Big Ben is the landmark clock tower popularly associated with London’s New Year’s Eve midnight chimes.
Strictly speaking, Big Ben is the nickname of the Great Bell inside the Elizabeth Tower, rather than the tower itself. The bell’s deep hour chime is broadcast widely, making it one of the most recognizable sounds linked with welcoming a new year in the United Kingdom.
The tower stands at the north end of the Palace of Westminster beside the River Thames. Its clock began operating in 1859, and the bell was also cast in 1859 after an earlier bell cracked. The official name of the tower changed from Clock Tower to Elizabeth Tower in 2012.
A common mix-up is calling the entire structure Big Ben. London’s major fireworks display is staged around the South Bank and the London Eye, while Big Ben supplies the traditional time signal.