Big Ben Houses of Parliament Westminster Bridge Archway Night, London, United Kingdom

Clock talk

Somewhat like the distinction between England, the United Kingdom, and Great Britain, the naming of London's most famous landmark can be a bit befuddling if you're not in the know. Well, here's the high tea: 'Big Ben' refers specifically to the 13-ton Great Bell housed in what's been officially called Elizabeth Tower since 2012 (the Diamond Jubilee year of Queen Elizabeth II). Before that, in no-nonsense British fashion, the tower was simply titled the Clock Tower. Still, perhaps ever since its first chime in 1859, Londoners have referred to the bell, clock, and tower alike as Big Ben. But not the whole building, which comes with its own naming ambiguity: You can call it either the Palace of Westminster or Houses of Parliament.