Big Ben's clock traditionally marks midnight in the United Kingdom's New Year's Eve broadcasts from London.
Big Ben is the nickname commonly given to the Great Bell in the Elizabeth Tower at the Palace of Westminster. Strictly speaking, the clock itself is the Great Clock of Westminster, while Big Ben is the bell. The bell's chimes are used in broadcasts and are closely associated with the arrival of the new year in Britain.
London's modern public celebration also features fireworks along the River Thames, especially around the London Eye. Television coverage combines the clock's familiar chimes with views of the city and the fireworks display.
The tower was completed in the nineteenth century as part of Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin's rebuilt Palace of Westminster. A common mistake is calling the entire tower Big Ben; the name properly refers to the great hour bell, though everyday usage often uses it more broadly.