What is Big Ben's formal name? The tower housing Big Ben was formally known as St. Stephen's Tower until 2012, when it was renamed Elizabeth Tower on the occasion of Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, celebrating 60 years on the British throne.

While almost everyone refers to the clock tower at the Palace of Westminster as "Big Ben," that is actually the nickname for the Great Bell inside the tower. The tower itself was officially renamed the Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to honor the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II; prior to that, it was simply known as the "Clock Tower." The Great Bell, which weighs 13.7 tonnes, was first cast in 1858 and is responsible for the famous "bong" that marks the hour. In 2026, following a massive five-year restoration project that concluded recently, the tower and the clock mechanism are in their best condition in a century. The name "Big Ben" is thought to have been inspired by Sir Benjamin Hall, who oversaw the bell's installation, or heavyweight boxer Ben Caunt. Regardless of the technicalities, the name has become a global metonym for British resilience and timekeeping, even as the official 2026 designation remains the Elizabeth Tower.