New Year’s Eve in London 2026–2027: Fireworks & Things to Do

Planning to welcome 2027 in London? Here are our favourite ways to spend 31 December 2026: watch the London Eye fireworks, take a Thames cruise, book dinner or make an evening of the city’s festive lights. We have also included our own experiences of watching the display from farther away, so you can choose the night that suits you.

New Year’s Eve in London can be an unforgettable experience and one of the best ways to welcome the New Year in style. Choose from New Year´s Eve dinner at one of London´s top restaurants to a River Cruise with views of the Fireworks, or celebrate at one of London´s most exquisite New Year´s Eve Parties.

Many people travel to London to celebrate New Year´s Eve in the city, and not only does this mean that you´ll be spoilt for options to celebrate the arrival of the New Year, but it also means that you´ll be able to experience London at Christmas. See the wonderful Christmas lights in central London and enjoy the Christmas markets and fairs. Christmas, in my opinion, is one of the best times of the year to visit London.

How is New Year’s Eve celebrated in London?

London celebrates New Year’s Eve on December 31st with some of the most famous fireworks in the world. These New Year’s Eve fireworks take place at the London Eye after Big Ben’s 12 chimes at midnight.

You can buy tickets to see the NYE fireworks in London, but there are other ways to enjoy the fireworks, such as restaurants or party venues with views of the river or river cruises.

Here, you will find a guide with everything you need to know if you plan to spend New Year’s Eve in London this year. We have included a list of a few of our favourite restaurants offering special New Year´s Eve Menus and the best New Year’s Eve River Cruises.

New Year’s Eve Thames River Cruises in London

One of the best ways to celebrate New Year´s Eve in London in style is on a Thames River Cruise with first-row views of London´s New Year´s Eve fireworks and breathtaking views.

Several New Year´s Eve Cruises are planned for this year, and you can choose from a chilled-out live Jazz Cruise with champagne to the ultimate New Year´s Eve Party aboard a cruise ship. There are also New Year’s Eve River Cruises available for families with children, so it’s simply a matter of choosing the river cruise that best suits your needs.

For 31 December 2026, the easiest choice is between an adults-only party boat, a dinner cruise, and a shorter sailing focused on the fireworks. The boarding pier matters: some central London streets and stations have restricted access on the night, so allow plenty of time to walk from your chosen station.

Recommended New Year’s Eve Cruises in London

Sapele: dinner at Doggett’s and a family-friendly river cruise. This is the choice if you want a proper sit-down meal first: a three-course dinner and welcome drink at Doggett’s Coat and Badge at 5 pm, then a short walk to Bankside Pier for boarding at 9.30 pm. There is live music on board and a cash bar; the boat returns at about 1.15 am. Children are welcome. See the 2026 Sapele cruise details.

Avontuur: a lively adults-only party. This Westminster Pier sailing includes a DJ, dancing and beer, wine, prosecco and soft drinks, with views from its deck as the city welcomes 2027. It is for over-18s and lasts around five hours. See the Avontuur cruise.

London Rose: music and open-deck views. This adults-only cruise leaves Westminster Millennium Pier at 9 pm after an 8.45 pm boarding, returning at around 1 am. A DJ, dance floor and beer, wine, prosecco and soft drinks are included; food is available to purchase. See the London Rose cruise.

If you would rather dine on the boat, the 2026 New Year’s Eve cruise collection also lists Galaxy, Celestial, Dinner Cruise and Dinner Plus options, with different meals, music and sailing lengths. Compare the age policy, menu and exact departure pier before choosing; seats for a particular boat are limited.

Where to dine on New Year’s Eve in London

As you can imagine, there are thousands of fantastic restaurants in London, and choosing where to book for New Year’s Eve in London can be difficult with so many choices.

One of the most popular options is to celebrate NYE at one of London’s restaurants with views of the fireworks. But the truth is that not many restaurants in London have views of the London Eye, so you must book in advance!

London does have some fantastic restaurants and venues where NYE can be magical. So even if you can’t book one of the restaurants with views of the London Eye, don’t worry, as there are many options. Some of the best restaurants with fantastic views in London are Aqua Shard, Madison, Sky Bar, Duck and Waffle or Sushisamba.

You may not be able to see the London Eye NYE’s Fireworks from these restaurants, but you will have excellent views and be able to see loads of fireworks from all over London at midnight.

Restaurants located in central London are often booked out several weeks before New Year’s Eve. Some ideas: Prezzo, Bill´s, Spaghetti House, Bella Italia, Wagamama, Bill’s…

For an intimate dinner, some of our favourite places are Maggie Jones’s in Kensington and La Poule au Pot in Belgravia. Sarastro in Covent Garden is a fun choice before a West End show. Reserve a specific 31 December sitting with the restaurant rather than assuming its everyday menu or usual closing time applies.

New Year’s Eve Parties in London

Hundreds of New Year’s Eve parties are held in London, of all kinds! Some of these parties take place in skyscrapers with mouth-opening views; there are also themed parties or boat parties…

One of London’s most spectacular New Year’s Eve parties is the London New Year´s Eve Ball, which offers a complete themed party dinner package.

Public Transport on New Year’s Eve in London

Millions of people celebrate the arrival of the New Year in London, making this one of the most important nights of the year. Many people are expected to use London’s public transport this night. Road closures and station controls around the fireworks mean that your usual route home may change. Plan a walking route to a station beyond the busiest riverside streets, and use the TfL event and service updates for the New Year’s Eve timetable and any overnight services. If you are taking children or travelling from outside London, work out your return journey before you book an evening event.

