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 13.5-ton bell inside. The Great Clock 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 honor Queen Elizabeth II during her Diamond Jubilee. At 316 feet tall, the tower is part of the grand Palace of Westminster. The clock has stopped only for maintenance and rare disruptions, such as bomb damage during each world war. Each of its four clock faces spans 22.5 feet, with the minute hands measuring 14 feet.

© Puthipong Worasaran/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

May 15, 2018Celebrating the UN’s International Day of Families
May 15, 2019Basking in the glow
May 15, 2020The last thing seen by Wile E. Coyote
May 15, 2021Happy Astronomy Day!
May 15, 2022Lunar eclipse
May 15, 2023The Canary Islands, Spain
May 15, 2024The Blue City of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
May 15, 2026Endangered Species Day

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jun 7, 2025National Trails Day
Dec 21, 2025Winter solstice
Sep 26, 2018Art in the chapel
Apr 6, 2023Aprils full moon
May 9, 2024Tulips at Emirgan Park in Istanbul, Türkiye
Nov 22, 2018Tom Turkey takes Manhattan
Mar 15, 2025Ides of March
May 4, 2021Happy Star Wars Day!
Nov 24, 2020Feel the spray in Monterey
Aug 2, 2022Happy birthday, Capitol Reef National Park
Oct 26, 2021Red fox
Dec 21, 2022Winter solstice
Oct 17, 2020Fog above the forest
Nov 12, 2022Alaska Bald Eagle Festival
Feb 3, 2026Emerald Bay and Fannette Island, Lake Tahoe, California
Dec 25, 2021Merry Christmas
Aug 24, 2020Go with the rainbow flow
Jul 5, 2023Porto Timoni beach, Greece
May 28, 2019Why’s it called a spelling ‘bee,’ anyhow?
Aug 29, 2023American bison, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Jan 22, 2020A horse of many colors
Feb 5, 2025Scottish Blackface sheep, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Apr 15, 2021Jackie Robinson Day
Jan 28, 2023The Bahamas as seen from the ISS
Dec 24, 2019Dashing through the snow
May 9, 2020Here’s looking at you, teachers
Dec 31, 2021New Year s Eve
Dec 21, 2023Winter solstice
Aug 13, 2025Corona Arch near Moab, Utah
Jul 9, 2024Talampaya National Park, Argentina