Big Ben is the clock tower bell traditionally heard in United Kingdom New Year’s Eve broadcasts from London.
Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the Great Clock of Westminster, at the north end of the Palace of Westminster. The tower itself was officially renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012, but the name Big Ben still commonly refers to the bell, and sometimes informally to the entire clock tower.
The Great Bell first struck in 1859. It is famous for its deep hour strikes, while four smaller bells sound the quarter-hour Westminster chimes. At midnight on New Year’s Eve, live or recorded television coverage often uses the bell’s chimes to mark the arrival of the new year in the United Kingdom.
A common error is calling the tower Big Ben. Strictly speaking, Big Ben is the Great Bell; Elizabeth Tower is the building containing the clock and bells. The tower stands beside the River Thames in central London.