Big Ben's clock tower is central to the UK's famous New Year's Eve countdown.
Big Ben is the nickname commonly used for the Great Bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London. The clock tower itself was renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012, but public usage still frequently calls the whole landmark Big Ben. At New Year's, television and radio broadcasts use its midnight chimes as an audible signal of the new year in the United Kingdom.
The tower's clock began operating in 1859, and the Great Bell first struck on July 11 of that year. Big Ben's bongs have become a major national soundmark, especially during special broadcasts and moments of national significance.
The London Eye is also a prominent New Year's Eve viewing point, but it is not the source of the traditional midnight chimes. The landmark connected to the sound is the Palace of Westminster's clock and Great Bell.