The New Year’s Eve Firework display in London is always an impressive sight to behold and this year should be no different. Last year, we were treated to an impressive 11 minutes of spectacular visuals set to top British music and this is probably the only moment of the year when I do feel patriotic. The London Eye offers the perfect backdrop to the display and previous years have seen crowds of a quarter of a million people gather to see in the New Year.
Due to it’s huge popularity, the event has been ticketed since 2014 and the area gets so incredibly busy that organisers say if you don’t have a ticket then don’t come into the area. There are plenty of places around London where the display can be seen free of charge but expect these to be super busy too. Some rooftop bars offer a great viewing platform but you might find these events are ticketed also. Some hotels on the river are hosting events and may still have rooms left with a view of the display but expect to pay a small fortune for one of those. My advice would be to stay at home.
This sounds a bit dull and defeatist, especially if you’ve always to see the London display, but think of the benefits. You will save a fortune. London is an expensive place at normal times but New Year’s Eve? Anything from transport, accommodation, parking, food and drink is going to set you back some serious wonga. If you’ve planned months in advance and got tickets etc then great, if you haven’t, then watch it on the TV. For TV aerials Cheltenham, visit http://steveunettaerials.co.uk/ to ensure you have the best possible picture from you TV.
To liven things up a bit, you could always host your very own NYE party that culminates in watching the display on TV at midnight. You get to stay in the warm comfort of your own home and not struggle to find space on a London tube. To get a decent spot to see the display, you have to get there early and this means standing around in the cold for hours before the display even starts. If you have children then this is an almost impossible feat. They will get bored, cold and will inevitably need the toilet every ten minutes!
Considering the current terrorist incidents in Europe, the idea of standing in a group of thousands of people in the centre of London leaves me a little apprehensive. I know we cannot give in to terrorism but why take the risk? The display looks amazing on a 40″ flat screen TV too. The threat level in the UK at the moment is severe, which means that a terrorist attack is highly likely. Of course, London has high security and is a very safe place to be but sometimes it just seems that staying at home might be a safer option.