Big Ben is the landmark clock tower bell central to London’s New Year’s Eve broadcast.
Strictly speaking, Big Ben is the nickname of the Great Bell inside the Palace of Westminster’s clock tower. The tower itself was renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012, during celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. Many people still use “Big Ben” to mean the entire tower, clock, or bell.
The bell first struck in 1859, although the original bell cracked and was recast before entering regular service. Its hourly chimes are broadcast from London and have become an internationally recognized sound associated with midnight on 31 December.
New Year’s Eve coverage often shows the illuminated clock face and counts down to the first stroke after midnight. The four clock faces use opal glass and are mounted high above Westminster. Big Ben is therefore both a precise timekeeper and a powerful visual symbol of the British new year.