Palace of Westminster, London, England May 15, 2025

Palace of Westminster, London, England

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:

Natures boost fruit
Spring is the time for billing
May 26, 2025Agrasen Ki Baoli, Connaught Place, New Delhi
Dec 14, 2024Northern hawk-owl, Canada
Part science experiment, part public park
Aug 28, 2024Paralympic Games begin in Paris
Jun 18, 2024Lupine fields, Snæfellsnes, Iceland
Birthplace of the Renaissance
Dec 4, 2025Indian Navy Day
Apr 3, 2026Armbrug bridge, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Nov 24, 2023Olympic National Park, Washington, USA
Mar 20, 2026Spring equinox
Aug 1, 2025Edinburgh Festival Fringe
May 1, 2024Maharashtra Day
Nov 14, 2024Manarola, Cinque Terre National Park, Liguria, Italy
Jan 5, 2024International Ice and Snow Festival, Harbin, China
Feb 8, 2026Corfu at night, Greece
Jul 23, 2024Methoni Castle, Messinia, Greece
Mar 28, 2026African buffalo, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
International Archaeology Day
May 10, 2025Minnesota State Capitol, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States
Aug 10, 2024Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA
Jul 25, 2025Colourful houses of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Dec 27, 2024Lake Bled, Slovenia
Angry bird, doting dad
Feb 1, 2025European beech forest, Belgium
Underwater underground
Feb 25, 2024Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, Canada
Jan 28, 2026Whanganui National Park, Retaruke, New Zealand
Jan 2, 2024Prayer flags in Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan