Big Ben is the famous London landmark whose clock is used for the city’s New Year’s Eve countdown.
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” often refers to the entire clock tower. The tower’s clock became operational in 1859, and its chimes are among Britain’s most recognizable broadcast sounds.
London’s New Year celebration features fireworks around the London Eye and along the River Thames, while the clock’s midnight chimes mark the change of year. Television coverage often combines images of the clock face, the fireworks, and crowds along the river.
The tower was officially renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012 in honor of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. That renaming did not change the traditional name of the bell. A common mix-up is to call the London Eye the countdown clock; it is the Ferris wheel that features prominently in the fireworks display.