
• a certificate,
• and the option to make a free video postcard,

plus observation deck access for the views.

The hidden value is that you’re getting multiple “memory types.” You can remember the story, but you’ll also remember the sound and the sensation of ringing. Many attractions give you one kind of souvenir (a photo). This one adds sound, participation, and a keepsake certificate.

One small caution on value: if your priority is detailed commentary only, your time may feel more fun than instructional. But if you’re the sort of person who likes to learn by doing, the tight timing is a strength.

Should you book the Perth Bell Tower Chiming Experience?

Yes, if you want a different Perth moment that mixes history, sound, and a real chance to participate. I’d book it if your group enjoys hands-on experiences, if you want a central city stop that’s easy to fit into a day, or if the idea of watching and hearing bells from a tower level is your kind of travel.

I’d think twice if your visit time lands during the Monday or Thursday 12pm–1pm concert window and you specifically want a chiming demonstration or practice session in that hour. Also, if you want a long lecture, choose this only if you’re okay with a shorter, activity-led format.

If you like practical, memorable experiences you can point to after the trip—this one earns its place.

FAQ

What is the Perth Bell Tower chiming experience?

It’s an entrance ticket to the Bell Tower in Perth (Barrack Square) where you’ll hear a bell chiming demonstration and get the chance to try ringing the bells. You’ll also learn about the history of the bells and enjoy views from the observation decks.

How long does the experience take?

It’s about 45 minutes (approx.).

Where does the tour start?

You make your own way to Barrack Square to enter the Bell Tower at your chosen time.

Is a mobile ticket used?

Yes, the ticket is mobile.

Do chiming demonstrations happen every day?

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

Are there times when chiming demonstrations do not run?

Yes. Every Monday and Thursday from 12pm to 1pm, the bell ringers are ringing the bells in concert, and no chiming demonstrations take place during that time.

Can I ring the bells myself?

Yes. The experience includes instruction and the opportunity to chime/ring the historic bells.

What do I get as a souvenir?

You’ll receive a bell chiming certificate. You can also record a free video postcard.

Is it suitable for children?

Children must be accompanied by an adult, and the experience is described as family-friendly.

Is transportation or hotel pickup included?

No. Transportation to and from attractions and hotel pickup/drop-off are not included.

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