Big Ben's clock chimes are associated with London's New Year's Eve countdown.
Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell inside the Elizabeth Tower at the Palace of Westminster. Strictly speaking, the name originally refers to the bell, not the tower or the clock mechanism. In everyday speech, however, “Big Ben” is commonly used for the entire landmark, and the phrase is familiar worldwide.
The great bell first struck in 1859. Its hourly chime and the quarter bells have become a recognizable sound of British public life. On New Year's Eve, broadcasts from London use the midnight chimes to mark the beginning of the new year, often alongside fireworks over the River Thames.
The landmark has undergone major conservation work, during which the regular chimes were silenced or limited except for special occasions. The Elizabeth Tower is also frequently, but inaccurately, called Big Ben. A precise answer distinguishes the bell from the tower while recognizing the name used by most audiences.