New Years Eve in London

NEW YEAR’S EVE: I’VE still got fond memories of being a young boy on a warm New Year’s Day in Australia, waking up early and running to switch the TV on to see the New Year’s Eve fireworks spectaculars from around the world.

Granted, to me the celebrations in London, New York and other far flung places were never as grand or as good as the ones in Sydney (what’s more iconic than the Sydney Harbour Bridge alight with phosphorus at midnight on 31 December!?) – update: view Sydney New Year’s Eve 2012 fireworks photo gallery – but I used to love seeing London’s Big Ben lit up to a backdrop of colourful explosions.

So it is that I find myself overly excited at the prospect of spending New Year’s Eve in London. And the English capital doesn’t just party on the legendary night, there’s parades and parties galore to lose yourself in. Of course, the main attraction is the Mayor’s midnight fireworks display from the London Eye by the Thames, which attracts about 250,000 people (and millions watching around the world). But for when you wake up weary (and with a slight hangover) on 1 January 2012 – there’s the New Year’s Day Parade, which as well as being the first official event of the year that will mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, it is also the first official event in London’s 2012 Olympic year.

The New Year’s Day parade winds its way from Piccadilly, through Piccadilly Circus, Lower Regent St, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, Cockspur St, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall and ends in Parliament St. Go to LondonParade.co.uk for more info. 

Where to watch the London fireworks for New Year’s Eve
- Basically if you are anywhere in the city where you can see the London Eye, you should also be able to see the capital’s fireworks show.
- Find a friend with a boat, park up on the Thames around Westminster and enjoy front row action to the spectacle.
- There are viewing areas on both the North and South banks of the river between the Waterloo and Lambeth bridges. Plus there’s a partially restricted view along the Embankment as far as Blackfriars Bridge. So get riverside for a party. Westminster Bridge also has an awesome viewing area (but get there early as it will fill up quickly).
- If it’s too full by the river, Trafalgar Square will have giants screens showing all the action and the atmosphere there is always electric.
- Not a fan of large and noisy crowds? Watch it all from the comfort of your living room on BBC1 or from the many pubs and clubs throughout the city who will be showing the entertainment in all its glory.

Updated on 31 December 2011

For more information, head to London.gov.uk/nye .