In London’s New Year’s Eve celebration, which clock tower bell is commonly called Big Ben?

The Great Bell of Westminster is the bell commonly called Big Ben during London’s New Year’s Eve celebration. It is housed in the Elizabeth Tower at the north end of the Palace of Westminster.

Strictly speaking, Big Ben is the nickname of the Great Bell, not the tower itself. The tower was officially renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012 in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. Its clock and bell are among London’s most recognizable symbols.

At midnight on New Year’s Eve, the bell’s chimes are broadcast as part of the United Kingdom’s celebration. The clock tower was completed in the nineteenth century, and the Great Bell was cast in 1858. Its quarter bells play a separate set of familiar melodies before the hour.

Another common mistake is answering “Elizabeth Tower” when the question asks for the bell. The tower contains the clock and bell, but the precise answer is the Great Bell of Westminster.