New Year’s Day is Friday 1 January 2027. If you celebrated late on New Year’s Eve, you can still make a lovely day of it in London. The parade gives central London a festive atmosphere in the afternoon, and Winter Wonderland and some ice rinks continue into the new year. Start with a relaxed brunch, pick one main outing and let the weather decide how long you stay outside.
London’s New Year’s Day Parade
The London Parade 2027 is scheduled for 1 pm to 4.30 pm on Friday 1 January. It follows Piccadilly, Regent Street St James’s, Pall Mall, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall, with marching bands, music, floats and performers. Standing along the route is free; ticket holders for reserved viewing are advised to arrive from noon.
For a first visit, we would choose a place on the route before the parade begins, then stay for as much of it as we enjoy. Piccadilly and Trafalgar Square also put you close to the Christmas decorations and places for food afterwards. Streets on and around the route close to vehicles, so a taxi cannot always take you to your chosen viewing spot. With children, bring warm layers and a snack, and choose a position where leaving the crowd is straightforward.
What else is open on 1 January?
Winter Wonderland and seasonal skating
Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park is still in its 2026–27 season and lists an 11 am opening on 1 January 2027. Its fairground, market stalls, skating and Magical Ice Kingdom make an easy alternative to the parade, especially with children. You need a dated entry slot, and paid attractions have separate bookings.
Somerset House runs its ice rink into January with a date-specific holiday timetable. Skate Leicester Square is scheduled through 3 January 2027. Pair a central skating session with Covent Garden and the lights, or spend your whole afternoon in Hyde Park rather than trying to rush between both events.
Attractions, museums and a show
The London Eye (opening times), sightseeing buses and some West End shows often have New Year’s Day sessions. Choose the specific day in the operator’s ticket calendar. If you would like an indoor visit, the British Museum, Natural History Museum and V&A each publish holiday opening arrangements; some museum galleries may open while others close. London Museum is scheduled to open its new Smithfield galleries on 28 November 2026; its visitor page will list the January timetable. See our museum guide for the kind of collection that suits your group.
A show can be a good evening plan after the parade. A Christmas Carol at The Old Vic and The Snowman at the Peacock Theatre run into January, as does Disney On Ice at The O2, but each production has its own 1 January performance schedule. Our Christmas shows guide gives you the venues and current run dates.
A relaxed New Year’s Day walk
If you would rather not book tickets, wander from Trafalgar Square towards Covent Garden for the decorations and shop windows, or walk along the South Bank for views of the London Eye, Westminster and the river. The Christmas tree at Trafalgar Square remains a familiar seasonal landmark. Some markets have finished by 1 January, while Winter Wonderland continues until 3 January 2027, so go to a market that has a published opening date rather than expecting every December stall to be there.
Food and getting around
Many restaurants and pubs open on the bank holiday, though lunch may start later than usual and a holiday menu can replace the everyday one. Book a place near the parade route or your main attraction and see our London food guide for ideas. TfL and National Rail services may run to a different timetable after New Year’s Eve; look up the trip and step-free access in the TfL Journey Planner. The parade’s road closures make walking the last stretch particularly useful.
If you have more days in London, our three-day itinerary helps you spread major attractions over the rest of the trip.
Hi, we are Alberto and Amy, the London locals behind PlanTrip London. We’ve lived in London since 2010 and have spent every year since exploring the city, from its famous landmarks to the markets, pubs, parks and hidden corners most visitors never find. Over the years we became the go-to trip planners for friends and family visiting London, so we created this site to share the same first-hand, tried-and-tested advice with you. Every itinerary, tip and recommendation here comes from our own experience with our two children, so you can plan a London trip that’s easier, better value and far more memorable.