New Year’s Eve in London centres on the Mayor of London’s fireworks over the River Thames beside the London Eye, a ticketed event since 2014, according to the Mayor’s office. In 2026 the event runs from 8pm on Thursday 31 December to 12:30am on Friday 1 January 2027, with tickets costing between £20 and £55 and sold only through Ticketmaster. You cannot enter the viewing areas without a ticket, and prices are lower for people who live in a London postcode (the UK term for a postal code).
This guide is part of our England collection and our Plan Your Trip guides. Details below come from the Mayor of London’s official event page unless another source is named.
Contents
- History of London’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks
- Planning New Year’s Eve in London: Practical Information
- Frequently Asked Questions
History of London’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks
Ticketing Since 2014
The Mayor of London’s office says the New Year’s Eve fireworks have been a ticketed event since 2014. In its 2026 announcement, the office said ticketing has helped make the event safe, enjoyable and sustainable in the long term. The same release describes the celebrations as a boost to the capital’s economy and a global advert for London. Source: Mayor of London press release, 16 October 2026.
The 2025 Display
The Mayor of London’s office reported that around 100,000 ticketholders lined the banks of the Thames for the 2025 display. It says the Greater London Authority delivered the show with BBC Studios Events and the London Eye. The same release estimates that ticketholders alone generate around £14m of additional revenue for London businesses. Source: Mayor of London press release, 31 December 2025.
Planning New Year’s Eve in London: Practical Information
Dates and times: Thursday 31 December 2026 at 8:00pm to Friday 1 January 2027 at 12:30am.
Entry times: 8:00pm to 10:30pm for every viewing area.
Tickets: Sold only through the official seller, Ticketmaster. You can buy up to 4 tickets, and they are released in two batches. The first batch is on sale now, and the official page does not yet give a date for the second.
Ticket prices (2026): Category A viewing areas (blue, pink and white) cost £55, or £35 for London postcode residents. Category B viewing areas (red, green and orange) cost £40, or £20 for London postcode residents. Prices include VAT (UK sales tax), and a small booking fee goes to the ticketing provider. Prices are unchanged from last year.
Resident discount: Your billing address must match the London postcode you enter, and you may be asked for proof of address on the night.
Photo ID: The main ticket buyer may need to show photo ID matching the name on the group’s tickets, such as a passport or photo driving licence.
Children: The event is not suitable for young children. Under-16s must be with an adult, and everyone needs a ticket.
Refunds and resale: Refunds are not available. You can resell tickets at face value through Ticketmaster’s Fan-to-Fan Resale platform, and tickets bought or sold anywhere else are not valid.
Viewing Areas
There are six ticketed viewing areas. You cannot move between them on the night, so friends should book the same area. The areas are on closed roads and can be crowded, particularly at entrances. Apart from orange, they have no seating, and you may need to travel up to 2km between your area and public transport.
Blue (Category A): Victoria Embankment from Westminster Bridge to Golden Jubilee Footbridge, with a head-on view opposite the London Eye. Use Gate 1 from Victoria station or Gate 2 from Charing Cross or Embankment.
Red (Category B): Victoria Embankment from Golden Jubilee Footbridge to Temple Avenue, with a side view further down the river. Use Gate 4 from Holborn, which has no step-free access, or Gate 5 from Blackfriars.
Pink (Category A): Waterloo Bridge only, with a side view of the London Eye. Use Gate 6 from Southwark station.
Green (Category B): The area directly behind the London Eye, with an up-close view. Use Gate 7 from Waterloo station.
White (Category A): Westminster Bridge only, with a side view close to the London Eye. Use Gate 8 from Waterloo station. There is no access from Westminster Underground station.
Orange (Category B, accessible): Albert Embankment, on the riverside of St Thomas’ Hospital, with a partial side view. Use Gate 9 from Waterloo station. This area has seating (you can also bring fold-up seating), a hearing loop and a Changing Places toilet, and it is about 2km from the nearest public transport.
Getting There
Bridges: You cannot use Westminster Bridge, Golden Jubilee Footbridge, Lambeth Bridge, Blackfriars Bridge or Waterloo Bridge before or after the event. Choose the side of the river you want to be on afterwards, because stations will be very busy when the event ends.
Vehicles: No vehicles, including buses, coaches, cars, vans, trucks and bikes, are allowed in the restricted event area or the surrounding areas. Access is restricted from 2:00pm on 31 December until around 6:00am on 1 January. Some central London roads also stay closed for the London Parade 2027.
Journey planning: Transport will be much busier than usual, so plan your journey in advance with Transport for London.
Other ways to celebrate: The Mayor’s office points to Visit London’s New Year’s Eve page for other events across the city.
Official website: london.gov.uk
Where to book: Ticketmaster, the official ticket seller
Prices last checked: November 2026
Opening hours last checked: November 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
The official fireworks can be watched from six ticketed viewing areas on both banks of the Thames around the London Eye, named blue, red, pink, green, white and orange, according to the Mayor of London’s official event page. Each area has its own numbered entrance gate.
Not from the official viewing areas. The Mayor of London’s official event page says you cannot attend the fireworks without a ticket, and people without tickets are not allowed to enter the viewing areas.
Tickets cost between £20 and £55 depending on the viewing area and whether you live in a London postcode, according to the Mayor of London’s official event page. A small booking fee is charged on top.
Entry to the viewing areas is open from 8pm to 10:30pm on Thursday 31 December 2026, and the event ends at 12:30am. Each area has its own numbered gate, so check yours before you travel.
The Mayor of London’s office says the event is not suitable for young children and strongly recommends not bringing them, because it is a late-night, crowded outdoor event. Under-16s must be with an adult, and everyone needs a ticket.
No vehicles are allowed in the restricted event area or the surrounding areas. Vehicle access is restricted from 2pm on 31 December until around 6am on 1 January, according to the Mayor of London’s official event page.
The Mayor of London’s office says there are thousands of ways to celebrate in the capital and points to Visit London’s New Year’s Eve page for what’s on. The fireworks tickets sell out quickly, so it is worth looking at other options early.
Leave a Reply