New Year’s revellers London have been given a warning after events were cancelled worldwide, with a popular park closed off to stop people gathering to see the capital’s fireworks
09:32, 31 Dec 2025Updated 09:34, 31 Dec 2025
London’s firework display is renowned around the world(Image: Getty Images)
Revellers seeing in the New Year have been warned against heading to London hotspots to watch the city’s famous firework display over fears of overcrowding and public safety.
Popular beauty spot Primrose Hill – where thousands traditionally flock to see in the New year – will be closed off to the public on Wednesday night. It comes after events worldwide were axed amid serious safety fears from local councils.
And central areas like the Millennium Bridge will be closed, while Blackfriars Bridge will be off limits to those without tickets to the official Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks event while revellers are warned to avoid Tower Bridge and London Bridge.
New Year revellers are warned to expect danger of overcrowding (Image: Getty Images)
An estimated 30,000 people descended the park in Camden last year to take in its panoramic views of the capital, but it will be closed from 8pm today until 6am on New Years Day after the dedicated parks police were scrapped as part of a cost-cutting measure.
The Metropolitan Police disbanded the capital’s Royal Parks unit in November in a bid to help plug a £260million funding gap. The force have denied the decision to close the park was due to the breakup of the unit.
There have been growing concerns about safety at the park after schoolboy Harry Pitman, 16, was knifed in the neck when he watched the fireworks display on New Year’s Eve 2023. Areece Lloyd-Hall, 18, was jailed for a minimum of 16 years for his murder.
Primrose Hill is a popular beauty spot in Camden(Image: PA)
A Royal Parks spokesperson said the decision to shut Primrose Hill for New Year’s Eve was “not taken lightly”, but added as it was not an organised event but a gathering in open parkland, it had “limited controls that we can deploy to ensure public safety”.
Meanwhile, those watching the fireworks in London have been urged not to go to certain areas as there’s likely to be significant overcrowding.
Paul Martinelli, the chair of the City Bridge Foundation, said: “Tower Bridge, London Bridge and Southwark Bridge provide a terrible view of the fireworks. The Millennium Bridge will be closed, and Blackfriars Bridge will be off limits to non-ticket holders.
Parts of Central London will be closed tonight due to the fireworks (Image: London Assembly)
“We still expect to see significant crowding on the bridges, which can present a danger to all bridge users, including pedestrians and drivers who will also be using the bridges.”
Elsewhere, Scotland Yard urged people to plan their travel into and out of London and head to organised events where possible.
Commander John said New Year’s Eve was “always one of the busiest nights of the year for us” which involved months of planning. He said: “The most visible part of our policing plan will be the officers in central London, but it extends right across the city.”
A heavy police presence was seen on guard at Sydney’s world famous Opera House(Image: Getty Images)
We previously reported how cancellations left tens of thousands of revellers disappointed, with fireworks displays, parties and live events amongst those called off.
Some unofficial gatherings were scrapped after the FBI foiled a planned bomb plot in Los Angeles, resulting in four arrests during a practice run of their intended attack.
And a heavy police presence was seen on guard at Sydney’s world famous Opera House ahead of the city’s Harbour Bridge iconic New Year’s Eve fireworks display.
Earlier this month, the city was rocked by a rampaging terror attack as gunmen opened fire at families celebrating the Jewish holy festival of Hanukkah on Bondi Beach.
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