UK sees in 2025 with spectacular London fireworks display as weather chaos cancels events elsewhere
The UK has greeted 2025 on a night when weather disrupted planned celebrations across Scotland and northern England, while crowds in London gathered for a firework display that went ahead despite the conditions.
Crowds had gathered in central London for the traditional display that centres around the London Eye on the River Thames.
London’s mayor Sadiq Khan, announcing that the event would go ahead as planned, said: “I’m really excited about the London New Year’s Eve fireworks, the biggest fireworks taking place anywhere across Europe. Hundreds of thousands of fireworks, great light display but also a great soundtrack tonight as well.”
An amber warning for heavy rain was been put in place across parts of north-west England until 9am on New Year’s Day, PA Media reporter.
The Met Office warning stretches from Settle in the Yorkshire Dales across to Preston and down to parts of the Peak District. The warning states that heavy rain is “likely to lead to disruption including flooding in some locations” with a chance some places could see more than 10cm of rain.
Some celebrations in Edinburgh had already been disrupted after a decision on Monday to cancel outdoor event due to the risk of weather conditions.
In a message ahead of the new year, UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, compared the task his government faces with that the Attlee government faced in 1945, and said there would be “a year of rebuilding”.
Conservative opposition leader Kemi Badenoch told voters to “Watch this space” as she said the Conservative party faced “a long term project” of renewal and that “Things may be bumpy along the way.”
Key events
Big Ben is chiming …
UK sees in 2025 with spectacular London fireworks display as weather chaos cancels events elsewhere
The UK has greeted 2025 on a night when weather disrupted planned celebrations across Scotland and northern England, while crowds in London gathered for a firework display that went ahead despite the conditions.
Crowds had gathered in central London for the traditional display that centres around the London Eye on the River Thames.
London’s mayor Sadiq Khan, announcing that the event would go ahead as planned, said: “I’m really excited about the London New Year’s Eve fireworks, the biggest fireworks taking place anywhere across Europe. Hundreds of thousands of fireworks, great light display but also a great soundtrack tonight as well.”
An amber warning for heavy rain was been put in place across parts of north-west England until 9am on New Year’s Day, PA Media reporter.
The Met Office warning stretches from Settle in the Yorkshire Dales across to Preston and down to parts of the Peak District. The warning states that heavy rain is “likely to lead to disruption including flooding in some locations” with a chance some places could see more than 10cm of rain.
Some celebrations in Edinburgh had already been disrupted after a decision on Monday to cancel outdoor event due to the risk of weather conditions.
In a message ahead of the new year, UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, compared the task his government faces with that the Attlee government faced in 1945, and said there would be “a year of rebuilding”.
Conservative opposition leader Kemi Badenoch told voters to “Watch this space” as she said the Conservative party faced “a long term project” of renewal and that “Things may be bumpy along the way.”
Television coverage in the UK is switching to the fireworks in London …
My colleagues in Australia have put together this gallery of great images from the new year celebrations there – where the weather looks significantly better than in the UK.
By the way, if you think I am freewheeling a bit on the live blog here, Sophie Ellis-Bexter has just introduced on stage on BBC One a giant full-sized resin horse replica face-painted as David Bowie’s Aladdin Sane character, which she claimed she bought online during lockdown. I feel safe that I will not be doing anything as weird as that.
As we build up to midnight in the UK, here are some more striking photographs of new year celebrations from different countries around the world.
Do you fancy another round-up of the year before we hit midnight in the UK? Of course you do. The Tom Jenkins’ best sport photographs of 2024 gallery is well worth a couple minutes of your time.
Here are a couple of images from London where crowds have gathered for the firework display.
Robbie Williams has also been working hard this evening. He was the top billed interviewee on the Graham Norton Show on BBC One earlier tonight, and was also living it up headlining ABC’s celebrations in Sydney. I should have roped him in to help with the live blog too.
While I know that there will be readers of this blog from all over the world at the moment – and I notice some of our Australian readers in the comments are already up and several hours into the new year – with it coming up to less than half hour to go until midnight in the UK and me being based in London, I’m going to put my focus there for a little while.
