Where To Watch London’s NYE Fireworks For Free

Every year on 31 December at Big Ben’s strike of midnight, the London sky is illuminated by technicolour bursts of light. These New Year’s Eve fireworks are world famous, and grace TV screens up and down the nation as celebrants belt ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and shake linked arms with irrepressible glee. Attracting 100,000 visitors and millions of viewers around the world, London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan invested £4 million in the 2023/24 display, with more than 12,000 fireworks erupting in the sky. (Of course the cost also accounts for security and stewards on the ground.)

If you’d like to see these fireworks in person, since 2014 you’ve needed a ticket for the pleasure of standing in the prime viewing spots – and they’re hard to get your paws on. And if you’re just now planning your NYE outing, I’m sorry to inform you that that ship has sailed: tickets are sold out. (But keep an eye on this page to be informed when they go on sale next year – and maybe get your hands on some resale tickets this year.)

The ticketed zone covers all riverside ground from Blackfriars down to Lambeth Bridge, with most spectators watching from Victoria Embankment opposite the star of the show, the London Eye. Surrounding roads are also closed, from Ludgate Hill, down the Strand, past Trafalgar Square and down Horse Guards Parade north of the river, and down the Southbank, around the IMAX at Waterloo, down Lower Marsh and down Lambeth Palace Rd to the south.

Outside of this ticketed zone, however, you can still watch London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks for free – here’s how.

Best Free Spots To Watch NYE Fireworks In London

First thing’s first: Tower Bridge and London Bridge are both poor choices for London’s NYE firework viewing due to the bend in the river and tall buildings blocking the view. In fact, a whole team of stewards pitches up every year redirecting people hoping to see the fireworks from these bridges, which remain open to pedestrians and motorists (a clue, perhaps).

Wherever you decide to go, make sure to avoid the tube stations inside the ticketed zone (Westminster, Embankment, Waterloo and Charing Cross) and check your tube stations are actually open before you set off – a lot of disruption and many crowds are typical on the night.

Southwark Bridge

This is the first open bridge to the northeast of the display’s ticketed zone, so it is a popular spot to grab a glimpse of the action, boasting some of the best views. Note, however, that because Millennium Bridge nearby (one of London’s weaker bridges) will be closed, Southwark Bridge gets extremely crowded. If your heart is set on this bridge, make sure you arrive early.

Lambeth Bridge

To the south of the display, Lambeth Bridge is the first bridge outside of the ticketed area that is open to pedestrians, so it’s arguably the best spot to flock to – especially because, even if it’s closer to the display, it’s further out of the city centre. It’s another busy one, but the views are some of the best (free) views you can get in London.

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Vauxhall Bridge

The next bridge south is Vauxhall Bridge, which is another great London NYE fireworks viewing spot. Linking Vauxhall to Pimlico, the bridge straddles the river just before the bend which obscures the views further downstream. Note that any bridge you opt for will be extremely cold, so wrap up warm or take a hot flask.

Cannon Street

This central London street leading to the Monument sits close to the eastern side of the action, so you can get pretty good views here too, mainly because fireworks are crucially shot into the sky. Make sure you get there early, as it is typically extremely busy here (are you spotting a theme?).

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Alexandra Palace

It’s famous for its Bonfire Night fireworks display, but Alexandra Palace is another great spot to see New Year’s Eve fireworks. So venture up the steep approach with a picnic in hand and settle in for a long evening; you’ll probably glimpse some other displays across the city, too.

Parliament Hill

Get up high for a panoramic view of the city’s fireworks at eye level. Parliament Hill offers a perfect vantage point for London’s NYE fireworks, as do the high points of Hampstead Heath in general.

Primrose Hill

This Camden spot is popular year-round for its cityscape views, so it’s another great spot to see the New Year’s Eve fireworks, especially if you’re looking to avoid the city centre.

Watch On TV

If you’d rather stay inside, the action is luckily aired on TV, too. Tune into BBC One or stream on iPlayer.

How To Get Tickets

Tickets are sold out for the London New Year’s Eve Fireworks in 2025, though some resale tickets may pop up between now and the big night if you keep checking here. And if you’d like to know when they come on sale for 2026, you can sign up to be notified here.

Ticket holders are assigned a viewing area: Blue, Red, Pink, Green, White or Orange for guests with accessibility requirements. These areas stretch along Victoria Embankment on the north side of the river, and along Belvedere Road and Albert Embankment to the south. Westminster, Hungerford and Golden Jubilee bridges will all be closed, but lucky ticket holders will be assigned a viewing spot on Waterloo Bridge.

In 2025, tickets start from £40 full price, or £20 discounted for London residents (accessed with your postcode), with a £2.66 booking fee.

If you’re not fussed about standing in the cold, check out our guide to the best NYE parties to book ahead, many boasting even better firework views.