London's New Year's Eve fireworks display has been criticised as 'awful and overpriced' after warnings that revellers without tickets will struggle to see the show. The City Bridge Foundation has urged people to avoid watching from Tower Bridge, London Bridge and Southwark Bridge, where views are obscured by a river bend and tall buildings.
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.' He advised watching the BBC's coverage at home or in bars and restaurants instead. Millennium Bridge will shut from 7pm on December 31, and Blackfriars Bridge is restricted to ticket holders only.
Commander Umer Khan of City of London Police added: 'These bridges are outside the event perimeter and will remain open to traffic. We're urging people not to stop on the bridges if they're expecting to see the fireworks.' Popular spots Primrose Hill and Greenwich Park will also close due to safety concerns, with official viewing areas limited to Victoria Embankment, Waterloo and Westminster bridges and parts of the South Bank.
The event has sold out after a final batch of tickets was released in November. Touts have been inflating resale prices to over £250. Mayor Sadiq Khan warned Londoners not to buy from unofficial sites, saying: 'Each year disappointed people are turned away after spending huge sums on fake tickets.'
First held in 2000 to mark the millennium, the display has gone ahead every year since, including during the pandemic when it was broadcast without a live audience.
