During London's New Year's Eve celebration, Big Ben is the landmark clock traditionally shown striking midnight.
Big Ben is the nickname commonly used for the Great Bell in the clock tower at the Palace of Westminster. Strictly speaking, the name refers to the bell, not the entire tower or clock. The tower was renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, but “Big Ben” remains the familiar public name for the clock and its chimes.
The bell first struck in 1859, though the original bell cracked and was recast before entering regular service. Its deep hour chime has become one of London's best-known sounds and is used in radio and television coverage of major national moments.
New Year's broadcasts may also show fireworks around the London Eye, which is a separate landmark and attraction. The clock tower's role is auditory and symbolic: its midnight chimes provide the traditional signal that the new year has begun in London.