New Years Eve in London | The Complete Guide

Spending New Years Eve in London belongs on every bucket list. The New Year’s Eve celebrations in London are spectacular and are a once in a lifetime trip. Millions of pounds are spent on London’s stunning fireworks display so that you can wish everyone a Happy New Year in London and see in January in style.

Whether you want to know all about London New Year’s Eve events, what London travel on New Year’s Eve is like or where the best places for New Year’s Eve in London are, then this guide is for you. Plus, we’ll walk you through the best places to go on New Year’s Eve in London with tips on where to eat and where to stay once the party’s over.

This is the complete guide to how to spend New Year in London. Don’t book your stay until you’ve read it!

Top Things to Do on New Years Eve in London

🎇Fireworks

New Year events in London don’t get any bigger than the wow-inducing fireworks display that takes place by the Thames every 31st December. 

The 12-minute show starts at midnight with the chimes of Big Ben and is focused around the London Eye. Thousands of fireworks, drones and lights create a spectacular show, all of which is set to music. 

You’ll need to plan ahead though as this is a ticketed event to ensure safety for everyone.

Each year, the Mayor of London confirms the event is going ahead and tickets are released. In 2025, the event was confirmed on 10th October and tickets are on sale from midday on 17th October. 

You can book up to four tickets per person, via Ticketmaster, which will cost £40 – £55 each, depending on the viewing area you select. Londoners pay a reduced rate. 

The riverbank viewing area is divided into different zones and you cannot move between these; you must stay in your ticketed zone so make sure to book the same one as your friends! We recommend planning your travel to and from the fireworks carefully as there’ll be up to 100,000 people joining you!

If you’re wondering if the show is worth it, check out this BBC YouTube video of the 2023 celebrations.

Thames Cruises

Instead of standing in the cold on the riverbank, you book a cosy seat on a boat for a Thames River cruise for New Year’s Eve. A typical cruise lasts for several hours and includes the fireworks display. Some trips also include dinner.

As numbers are limited, there won’t be such a crush at the onboard bar as there’s bound to be in the average London pub on 31st December!

Click here to book a New Year’s Eve cruise on the Thames or to book a New Years Eve cruise with dinner.

Natural History Museum

It might not strike you to spend New Year’s Eve at a museum, but London’s Natural History Museum offers something different.

The museum hosts a fabulous New Years Eve party where guests can celebrate the new year with live music, a VIP area, a silent disco and entry to the galleries. 

Book your tickets to this unique opportunity here.

5 of the Best Bars and Restaurants

Kick off your celebrations with a delicious feast at a London restaurant. Here are some of the best places to dine as December draws to a close. 

Alternatively, you can also dance the night away while waiting for those midnight bells to chime at some of the top London bars for New Year’s Eve.

Or for a local’s perspective, why not try asking at your hotel for a recommendation if you can’t decide where to go?

Madison

Enjoy stunning views of St Paul’s Cathedral while tucking into Madison London’s New Year’s Eve early dinner menu. 

The Savoy Grill

If you want to push the boat out, book a table at The Savoy Grill at the posh hotel of the same name. River views are all part of the package. 

Sea Containers Restaurant 

South Bank eatery Sea Containers offers a casual ambience and stunning views over the river – and the midnight fireworks. Later, drop into 12th Knot on the same site for drinks.

Sweeties at The Standard 

Cool Sweeties bar at The Standard Hotel is where the beautiful people see in the New Year. You could also dine at Decimo restaurant here.

Tattershall Castle

Tattershall Castle is actually a luxury boat moored on the Thames. Its New Year events in London are very popular, and the party continues until 3 a.m. The views of the fireworks from here are unbeatable, making it worth the hefty ticket price.

5 Top Tips for New Year’s Eve in London

If you’ll be attending events in London for New Year’s Eve, then here are some tips to help you make the most of this memorable experience!

Wear walking shoes

Sensible footwear is a must as you’ll be doing a lot of walking or standing. 

Even if you’re not planning on doing much walking, you may end up walking miles to your hotel or the nearest available public transport link.

Your feet will thank you for it! 

