Big Ben is the London landmark whose clock chimes are traditionally heard at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Strictly speaking, Big Ben is the nickname of the Great Bell inside the Elizabeth Tower, not the tower itself.
The clock tower stands at the north end of the Palace of Westminster beside the River Thames. Its four clock faces and hourly chimes have made it one of Britain’s most recognizable symbols. On New Year’s Eve, broadcasters use the sound and image of the clock to mark the beginning of January 1.
The bell was cast in 1858, and the tower’s clock began operating in 1859. The name Big Ben is often used informally for the entire tower, although “Elizabeth Tower” became its official name in 2012 to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.
Big Ben is not the London Eye, which is a separate observation wheel across the river. Nor is it Tower Bridge, another nearby landmark frequently shown in holiday coverage.