Big Ben’s chimes mark the midnight countdown on New Year’s Eve in London.
Big Ben is the nickname commonly used for the Great Bell in the Elizabeth Tower at the Palace of Westminster. Strictly speaking, the name refers to the bell, not the entire tower. The bell first sounded in 1859, and its hourly note became one of London’s most recognizable sounds.
On New Year’s Eve, television and radio broadcasts often carry the twelve midnight chimes as London enters the new year. The nearby London Eye adds a separate visual spectacle with a large fireworks display, so the two landmarks are sometimes treated as one event even though they are distinct.
The Elizabeth Tower was called the Clock Tower until 2012, when it was renamed to honor Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. Big Ben’s clock mechanism and tower have undergone major conservation work.