The tower is officially called the Elizabeth Tower. “Big Ben” is the nickname for the bell inside it, not the tower itself.

Quick scoop

  • Official tower name: Elizabeth Tower.
  • Big Ben: the great bell inside the tower.
  • It was renamed in 2012 to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.

TL;DR

People often say “Big Ben” for the whole landmark, but the real name of the tower is Elizabeth Tower.