NYE 2014 in London
It’s almost time to say goodbye to 2014 and welcome in the New Year.
If you’re spending the night in London, these are the vitals you need to know.
Travel for free
It’s free to travel on the Tube, bus, DLR, tram and Overground between 11.45pm on the 31st of December 2014 and 4.30am on the 1st of January 2015.
Some routes will be operating a special service and a number of stations will be exit only – so do use TfL’s journey planner before you leave home.
London NYE 2014 Fireworks
Over half a million1 people headed to central London to watch the NYE fireworks last year, which put immense pressure on public safety and the emergency services. So this year, ticketing has been introduced.
Unfortunately, tickets to the event have now completely sold out, but the display will be transmitted live on BBC1 on the night.
Clubs, bars and comedy
In terms of nightlife, New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest nights of the year. Check out the events running here.
Go for a nice dinner
If you’re in the mood for something a little quieter, book a table for dinner with your loved ones instead. A restaurant along the Southbank always makes for a stunning view on NYE.
Enjoy some family fun
If you’re preparing to bid farewell to 2014 with the kids, there’s plenty you can do during the daytime too.
A number of winter ice rinks have popped up across the city, which could provide a fun day out for the children before they head back to school next week.
Do something local
It’s worth checking out what events the pubs, bars and clubs in your local area have planned for NYE, as these are usually cheaper and less crowded than their equivalents in busier parts of London.
New Year’s Day Parade
Now in its 29th year, London’s New Year’s Day Parade is one of the world’s biggest street spectaculars, with up to 10, 000 performers putting on a show, hundreds of thousands of spectators gathering to watch, plus a live TV audience of millions tuning in.
This year, the parade will begin at midday at the Berkeley Street junction of Piccadilly and finish at 3.30pm in Parliament Square.
1 Gov.uk, 2014. Keeping London’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks safe and fun for all. [Online] Available at: http://www.london.gov.uk/city-hall/city-hall-blog/2014/09/keeping-londons-new-years-eve-fireworks-safe-and-fun-for-all. [Accessed 24th December 2014].