Major Annual Events at Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster

Big Ben (the Great Bell) and the Elizabeth Tower serve as iconic backdrops for key national events:

New Year's Eve Fireworks

A spectacular display launched from the Thames, with Big Ben's chimes marking midnight before millions globally.

Trooping the Colour

The King's official birthday parade (second Saturday in June) features 1,400+ soldiers, 200 horses, 400 musicians, and an RAF flypast viewed from Buckingham Palace.

VE Day & VJ Day Commemorations

May 8 and August 15 mark WWII victories; Big Ben tolls in remembrance.

Royal Weddings

Big Ben chimes specially (e.g., 33 times for William & Kate in 2011).

State Funerals

The bell tolls once per minute during processions for monarchs and eminent figures.

Note: Big Ben refers specifically to the 13.7-tonne bell; the tower was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012.