One of the most visible changes to the tower has been the restoration of the clock-face framework to its original colour of Prussian blue, used when the tower was first built in 1859, with the black paint that was used to cover up the soot-stained dial frames now having been stripped away.

Big Ben (formally the Elizabeth Tower) looks different in 2026 because of the extensive conservation project that was completed just a few years ago. The most striking visual change is the clock face: the metalwork and hands were restored to their original Prussian Blue color, replacing the black paint that had been used since the 1930s to hide the effects of London's air pollution. Additionally, the stonework of the tower now appears lighter and more vibrant after the removal of decades of soot and the replacement of hundreds of individual "Anston" limestone blocks. The decorative shields above the clock face, representing the four nations of the UK, have also been re-gilded with 23.5-carat gold leaf, giving the tower a brilliant shimmer that was absent for nearly a century. Internally, the tower was modernized with a lift and improved fire safety systems, but from the street, it is the return to the original Victorian color palette that makes the landmark appear so "new" and distinct to modern observers.