• All tickets now booked following 10 week booking period
• Those without a ticket are advised to avoid the event area
• Plan ahead to make the most of one of the busiest nights of the year
The hugely popular London New Year's Eve Fireworks display is now fully booked, it was confirmed today. With less than three weeks to go until the start of 2015, anyone without a ticket is being advised to avoid the Embankment and Southbank areas on New Year's Eve and plan ahead, in order to make the most of one of the busiest nights of the year.
100,000 tickets were first made available to the public in September, with a staggered release to ensure multiple opportunities to secure a place on the night. Anyone without a ticket will not be able to get into the viewing areas and the display is not being screened in Trafalgar Square or Parliament Square. There will be restricted access to St James’s Park and all park roads will be closed to through traffic from 2pm. For anyone without a ticket, the best view of the fireworks will be live on BBC One.
Ticketing has been introduced for the first time, in consultation with the Metropolitan Police, emergency services, boroughs and other partners, to help manage crowd numbers which have been growing each year. Since first being staged at the London Eye on the South Bank in 2003, the numbers heading to see the acclaimed pyrotechnic and lighting display have dramatically increased from an estimated 100,000 people in its first year to an estimated 500,000 last year, putting enormous strain on transport, infrastructure and the ability of the emergency services to move around.
Organised by the Mayor of London, the aim is to ensure the internationally acclaimed fireworks display, which is seen by millions of people on television across the UK and promotes London around the world, can continue in the longer term as a safe and enjoyable event.
If you haven't got a ticket for the fireworks there are many other fantastic events and experiences to enjoy, but revellers are reminded that New Year's Eve is one of the busiest nights of the year, particularly in central London. Anyone going out on the night is advised to plan ahead to get the most out of the plethora of other celebratory activities taking place in bars, restaurants, pubs and clubs across the capital.
The capital's amazing night life is world famous and there are a multitude of ways to celebrate as establishments all over the city will be pulling out all the stops to make New Year's Eve 2014 one of the most memorable ever. VisitLondon has compiled a list of the ten best dining experiences on the night, from medieval banquets to black-tie dinners at the Royal Opera House. Many London pubs and gastro pubs are staying open past midnight, or you could visit a comedy club, or catch a matinee performance at a West End theatre. The city is also one of the clubbing capitals of Europe and there are a host of specially organised club nights in unique locations around the city. To find out more about what is going on visit www.visitlondon.com/nye.
Public transport will be the best way to get about. TfL will provide free travel between 23:45 and 04:30 on the bus, Tube, tram, DLR and London Overground. Revellers are advised to plan their journeys and check www.tfl.gov.uk for travel information.
For updates about the London New Year's Eve Fireworks go towww.london.gov.uk/nye. For additional information, please contact the Greater London Authority: 020 7983 4100.
For live updates on the night follow #londonnye.
Notes to editors
1. Since first being staged at the London Eye on the South Bank in 2003, the numbers of people heading to see the acclaimed pyrotechnic and lighting display have mushroomed from an estimated 100,000 people in its first year to an estimated 500,000 last year (2013). Last year around half a million people are estimated to have headed to see the display, putting enormous strain on transport and ability of the emergency services to move around.
2. After extensive consultation with the Metropolitan Police, emergency services, Transport for London, local authorities and other key partners it was decided that ticketing the event was the best way to ensure the safety of those attending and to help secure the long term future of what has become an iconic London event
3. Each ticket carried a £10 administration fee, which covers the costs of running the ticketing scheme. No profit is being made and every penny of the fee is being used to cover the costs associated with the scheme, including printing, distribution, on the ground ticket checks and extra infrastructure including additional fencing, stewards and toilets.
4. If you haven't got a ticket to attend the fireworks there are many other amazing events and experiences to enjoy, but revellers are advised to plan ahead and book in advance. The capital's amazing night life is world famous and there are a multitude of ways to celebrate as establishments all over the city will be pulling out all the stops to make New Year’s Eve 2014 one of the most memorable ever. VisitLondon has compiled a list of the ten best dining experiences on the night, from medieval banquets to black-tie dinners at the Royal Opera House. Many London pubs and gastro pubs are staying open past midnight or you could visit a comedy club or catch a matinee performance at a West End theatre. The city is also one of the clubbing capitals of Europe and there are a host of specially organised club nights in unique locations around the city.www.visitlondon.com/newyearseve.
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