Big Ben's clock tower is the focus of Britain's best-known New Year's Eve countdown in London.
Big Ben is the nickname commonly used for the Great Bell of the Great Clock of Westminster, although it is also widely used for the tower itself. Since 2012, the tower's official name has been Elizabeth Tower, honoring Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. The clock stands at the north end of the Palace of Westminster beside the River Thames.
At midnight, the clock's chimes are broadcast and crowds watch fireworks over the Thames and nearby London landmarks. Big Ben's New Year's role depends on the clock and bell, not on the London Eye, which is a separate attraction on the opposite bank. The tower underwent a major conservation project beginning in 2017, during which the bell was largely silenced except for special occasions.