Revellers hoping to catch a free glimpse of London's New Year's Eve fireworks from Tower Bridge are being warned to stay away to avoid disappointment. The City Bridge Foundation, which maintains five of London's bridges, says the iconic crossing offers a 'terrible' view of the display, hidden behind a river bend and tall buildings. The same applies to London Bridge and Southwark Bridge.
Paul Martinelli, chair of the charity, said: 'We still expect to see significant crowding on the bridges, which can present a danger to all bridge users, including pedestrians and drivers. We want everyone to have a happy New Year's Eve, but if you're after fireworks, you'll get a much better view watching the BBC's coverage at home or in one of London's numerous bars and restaurants.'
The Millennium Bridge will be closed to the public from 7pm on December 31, and Blackfriars Bridge is off limits to non-ticket holders. All bridges in Central London may close at short notice for public safety reasons. Commander Umer Khan of City of London Police urged people not to stop on bridges expecting to see the fireworks, as they are outside the event perimeter and remain open to traffic.
The warning follows news that popular lookout spots Primrose Hill and Greenwich Park will also close due to safety concerns. Official viewing areas are limited to Victoria Embankment, Waterloo and Westminster bridges, and parts of the South Bank. Tickets for the sold-out event have been resold by touts for over £250, and City Hall has issued a scam alert urging people to buy only from official partner Ticketmaster.
The fireworks display, attended by around 100,000 people each year, can be watched on BBC One from midnight to 12.15am.
