What is “Big Ben”?

Big Ben is the great bell inside the clock tower at London's Palace of Westminster. Many people refer to "Big Ben" when talking about or describing the clock or the entire tower, but technically it is just the big bell itself. The name officially used for the tower in recent times was Elizabeth Tower, and that was changed in 2012 in honor of Queen Elizabeth II. Completed in 1859, the big bell weighs about 13.5 tons and has become one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world. The name "Big Ben" is traced back to Sir Benjamin Hall, a government official in connection with its installation.