Tens of thousands of revellers have descended on Britain’s capital city this evening in a bid to catch a glimpse of Big Ben ringing in the New Year.
An estimated 100,000 partygoers from across the country – and further afield – have flocked to London as they eagerly anticipated the famed fireworks display on the Thames.
However, the run up to the biggest party of the year has not been all smiles and cheers as Londoners who have been left furious over park closures across the capital.
Primrose Hill, one of the most popular location to view the fireworks, has been closed to the public due to ‘public safety’, meanwhile, Hyde Park and Greenwich Park are set to close early in a bid to ward off partygoers.
Meanwhile, partygoers across the globe in Australia, Japan, Beijing, Singapore, Thailand and Manila have welcomed in the New Year with a spectacular array of colourful displays lighting up the night sky.
And while Brits are gleefully making their way to London, Cardiff as well as hordes of revellers heading to world-famous Hogmanay streets party in Edinburgh, a bitter cold snap is on the horizon.
The Met Office have issued yellow weather warnings for snow and ice issued across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, which are set to take grip of the country from midnight until 12pm on January 2.
Sisters Lisi and Aura from Gran Canaria celebrate Hogmanay in Edinburgh, Scotland
Jamie and Titus Crabtree with Thomas Horton III from America wear kilts to celebrate Hogmanay 2026 in the Scottish capital city
Revellers draw out 2026 with their sparklers as they celebrate New Year’s Eve in Edinburgh
Parts of northern Scotland are set to be battered by heavy snow as the clock strikes midnight, leaving some rural communities isolated and sparking travel delays for drivers, buses and trains.
The forecaster has also warned of power cuts as well as impacted mobile phone reception and impassable cycle paths and pavements, with as much as 30cm of snow expected in some areas.
And the frosty temperatures are only set to blow further into the UK, with Northern Ireland, London and its surrounding areas, parts of the midlands and Wales also being issued with a yellow weather warning on January 2.
It comes after a rare cold-health alert was issued for the whole of England, amid warnings some are likely to die as a result of the Arctic freeze sweeping in with the New Year.
The bitter snap, predicted to last a week, has already seen temperatures plummet to almost -10C, and snow and ice has been forecast for many parts of the UK including London.
Amber cold-health alerts are in place for every region of England from 8pm this evening until the morning of January 6.
According to the government, this warning level means that the weather is likely to have ‘significant impacts’ on the public’s health and lead to excess deaths amongst people over 65 – and possibly younger age groups too.
It advises that people may struggle to keep their houses heated above 18 degrees, and that the mercury may also drop inside vital facilities such as hospitals and care homes.
Photos taken this afternoon show London Bridge already packed out as Brits don wooly hats and scarves in preparation for the occasion
Visitors are pictured taking photos with the backdrop of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, which will chime in the new year
One large poster read, in capital letters: ‘NYE event tickets sold out’
London mayor Sadiq Khan issued a reminder today that ‘tonight is the night’ – advising those without a ticket that they could still watch the display on television ‘from the comfort’ of their home.
It comes the Metropolitan Police urged those without a ticket to Khan’s famous fireworks display near the London Eye and Big Ben to watch online as tickets have already sold out.
National Rail has announced that several rail firms will be running extra services after the clock strikes twelve and events in England’s capital city and boozy Brits make their way home.
Meanwhile, photos from this afternoon show a bustling London Bridge already packed with city-dwellers donning cosy woolly hats and scarves as they gear up to ring in the New Year.
Signs have also been spotted around London’s stations, directing attendees to where they can watch the event, with one large poster informing passers-by: ‘NYE event tickers sold out’.
Mr Khan said this evening: ‘The doors are about to open. It’s going to be a great night. We start working on these fireworks in July.
‘We’ve got more than 12,000 fireworks. We have lights and we’re going to have illuminations.’
The Labour mayor went on to claim the display was going to be ‘the best fireworks in the world’.
He boasted Londoners could expect the fireworks to reflect us to ‘look back at our successes’.
A magnificent fireworks display over the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok as Thailand rang in the New Year
A colourful display lights up the sky in Singapore as the country welcome in 2026
Dancers perform at the Juyongguan Great Wall, Beijing, on January 1 as revellers celebrate the New Year
A projection mapping is displayed on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building as the Southeast Asian country welcomes 2026
Fireworks explode over skyscrapers on New Year’s in Manila, Philippines
Fireworks light up the sky in Taipei, Taiwan as they ring in the New Year
And he hinted at a voiceover from a London movie story as well as ‘somebody looking for a husband’.
‘It’s a great chance to showcase our city to the world. So there is a serious point as well to a great night of fun,’ Mr Khan said.
He added: ‘Unfortunately we know there are bad people who want to cause us harm’, going on to claim ‘we are a target because of our diversity’.
Speaking on security measures, he said organisers would remain vigilant but that everyone should enjoy the night.
