What is the name of the famous big clock in London?

The famous big clock in London is commonly called Big Ben.

Big Ben is technically the nickname of the Great Bell inside the Elizabeth Tower at the Palace of Westminster. In everyday speech, however, people frequently use “Big Ben” to mean the entire clock tower, making it the canonical answer to this quiz question. The tower itself was formerly called the Clock Tower and was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.

The tower and clock were built as part of the rebuilding of the Palace of Westminster after a devastating fire in 1834. Architect Charles Barry designed the palace, while Augustus Pugin created the tower’s celebrated Gothic details and clock face. The Great Clock began operating in 1859.

The Great Bell weighs about 13.7 tons and strikes the note E. Four smaller bells chime the quarter hours. “Westminster Clock” and “Great Clock” describe related parts of the landmark, but they are not the familiar name most quizmasters expect. The clock tower is one of London’s best-known symbols and stands beside the River Thames.