Big Ben is the clock tower bell popularly known for the United Kingdom’s New Year's Eve midnight chimes.
Big Ben is the nickname of the Great Bell of the clock at the Palace of Westminster in London. Strictly speaking, the name refers to the bell, not the entire tower. The tower was renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012, while the bell retained its familiar nickname.
The clock and bell are broadcast during major British occasions, including the transition to a new year. Big Ben’s strikes provide an audible marker for midnight in the United Kingdom and are widely carried by television and radio coverage.
The bell was cast in 1858 and installed in the tower after the earlier bell cracked. Its famous sound comes from the Great Bell striking the hour; smaller bells provide the quarter-hour chimes. Temporary silences have occurred during maintenance or restoration, so broadcasts do not mean the bell is always sounding continuously.