StayAreasNew Year's Eve in London 2026: fireworks tickets and where to stay
The Mayor of London's fireworks over the Thames on Thursday 31 December 2026 are ticket-only: without a ticket you can't get into the riverside viewing areas. Gates open at 8pm and the event ends at 12:30am.
Tickets went on sale in late October through Ticketmaster and sell out fast. Stations by the river get very crowded after midnight, so a hotel you can walk back to is worth a lot.
Watching the fireworks
Ticketed viewing areas on the Embankment
Six colour-coded areas along the river, from Victoria Embankment between Westminster Bridge and Embankment station to the South Bank by the London Eye. No re-entry once you're in.
Stay nearby: Westminster · ~$320/nightSouth Bank by the London Eye
The fireworks launch around the London Eye; South Bank hotels are the closest beds to the display.
Stay nearby: South Bank · ~$295/nightOn TVFree
Shown live on BBC One at midnight, for anyone without tickets.
The walk back from each area
Minutes on foot from each area to the viewing areas. Walking times are estimates; prices are a typical mid-range double, not New Year's Eve rates.
New Year's Eve from Covent Garden
~$360/nightOn foot: Embankment viewing areas 10 min · London Eye 15 min · Westminster Bridge 20 min.
After midnight: 10 minutes' walk back from Embankment viewing areas, no crowded Tube needed.
Hotels in Covent Garden →New Year's Eve from Westminster
~$320/nightOn foot: Westminster Bridge 15 min · Embankment viewing areas 20 min · London Eye 20 min.
After midnight: 15 minutes' walk back from Westminster Bridge, no crowded Tube needed.
Hotels in Westminster →New Year's Eve from Soho
~$360/nightOn foot: Embankment viewing areas 20 min · Westminster Bridge 25 min · London Eye 30 min.
After midnight: 20 minutes' walk back from Embankment viewing areas, no crowded Tube needed.
Hotels in Soho →New Year's Eve from South Bank
~$295/nightOn foot: London Eye 20 min · Embankment viewing areas 25 min · Westminster Bridge 25 min.
After midnight: 20 minutes' walk back from London Eye, no crowded Tube needed.
Hotels in South Bank →New Year's Eve from Holborn
~$400/nightOn foot: Embankment viewing areas 20 min · London Eye 25 min · Westminster Bridge 30 min.
After midnight: 20 minutes' walk back from Embankment viewing areas, no crowded Tube needed.
Hotels in Holborn →New Year's Eve from Bloomsbury
~$255/nightOn foot: Embankment viewing areas 25 min · London Eye 35 min · Westminster Bridge 35 min.
After midnight: 25 minutes' walk back from Embankment viewing areas, no crowded Tube needed.
Hotels in Bloomsbury →New Year's Eve from King's Cross
~$270/nightOn foot: Embankment viewing areas 40 min · London Eye 50 min · Westminster Bridge 50 min.
After midnight: 40 minutes' walk back from Embankment viewing areas, no crowded Tube needed.
Hotels in King's Cross →New Year's Eve from Marylebone
~$320/nightOn foot: Embankment viewing areas 40 min · London Eye 50 min · Westminster Bridge 50 min.
After midnight: 40 minutes' walk back from Embankment viewing areas, no crowded Tube needed.
Hotels in Marylebone →New Year's Eve from Shoreditch
~$240/nightOn foot: London Eye 55 min · Embankment viewing areas 60 min.
After midnight: about 55 minutes' walk back from London Eye, or wait for the Tube crowds to thin.
Hotels in Shoreditch →New Year's Eve from Camden
~$215/nightOn foot: Embankment viewing areas 60 min.
After midnight: about 60 minutes' walk back from Embankment viewing areas, or wait for the Tube crowds to thin.
Hotels in Camden →New Year's Eve from Paddington
~$230/nightOn foot: Embankment viewing areas 60 min.
After midnight: about 60 minutes' walk back from Embankment viewing areas, or wait for the Tube crowds to thin.
Hotels in Paddington →New Year's Eve from Kensington
~$295/nightThe nearest is Westminster Bridge, about 4 km away: a long journey home.
After midnight: too far to walk, so expect packed Tubes and long queues getting back.
Hotels in Kensington →New Year's Eve from Notting Hill
~$270/nightThe nearest is Embankment viewing areas, about 6 km away: a long journey home.
After midnight: too far to walk, so expect packed Tubes and long queues getting back.
Hotels in Notting Hill →New Year's Eve from Canary Wharf
~$220/nightThe nearest is London Eye, about 6 km away: a long journey home.
After midnight: too far to walk, so expect packed Tubes and long queues getting back.
Hotels in Canary Wharf →New Year's Eve from Greenwich
~$200/nightThe nearest is London Eye, about 8 km away: a long journey home.
After midnight: too far to walk, so expect packed Tubes and long queues getting back.
Hotels in Greenwich →
Written by the StayAreas editorial team · Updated Nov 2026 · How we research our guides