In London's New Year's Eve celebrations, the famous clock bell traditionally heard striking midnight is Big Ben.
Big Ben is the nickname commonly used for the Great Bell of the Palace of Westminster in London. Technically, the name refers to the bell, not the entire clock tower or the clock mechanism. The tower itself was renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012 in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.
The Great Bell first struck in 1859. Its distinctive note is broadcast during major national moments, including the transition into a new year. London television coverage commonly combines the sound of the midnight chimes with views of fireworks over the River Thames.
A frequent mix-up is calling the tower Big Ben. The clock tower was historically known as the Clock Tower, while the bell is Big Ben. Another nearby landmark, the London Eye, is associated with the fireworks display but is not the clock bell that marks midnight.