The NYE countdown begins: Britain prepares to welcome in 2026 in style as tens of thousands flock to London to watch Big Ben ring in the New Year with spectacular firework display on the Thames

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 and more than 12,000 fireworks lighting up the night sky. 

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. 

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.

People have been told they 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.

Elsewhere in Bristol brave the cold wearing short skirts as they prepare for a night of partying. 

In London, mayor Sadiq Khan has issued a reminder that ‘tonight is the night’, advising those without a ticket to 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’.

‘The doors are about to open. It’s going to be a great night. We start working on these fireworks in July,’ Mr Khan said.

‘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’ as he boasted Londoners should expect the display to reflect on ‘our successes’. 

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,’ the London Mayor hinted.

‘Unfortunately we know there are bad people who want to cause us harm’, going on to claim the city is a target ‘because of [its] diversity’.

Speaking on security measures, he urged organisers would remain vigilant but insisted everyone should enjoy the night and celebrations. 

It comes as barriers has been erected and gates have been locked in parks across London ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations in a bid to prevent huge crowd of revellers.

Among the famous parks in the capital city that have been blocked off to the public by ‘grotesque’ barriers tonight is Primrose Hill in Camden.

A popular viewing spot for the fireworks with its panoramic views of London, there were an estimated 30,000 people celebrating at the park last year.

But tonight, the area has been turned into a no-go zone for ‘public safety’, with the gates set to be locked until 6am after parks police were axed in a bid to reduce costs.

Areas of the royal park have been cordoned off with solid green hoarding, while other parts have just the temporary fencing to prevent would-be spectators from entering.

Meanwhile, Greenwich Park will also be closed to the public, and Hyde Park is set to shutter at midnight to ward off partygoers.

Alexander Palace will also be shut as people were urged by City of London Corporation to not congregate at Hampstead Heath to avoid impacting the wildlife.

Elsewhere, locals of the famed Primrose Hill voiced their fury at the Royal Park’s decision branding it an ‘overreaction’.

Amy McKeown, a resident who is part of the Primrose Hill Keepers volunteer group, revealed she had already left the area to celebrate New Year’s Eve with family elsewhere.

‘It is too grotesque to see,’ she said. ‘The park has never been closed like this. This is completely unprecedented.

‘This is a public park where people should be able to come to watch the fireworks. This is exactly what we should be encouraging people to do.’

Catherin Usiskin, who has lived in the are for more than four decades, described the move as ‘an overreaction.

‘It’s just ridiculous,’ she said. It’s such an over-reaction. You can’t close down society.’

She revealed Primrose Hill, part of which is in Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s constituency, has become a lot more crowded since she began living there.

‘I understand it’s more difficult to police,’ she said. ‘But since the pandemic there has been hysteria over Primrose Hill.’

She said the closure will be harmful to restaurants and pubs in the area, but believes people will still try to gather in the park by climbing over the fencing.

Ms McKeown said the boarding is similar to barriers those used at one of Britain’s biggest festivals, Glastonbury.

The Royal Parks charity manages eight parks across London, which includes Hyde Park, Greenwich Park and The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill.

Recently, the organisation announced it would close Primrose Hill to the public for the fireworks event due to ‘limited controls’ in their ability to ‘ensure public safety’.

The closure of the park comes after the Metropolitan Police disbanded the Royal Parks Operational Unit in November in an bid to help plug a £260million funding gap.

Meanwhile, there have been growing concerns about the safety at the park following the fatal stabbing of 16-year-old Harry Pitman on New Year’s Eve 2023.

The schoolboy was in Primrose Hill to watch the fireworks display when Areece Lloyd-Hall, 18, stabbed him in the neck. He was jailed for a minimum of 16 years in November.

The Met Police has claimed it is ‘not accurate to suggest’ the decision to shut Primrose Hill was necessary because the Royal Parks policing team was disbanded.

‘The 2024 was successfully policed and went by without incident,’ she added. ‘We have gone from an open event to a huge amount of resource being used to keep people out of the park.’

Meanwhile, Hogmanay’s organisers have been able to save on fireworks for tonight’s six minute show in the Scottish capital, which is set to run with a bespoke soundtrack. 

Last year the historic event was cancelled for the third time since 2003 due to bad weather, meaning around 45,000 partygoers had to seek alternative arrangements. 

Eastern parts of the globe have already welcomed the New Year, with Japan and South Korea ushering in 2026 with bell ringing ceremonies in their respective capital cities. 

Meanwhile down under in Australia, Sydney welcomed 2026 with a stunning fireworks display.