Big Ben and Parliament, London, UK

From the banks of the Thames, the Palace of Westminster rises in Gothic splendor, its towers and spires etched against the London sky. At its heart stands Big Ben, the nickname long given to the great bell housed within the Elizabeth Tower, its clock face glowing with timeless authority. First completed in the mid-19th century after fire destroyed the old palace, Parliament has been the stage for Britain’s fiercest debates and historic decisions. Today, tourists gather on Westminster Bridge to capture the view, while the chimes of Big Ben echo across the river, a sound as iconic as London itself.