Step inside Swan Bells and the foreshore hum of the city falls away. You’re standing inside an 82.5-metre copper and glass campanile on the Swan River at Barrack Square, home to a ring of 18 bells with genuinely deep history.
Twelve of them cast for St Martin-in-the-Fields in London’s Trafalgar Square, dating from before the 14th century and recast in the 16th and 18th centuries, donated to Western Australia for the 1988 bicentenary. Six more were cast at London’s Whitechapel Bell Foundry in 1988 and 1998 to complete one of the largest rings of change-ringing bells in the world.
A separate, much larger bell, the 6.5-tonne Great ANZAC Bell, was cast in Perth by VEEM in 2018 and installed to mark the WWI Armistice centenary, first rung on the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day.
Officially “The Bell Tower,” it’s a short walk or free bus ride from the CBD, and works well for visitors wanting a genuine Perth story to take home, families after a rainy-afternoon activity, and anyone wanting city and river views without a national park drive.
Who will Enjoy The Bell Tower
Families with kids curious about the hands-on Bell Chiming Experience, history-minded visitors interested in genuinely old imported heritage, and anyone wanting an easy CBD-adjacent lookout. It’s a lighter, shorter stop than Kings Park or the WA Museum, so it works best as part of a broader foreshore day rather than a standalone destination. In my mind it’s also something quite unique for many people. and being low cost, with easy access, I rate it easily as a must-do on a Perth itinerary.
The Experience
The observation deck on Level 6 is the main draw for most visitors: 360-degree views taking in the Swan River, Kings Park’s bushland, the CBD towers and, on a clear day, out toward the Darling Range and Fremantle’s port. The tower’s copper cladding is genuinely divisive among locals, some call it a landmark, others think it clashes with the foreshore, so form your own view once you’re up there.
The Bell Chiming Experience is the interactive part of the visit with guided instruction followed by a chance to ring a 26-bell carillon (a separate mechanical instrument from the historic bells themselves, which remain protected). It runs around 30 minutes, is wheelchair accessible, and typically includes a souvenir chiming certificate. It’s a genuine hands-on activity rather than a passive lookout stop, and it’s the part kids tend to remember most.
Live bellringing demonstrations run Thursdays from noon to 1pm and Sunday mornings from 10:30 to 11:30am, when experienced ringers work the historic bells and explain the mechanics as you watch. It’s well worth timing your visit around if you want the fuller experience rather than just the self-guided tower.
Practical Details
The tower is open seven days a week, 10am to 4pm, with last entry at 3:45pm; hours can occasionally shift earlier for private events.
Current ticket pricing is worth confirming directly at thebelltower.com.au before visiting, since it’s reviewed periodically; as a rough guide, expect somewhere in the low-teens for adult admission with reduced pricing for concessions, kids and families, and free entry for very young children.
All tickets typically bundle admission, the guided Bell Chiming Experience and observation deck access together rather than being sold separately.
Getting There
The tower sits at Barrack Square on Riverside Drive, right on the foreshore. Elizabeth Quay Train Station and Busport (the renamed and rebuilt former Esplanade Station) is about 400 metres away, a 10-minute walk, and every Transperth train line, Airport, Mandurah, Fremantle and Yanchep, stops there, making this a straightforward add-on whether you’re arriving from the airport, Fremantle or the northern or southern suburbs.
The free Blue CAT bus runs a continuous north-south loop between Barrack Square and Northbridge every 10 minutes, seven days a week, stopping right at the tower and also at Elizabeth Quay Station, Hay Street Mall, Perth Station and the WA Museum, so it’s genuinely the easiest way to connect from elsewhere in the CBD without walking the whole way.
The ferry from Elizabeth Quay Jetty is a five-minute walk if you’d rather arrive by water, arguably the most memorable approach.
Driving takes about five minutes from the CBD, though parking directly at Barrack Square and on Riverside Drive is limited and paid; the nearest larger car parks are Terrace Road, Concert Hall, Convention Centre and Council House, all a short walk away.
What Locals Know
Regulars time their visit around the Thursday or Sunday live demonstration specifically, since watching the historic bells actually move is a noticeably different experience from the self-guided tower visit alone. Locals also treat the tower as a solid wet-weather backup for a Perth day, since most of the experience is indoors and the observation deck is enclosed. If you’re bringing visiting family or friends, locals generally rate the Bell Chiming Experience as the detail that makes this stop memorable rather than just another lookout, since it’s genuinely something you do rather than just see.
Combine With the Foreshore
Riverside Café Bar and Restaurant sits right by the tower entrance for breakfast or coffee before you climb. Elizabeth Quay is a short walk away for lunch and further waterfront dining, and Kings Park is reachable via the river path if you want to extend into a longer foreshore day. The WA Museum Boola Bardip is also close by if you want a deeper cultural stop, particularly useful as a rainy-day alternative.
Is It Worth It?
Yes, particularly as a genuinely interactive stop rather than just another lookout, and it slots easily into a broader foreshore day around Elizabeth Quay and Kings Park. It’s not a full-day destination on its own, budget 60 to 90 minutes, but the combination of real historical bells, a decent view and a hands-on activity makes it good value for the time and cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the entry fee worth it?
Yes, if you value the view, the history or the interactive chiming experience. Few Perth attractions combine all three in one short visit.
When’s the best time to visit?
Autumn and spring for the clearest, most comfortable conditions. Thursday midday or Sunday morning specifically if you want to catch the live bellringing demonstration.
How do I get there without a car?
Train to Elizabeth Quay Train Station and Busport (about 10 minutes’ walk, served by all Transperth lines), the free Blue CAT bus direct to Barrack Square (every 10 minutes, seven days a week), or the ferry from Elizabeth Quay Jetty for a scenic water approach.
How long should I spend here?
60 to 90 minutes covers the tower, observation deck and Bell Chiming Experience comfortably.
Is it suitable for young kids?
Yes, the Bell Chiming Experience in particular is a genuine hands-on activity that tends to land well with kids, and the observation deck is straightforward and safe.
The Close
Swan Bells earns its place on a Perth foreshore itinerary through genuine substance: centuries-old bells with a real story, a hands-on activity rather than a passive lookout, and a location that folds easily into a bigger river walk. Time it around a Thursday or Sunday demonstration if you can, and pair it with Elizabeth Quay or Kings Park for a fuller day.