New Year’s Eve fireworks in London

London’s famous New Year’s Eve fireworks take place on the London Eye after Big Ben announces that January 1st has arrived. Every year, the New Year’s Eve fireworks light up the London Eye and London’s sky to the rhythm of music. This music can be heard all along the banks of the river through the loudspeakers. It’s no wonder that every year, the thousands of people who plan to spend New Year’s Eve in London do so with the intention of seeing the famous fireworks live.

» Tickets to see London’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks 

The New Year’s Eve fireworks event in London was free for many years. You simply needed patience, to get there in time and stand for several hours in the crowds. For security reasons and due to the large number of people who attended the event each year, they created a ticketing system to make the event safer.

For this reason, it has been necessary to buy tickets for the New Year’s Eve fireworks in London for the last few years to see them live from the banks of the Thames. As you can imagine, tickets tend to sell out very quickly.

Fireworks tickets for 31 December 2026: The date for the first release has yet to be announced. In recent years tickets have first gone on sale in October, with a smaller release in November. Tickets to enter the official riverside viewing areas must be bought in advance through the authorised seller named by the Mayor of London. See the 2026 event and ticket information.

Areas to see the New Year’s Eve fireworks in London

Previous events used separate colour-coded viewing zones on both banks of the Thames. We found the north bank facing the London Eye gives a direct view, while the south bank can bring you closer to the wheel; the exact layout, entry gates and step-free access for 2026 will be published with this year’s tickets. Choose the viewing area on the official map before you buy, because gates are tied to particular tickets and it is difficult to cross the river once the event cordon is in place.

• North bank: stretches of Victoria Embankment on either side of the wheel’s sightline have traditionally offered a frontal view, although your angle changes as you move east. Tickets have previously distinguished Blue and Red areas.
• Westminster Bridge: this has previously been a separate ticketed area with access from the south side.
• South bank: the area behind the London Eye has previously been a separate zone. Some of the wheel’s structure may sit between you and the main display.
• Waterloo Bridge: in previous years this has offered a more distant, partly angled view.
• Accessible viewing: the organiser publishes its accessible area and arrival instructions separately; select the appropriate ticket and entrance on the current official map.

Pick the zone for the view you want and the journey you can manage afterwards; arriving at the wrong side of the road closure can add a long detour. Wear warm layers, allow time for security and carry your ticket on your phone.

» How to see London New Year’s Eve Fireworks without tickets

As the New Year’s Eve fireworks are huge, they can be seen from other places in London. So you could dine in a nice restaurant and then watch the fireworks elsewhere.

For a more relaxed night, you can watch the skyline from farther away, choose a riverside cruise, or book a restaurant or rooftop with a direct sightline. The television broadcast is another excellent family option if you would rather skip the midnight crowds.

Watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks in London from a park

> Parliament Hill in Hampstead Heath: We went to see the fireworks from here in 2013, and the truth is that it was quite an interesting experience as it rained a lot! This is probably the highest and farthest point from which you can see the New Year’s Eve fireworks in London. We recommend having dinner at one of the many restaurants in Hampstead or Belsize Park and then going up Parliament Hill on Hampstead Heath. Even though London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks are quite far away, I loved seeing how suddenly, at midnight, the entire horizon lights up with fireworks all over London. The nearest tube station is Hampstead.

> Alexandra Palace: This is one of the highest points in London. From here, you will also see loads of fireworks from different neighbourhoods, with the London Eye’s fireworks in the background. Many people choose this area because it is outside the hustle and bustle of central London, but it is even further than Parliament Hill. The nearest tube stop is Wood Green.

We have watched London’s fireworks from Primrose Hill in earlier years, but it is a poor choice to build this year’s night around: the hill has been closed on recent New Year’s Eves, and the Royal Parks does not offer official viewing areas for the Mayor’s show. If you want a distant hilltop view, Parliament Hill is the more useful starting point for planning.

See the New Year’s Eve fireworks in London from a bridge:

Westminster Bridge and Waterloo Bridge are the closest to the London Eye, and these bridges are part of the ticketed areas, so you need to buy tickets if you want to watch the fireworks from any of these bridges.

Vauxhall Bridge and Lambeth Bridge are farther from the London Eye. We have enjoyed the view from Vauxhall Bridge, but these are distant street viewpoints rather than part of the ticketed show. Road closures can alter access on the night, so leave yourself another viewing plan if a bridge is restricted.

New Year’s Day in London

One of the many questions we receive is what to do on January 1st in London. Many people think that as it’s a bank holiday, everything in London will be closed and that you won’t be able to do any sightseeing if you are visiting London. The truth is that even though some businesses use bank holiday hours, there are still plenty of things to do in London on New Year’s Day.

London’s New Year Day parade is one of London’s most anticipated events, and I’d highly recommend watching it if you are in London. There is also a New Year’s concert, and some London museums will be open to the public.

Planning a trip to London for Christmas

Christmas in London is magical. In addition to celebrating an unforgettable New Year’s Eve in London, visiting London during Christmas will allow you to enjoy the city at it’s best, even if you arrive in London after Christmas Day. Several Christmas markets continue into early January and many light displays stay up into the first week of the month, although each has its own closing date. The ice skating rinks will remain open, and the wonderful Winter Wonderland will still be in Hyde Park.

If you are planning a trip to London, don’t forget to take a look at our itineraries so you make the most of your trip to London, whether you come as a couple, as a group of friends or if you come as a family with children and you want the trip to be unforgettable for the little ones. Our passion for London inspires us to write articles with useful information so that you can plan the perfect trip to London, and if you have any questions, simply leave us a comment, and we will reply as soon as possible.

London New Year’s Eve Fireworks Video

Alberto & Amy

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.