Big Ben is the London landmark whose clock chimes are broadcast at New Year's midnight.
Strictly speaking, Big Ben is the nickname of the Great Bell inside the Elizabeth Tower at the Palace of Westminster. In everyday speech, however, “Big Ben” is often used for the entire clock tower. At midnight on New Year's Eve, the bell's familiar strikes help mark the start of the new year for listeners in the United Kingdom and audiences watching broadcasts from London.
The tower was completed in 1859 as part of Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin's rebuilt Palace of Westminster. The Great Bell weighs more than 13 tons, and its clock became one of London's most recognizable symbols. The tower was renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012 in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.
A common mix-up is calling the clock itself Big Ben. The clock is the Great Clock of Westminster, the tower is Elizabeth Tower, and the bell is the Great Bell, nicknamed Big Ben. Broadcasts may also feature London's fireworks around the London Eye, but the midnight chimes come from Big Ben.