Head out early

It’s going to be a long night but if you want to get somewhere on time then you’ll need to leave plenty of time as public transport will be packed. Plus, if you want to bag a good spot you’ll need to arrive early.

Pack snacks and drinks

Even if you’re going to have a sit-down meal at a restaurant as part of your New Years Eve celebrations, we recommend you bring along some snacks and drinks for the rest of the evening. 

Queues for food and drink will be phenomenal, and all that walking is thirsty work.

Stick to plastic bottles rather than cans and glass, which may be removed from you by security staff at venues you visit.

Dress for December

It’s cold in London during December (and January) so dress accordingly. Think layers so you can adjust your outfit according to the weather as the night wears on or to the venues that you visit. A hat, scarf and gloves will help keep you warm.

It’s also a good idea to wear or take along a waterproof jacket, plus a lightweight, portable umbrella. The maritime climate of the British Isles can be notoriously unreliable. 

Have a Plan B for getting back

It’s essential to plan how to get back to your hotel, holiday rental, hostel or wherever you’re staying after your night out. 

First, here’s the good news. Tubes and other forms of London Transport – such as night buses – run right through until the early hours of New Year’s Day. 

The bad news is that some bridges in central London are closed to traffic. Driving is just the worst idea anyway, due to the complete lack of parking and congestion charges. Plus, black cabs will be in high demand and will be expensive. 

Ideally, stay somewhere that makes it possible to walk back. This might mean moving accommodation for one night but it’d be worth it. 

When in London, we always recommend staying as centrally as possible.

5 Top Areas to Stay in London on New Year’s Eve

Before we dive into where to stay in London on New Year’s Eve, you need to know two things. You’ll have to book way ahead in order to get a bed anywhere. Also, expect to pay far more than the usual rate for any holiday let, hotel room or hostel bed. 

However, we stress that it’s worth staying as close to the centre of London – and the Thames – as you can. Our complete guide to the best places to stay in London should help you decide where to rest your head.

Based on that, and our extensive experience of exploring the UK capital, here’s a rundown of the top five areas we recommend honing in on. You can also find another seven in this guide. 

Covent Garden, Charing Cross & Trafalgar Square

There’s plenty going on in this very central area. There are good transport links but it’s easy to walk everywhere from this part of the city.

3 Places to stay in Covent Garden, Charing Cross & Trafalgar Square

• £££ – Royal Horseguards
• ££ – The Resident Covent Garden
• £ – Z Hotel Trafalgar

Soho & Leicester Square

A short hop from Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square is Leicester Square and neighbouring Soho. This area is ideal for shopping, nightlife, theatres, cinemas and transport links.

3 Places to stay in Soho & Leicester Square

• £££ – The Soho Hotel
• ££ – The Resident Soho
• £ – The Z Hotel Soho

Westminster & St James

Westminster is right by the river, and central to major London landmarks. St James’ Park is also a lovely place to be if you want to escape the crowds of post-Christmas and New Year.

3 Places to stay in Westminster & St James

• £££ – Rubens at the Palace
• ££ –  Royal Horseguards
• £ –  Z Hotel Victoria

Tower Bridge & The City of London

Stay right by the river – and many of the principal tourist sites – by booking a room in the City or Tower Bridge area. City hotels can also offer bargain rates at weekends, as they’re mainly aimed at business travellers.

Places to stay in Tower Bridge & The City of London

Hotels

• £££ – Four Seasons Ten Trinity Square
• ££ – CitizenM Tower of London
• £ – Z City Hotel

South Bank & Southwark

This area is especially lovely during the festive period, with a Christmas market at South Bank. It’s also right by the river so it’s perfect for catching the fireworks at midnight.

Places to stay in South Bank & Southwark

Hotels

• £££ – London Marriott County Hall
• ££ – Park Plaza County Hall
• £ – NOX Waterloo

Where will you celebrate New Year’s Eve in London?

We hope this guide has inspired you to spend New Year’s Eve in London at least once in your lifetime! 

Wherever you go, it’s essential to plan ahead, be prepared to wait around for the fireworks and to spend a long time getting back to your accommodation. 

But we think the jaw-dropping firework display over the river and London’s festive atmosphere make it all so worth the effort!

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• 22 Best Christmas Tours in London
• London in December
• London in January