Big Ben is part of the Palace of Westminster in London, the capital of the United Kingdom.
Strictly speaking, Big Ben is the nickname of the Great Bell inside the tower at the northern end of the Palace of Westminster. In everyday speech, people often use “Big Ben” for the entire clock tower, which was officially renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.
The present palace and tower were built after a devastating fire destroyed most of the old medieval palace in 1834. Architects Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin designed the replacement in the Gothic Revival style, and the clock tower was completed in 1859. Its clock has four large faces and five bells, including the Great Bell known as Big Ben.
The Palace of Westminster is where the United Kingdom’s House of Commons and House of Lords meet. It stands beside the River Thames in London and forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site that also includes Westminster Abbey and St Margaret’s Church.