Big Ben's bells are broadcast during London's New Year's Eve countdown.
Big Ben is the nickname commonly used for the great bell at the north end of the Palace of Westminster, although the tower itself was officially renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012. At midnight, the bell's familiar chimes mark the beginning of the new year for listeners in London and around the world.
The tower's clock became operational in 1859, and the hour bell was cast by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. Big Ben's distinctive sound comes from its large bell and the four quarter bells that announce the quarter hours. The bell's official name is not the same as the tower's architectural name.
New Year's Eve coverage often pairs the chimes with fireworks over the River Thames and the London Eye. The bell has occasionally been silent or restricted during major maintenance, but its midnight broadcast remains a defining part of the United Kingdom's celebrations.