I’ve just put the Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s New Year’s Eve Disco Party on BBC One on in the background. She is not entirely my personal cup of tea to be honest, but I actually saw her live the other week supporting the Human League at Wembley Arena, and I have to say I was left in awe at her ability as a support act to get a whole arena up and dancing and signing along. It was like being at a Joe Wicks’ workout, but with Abba cover versions.
Here are some more pictures from around the world as cities see in the new year.
Here is a view of the fireworks over the Quadriga sculpture on top of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.
Paris, Rome, Berlin, Brussels and Madrid greet the New Year
It has turned midnight across large swathes of western Europe, with crowds greeting the new year in the capitals and other many other cities of France, Italy, Germany, Belgium and Spain.
PA Media has spoken to people in Edinburgh where weather warnings have forced the cancellation of outside celebrations for Hogmanay.
David Liew, a 59-year-old lawyer from Singapore, told the news agency “We’ll just walk around, you know, we see a lot of lights, a lot of stores. We’ll just walk around, take some pictures and hopefully make the best use of our time.”
Elisa Dorris, who is originally from Spain but now lives in Dublin, flew to Edinburgh with friends in order to see the fireworks. “We are very disappointed,” the 23-year-old said, “but we will try to have fun here in the Christmas market.”
Keir Starmer New Year’s message vows to rebuild Britain as Labour did after second world war
Kiran Stacey
Kiran Stacey is a political correspondent based in Westminster for the Guardian
Keir Starmer has promised to rebuild Britain as Labour did after the second world war as he enters a pivotal year for his premiership.
The prime minister said in his prerecorded new year message that 2025 would be a year of rebuilding, with his government looking to turn the corner after a turbulent first six months in power.
Starmer invoked the forthcoming 80th anniversary of VE Day in May as he compared the task his government faces with that the Attlee government faced in 1945.
Starmer said: “That is what we will be focusing on: a year of rebuilding. But also, rediscovering the great nation that we are, a nation that gets things done no matter how hard or tough the circumstances.
“We will have time to reflect on that this year, a chance, with the 80th anniversary of VE and VJ Day, to cherish the greatest victories of this country and the greatest generation that achieved it.
“But that victory, and indeed the peace and the prosperity that followed, all rested on that same foundation we must rebuild today. The security of working people, that is the purpose of this government, the goal of our plan for change. And we will push it forward in 2025.”
You can read more of Kiran Stacey’s report here: Keir Starmer vows to rebuild Britain as Labour did after second world war
Met Éireann has also weather warnings in place, with Cork and Kerry told to expect “persistent rain”, potentially causing “localised flooding” and “hazardous travelling conditions”.
New Year’s Eve: London fireworks event to goes ahead despite weather concerns as UK events elsewhere cancelled – live
Despite the looming threat of inclement weather, the iconic New Year’s Eve fireworks display in London is set to go ahead as planned. While other events across the UK have been cancelled due to safety concerns, organizers in London are confident that they can proceed safely.
Thousands of spectators are expected to gather along the Thames River to witness the dazzling fireworks show, which will light up the sky as the clock strikes midnight. The event is a beloved tradition in the city, drawing visitors from around the world to ring in the new year in style.
Authorities have assured the public that precautions have been taken to ensure the safety of all attendees, with emergency services on standby in case of any emergencies. Despite the challenges posed by the weather, organizers are determined to make sure that the show goes on.
As the countdown to midnight begins, anticipation is building for what promises to be a spectacular display of pyrotechnics. The London fireworks event is a symbol of hope and celebration, signaling the start of a new year filled with possibilities.
Stay tuned for live updates from the event as we bring you the latest news and highlights from the New Year’s Eve celebrations in London. Wishing everyone a safe and happy new year! #LondonNYE #NewYearsEve #FireworksDisplay
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New Year’s Eve London fireworks, London fireworks event, UK events, weather concerns, New Year’s Eve event, live event coverage, World news, fireworks celebration, London event updates, UK weather updates, New Year’s Eve event cancellation
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