Palace of Westminster, London, England May 15, 2025

London"s most famous clock tower isn"t called Big Ben—that name belongs to the massive over 12,000 kilograms bell inside. It has marked time for Londoners since 1859, ringing from what is now known as the Elizabeth Tower. In 2012, officials renamed the Clock Tower as Elizabeth Tower to honour Queen Elizabeth II during her Diamond Jubilee. The clock has stopped only for maintenance and rare disruptions, such as bomb damage during World Wars I and II. Each of its four clock faces spans more than 6 metres, with the minute hands measuring over 4 metres. At more than 90 metre tall, the tower is part of the grand Palace of Westminster, home to the UK Parliament.

© Puthipong Worasaran/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

An island crossroad of culture
Get ready for the blood moon
May 15, 2024The Blue City of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Mar 28, 2025Black-naped monarch
Want to hang about?
Swinging over Munich
Rocky Mountain runoff
What’s blooming so brightly?
Nov 7, 2024Vancouver Coastal Sea wolves in the Great Bear Rainforest, Canada
A bevy of buzzers
Dec 25, 2023Christmas Day
Jul 27, 2025Barracudas at Shark Reef, Ras Mohammed National Park, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt
Nov 30, 2025Christmas market in Leipzig, Germany
Chasing summer in the art world
Feb 21, 2024Horsetail Fall, Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Bring out the king cakes
Nov 8, 2023Crystal River, Three Sisters Spring, Florida, USA
Hovering over harmonious horticulture
Apr 28, 2024Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas, USA
Here we go!
Jul 9, 2025Independence Day of the Argentine Republic
Dec 18, 2024English National Ballet performing The Nutcracker
Like sands through the hourglass
Where is this historical bridge?
Oct 20, 2024International Sloth Day
Feb 22, 2025Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Apr 22, 2025Earth Day
Aug 23, 2023Cenotaphs, Orchha, Madhya Pradesh
King of the ocean
Aug 9, 2024Hang Sơn Đoòng, Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, Vietnam
Oct 4, 2023World Space Week
Feb 3, 2024Grand Canal with Santa Maria della Salute Basilica, Venice, Italy
Oct 8, 2025World Octopus Day