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:

Feb 22, 2024Bathing boxes at Brighton Beach, Australia
May 24, 2020Let s get lost
Jul 13, 2018The puffin-rabbit connection
Apr 13, 2021Ruins of a royal temple
Jun 4, 2018Lighting it up for Vivid Sydney
Apr 7, 2019Busy building wetlands
Dec 9, 2023National Llama Day
Dec 10, 2020What does the fox dream?
Mar 29, 2024South Stack Lighthouse, Holy Island, Wales
Oct 8, 2025World Octopus Day
Aug 13, 2024Telašćica Nature Park, Dugi Otok, Croatia
Sep 23, 2021Last stop before leaving the solar system
Feb 24, 2025Group of giant cuttlefish, Whyalla, South Australia
Sep 20, 2021Birds of a feather flocking together
Jul 21, 2024Kendwa village, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Apr 5, 2021Once upon a time there was a bridge…
Apr 12, 2025International Day of Human Space Flight
Jul 16, 2024Festival of British Archaeology
Mar 16, 2019Quilts as high art
Jun 17, 2018Papa was a flightless bird
Jul 2, 2026Ceiling of the Temple of Esna, Egypt
Oct 31, 2020Twas a night just like tonight
Jun 17, 2019World-class art comes to Arkansas
May 27, 2022Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
Aug 15, 2023Piazza IX Aprile, Taormina, Sicily, Italy
Feb 4, 2026Rosa Parks Day
Feb 2, 2020Hut, hut, hike!
Jun 26, 2026The River Thames, London, England
Jul 17, 2025Lavender fields in Plateau de Valensole, France
Nov 20, 2022World Children s Day