Whether it’s cocktails and dancing, or board games and mulled wine, we all have our own traditions and ways of celebrating the dawn of a new year. And while booking yourself into a spa hotel in London or a luxury hotel room overlooking Hyde Park might feel a little decadent, with New Years’ Eve marking one of the most exciting nights of the year, we’re here to tell you that you deserve something a little special.
Using this article as a guide, plan your New Year celebrations in London and toast to new beginnings surrounded by the finest restaurants near The Arch, overlooking some of the best views in the city, or simply sipping on your favourite drinks in the company of friends.
What you need for a successful New Year
A venue, a guest list, and plenty of food and drink to tide you over until the stroke of midnight (plus one or two games or things to see and do).
This is pretty much all you need for a memorable and enjoyable New Year, although when it comes to planning an event or celebration in London, you will tend to find that venues like the Marble Arch by Montcalm offer a lot more besides.
We generally recommend starting with your budget and ideal guest list and working from there, deciding if it’s just you and a few friends looking to slot into an existing celebration event, or a larger group seeking something exclusive at a more formal venue.
As you read through this article, consider some of the tips and be sure to heed the advice from our team of event lovers and experts here in London – including exploring some of the venues and location suggestions that are a little outside the box.
Planning your perfect New Year Bash
Consider official New Year events being held around London
The New Year’s Eve fireworks in London are among some of the biggest and best in the country, and as such lots of venues and destinations around the centre of London will offer exclusive dining opportunities to those who want to see the fireworks in all their splendour from the comfort of their own dining and event space.
The London Eye is one such attraction which can be booked in advance of New Year’s Eve for firework time, or you can head to one of the locations along the Southbank or the northern banks of the river Thames for a combination of dinner and drinks with a view across the fireworks.
Aside from the fireworks themselves, lots of venues across London host ticketed New Year events – including:
- New Year’s Eve Spectacular at the Southbank Centre – with different ticket options for different budgets, and a series of spaces with different festivities from live bands to 1920s style dance halls and more, there is something for everyone on the Southbank.
- The New Year’s Eve Ball at Evolution in Battersea Park, London – a New York style party with top DJs, a four-course banquet, and tons of different rides and attractions.
- The Shard’s New Year Party – transforming the Shangri-La venue into an opulent event space by invite only. Combined with the view over the city and towards the fireworks, this is certainly not an event to be missed.
- Heritage Soho’s New Year event – this central London restaurant takes the opportunity to offer a luxurious set menu with different bottomless drinks packages, inviting guests to lose themselves in the refined elegance of one of London’s top venues.
And it’s not just ticketed events on offer to those who wish to celebrate the new year in style.
Celebrate on your own terms
London is also home to countless venues and restaurants where you can bring your own small or large ideas to life.
Some of the best options including Lucky Voice and their many private karaoke dining and party rooms, the Ballie Ballerson ball pit party designed for lots of small groups celebrating under one roof, and of course the Glide ice rink at Battersea Power Station where groups and individual visitors can take to the ice and enjoy a hot chocolate at the side of the rink.
Other good dining and smaller party spots for New Year’s Eve that are worth exploring include The Piano Works which offers dinner and drinks packages, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club which lets you create the kind of evening experience that you want, and The Rooftop at Trafalgar St James where incredible views are matched only by the high quality cocktails and the five star service you can expect all night long.
Things to think about when organising your New Year’s Eve in London
First thing’s first, if any of the aforementioned events or experiences appeal to you then the chances are that you will need to book them in advance – especially if you have more than a few individuals in your group and want to secure a spot for everyone.
In addition to the experience and your plans for the evening itself, consider where you will all stay – with hotels throughout the city often get booked well in advance of New Year on account of the fireworks and the general atmosphere across London.
And then we come to New Year’s Day and the plethora of attractions and events that are held in and around London to celebrate the dawn of a new year. When booking your overnight accommodation and timings for the days ahead, be sure to research what’s on in London and book any attractions you want to visit in plenty of time to avoid disappointment.
Some of the noteworthy attractions include the New Year’s Day Parade in central London, the annual New Year’s Day Proms concert at the Barbican event space, and of course the start of the January sales across most of London’s key retail centres and shopping districts.
Celebrate the start of 2023 with a bang, a glass of fizz, and the luxury of central London surroundings, with the help of this article.
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