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

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jan 7, 2026Old Rock Day
Mar 18, 2020A stroll above the stratosphere
Sep 17, 2019Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
Dec 14, 2020I see one!
Dec 21, 2022Winter solstice
May 8, 2020Victory in Europe, 75 years ago
Feb 26, 2022Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Apr 27, 2023South Padre Island, Texas
Dec 8, 2025Christmas lights in Domaso, Lake Como, Italy
Mar 25, 2019Greece celebrates its independence
Jan 14, 2020Going head-to-head with winter
Feb 6, 2021Where is this gorgeous peak?
May 8, 2019’Chess on ice’
May 9, 2020Here’s looking at you, teachers
Sep 1, 2019Bidding summer adieu
Feb 2, 2023Groundhog Day
Aug 22, 2018Summer’s in home stretch
Jan 8, 2021Take this for a spin...
Mar 11, 2020Anybody out there?
Nov 4, 2022A century since Tut s tomb was discovered
Feb 27, 2026International Polar Bear Day
Sep 11, 2025Patriot Day
Sep 20, 2022Sea Otter Awareness Week
Dec 3, 2019It’s Giving Tuesday
Jun 23, 2020Flowers by the sea
Jan 16, 2026Leopard at Etosha National Park, Namibia
Aug 16, 2018Keep your hands inside the ride at all times…
Feb 25, 2018Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Jan 3, 2023Sandhill cranes, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
Sep 29, 2021The largest American bison around