Other Events

There's no law that says you have to spend New Year getting roaring drunk in a sweaty crowd of friends. You could spend it laughing, spinning around on roller-skates, or at a transvestite cabaret. You could even watch the fireworks, go to bed, and then bring your kids out for the parade the next day. There's something for everyone in London on December 31st.

New Year's Day Parade

Parliament Square, SW1P 3PA
New Year's Day, 1st January 2008

A major American-style parade, with extravagant floats, marching bands from around the country and beyond, street performers and a host of family activities. Around half a million revellers are expected to turn out for this relatively new but hugely popular start to the New Year. Expect vast, Disney-style floats, with plenty of loud music but only a little dancing in the street as many of the parents attending will feel slightly fragile. This is a great way to get 2005 off to an active start, see the streets of London and work off some Christmas flab. The kids will love it as well.

The parade begins at Big Ben at 12:00, and travels up Parliament Street and through to Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus and then proceeds along Piccadilly to finish at 14:45 in Berkeley Street.

More info: New Year's Day Parade Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Super Furry Animals: The Best New Year's Eve Party Ever

Royal Festival Hall, London, SE1 8XX
New Year's Eve, 31st December 2007

The Southank Centre is clearly the ideal spot for New Year in London. It's a massive venue with three concert halls, some great bars and restaurants, and fantastic terraces right over the Thames, just at the spot where the fireworks are being let off. The flip side of this is that, as a major publicly-funded arts organisation, it is all a little bit serious. In an attempt to loosen up a bit, they've made the excellent choice of the Super Furry Animals as their party organisers. The Welsh indie band and sometime techno DJ/promoters have a reputation for hard partying, and for making their live shows some of the silliest and most entertaining on the circuit. They're promising a 'surrealist playground defying the logic of time' which is set to include artists, installations, happenings, bands and DJs. It's not cheap, but with Gruff Rhys and his mates in charge, you can be sure that it'll be unlike anything else happening in the capital this year.

More info: Super Furry Animals: The Best New Year's Eve Party Ever Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

The Lip Sinkers

Bistrotheque, London, E2 9DN
New Year's Eve, 31st December 2007

Bistrotheque regulars the Lip Sinkers bring the noble art of lip synching and the chaos of 21st century camp together in a drag act of disturbing brilliance. Kicking off an hour before midnight, they'll be the highlight of the evening at this effortlessly cool Bethnal Green bar/restaurant. In order to see them, you're going to have to go for the special New Year's Eve tasting menu which is a bit of a downside: excellent though the Bistrotheque kitchen is, eight courses might leave you a bit bloated for a big night out. Still, you'll also get to celebrate New Year's Eve with a very chic East London set, and watch one of the capital's finest cabaret acts.

More info: The Lip Sinkers Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

New Year's Eve Fireworks

London Eye, Jubilee Gardens, London, SE1 7PB
New Year's Eve, 31st December 2007

This annual display crams enough firepower for an hour-long show into ten explosive minutes, lighting up the sky for miles around. Launched from the foot of the London Eye from rafts on the Thames, it's visible from most of central London: the basic rule is that if you can see the London Eye, you'll be able to see the fireworks. The biggest party will be in Trafalgar Square (though this has been marred on occasion by heavy-handed policing). The best views are from Victoria Embankment, the South Bank, and Westminster and Waterloo Bridges.

More info: New Years Eve Fireworks Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Comedy Cafe New Year's Eve

Comedy Cafe, EC2A 3AY
New Year's Eve, 31st December 2007

Fifty quid seems a frightening amount of money to pay for a mediocre three-course meal and a few stand-ups, but regulars at the Comedy Cafe will know that this venue seldom puts a foot wrong, and is certain to provide great value for money. The four comedians they've booked - Gordon Southern, Junior Simpson, Glenn Wool and Martin Davis - are very different, but the one thing they all have in common is a fantastic rapport with the audience. The need for a live crowd reacting to them is the reason that none of these extremely funny men have ever made the jump to television comedy, but it's also the reason why this is a perfectly programmed New Year's Eve line-up. While some comedians might struggle to control the raucous New Year crowd, these four will have everyone falling off their chairs laughing - and the atmosphere should stick around for the disco after the show.

More info: Comedy Cafe New Year's Eve Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

New Year's Eve Gangsters and Molls Banquet

Volupte, EC4A 1EJ
New Year's Eve, 31st December 2007

The crowd at this chic cabaret/bar tend to dress like characters from 1930s films anyway, but, anticipating that for their New Year's Eve Banquet there may be a few tourists down, Volupte have ensured that everybody looks the part by specifying a gangsters and molls dress code. It's a lovely little venue, with a decadent and outrageous style, brilliant retro cocktails and food that's also far better than you'd expect, in a place where it is definitely a secondary consideration to fashion, music and entertainment. If you can tear your eyes away from the extravagantly chic regulars, there'll also be a stage show to enjoy with their usual mixture of cabaret, vaudeville comedy and mild striptease, followed by a night of dancing to jazz, pop rock 'n' roll and whatever else tickles the DJs funny-bone.

More info: New Year's Eve Gangsters and Molls Banquet Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube

Roller Disco

Renaissance Rooms, London, SW8 1RZ
New Year's Eve, 31st December 2007

There's always the possibility of minor injuries on any proper New Year celebration, but only at Vauxhall's Renaissance Rooms does it almost become a probability, as hundreds of high-speed roller-skated disco dancers attempt to ring in 2008 without colliding. The quality of the skating will probably be pretty high as the most dedicated regulars at this cheery night choose to end 2007 on their wheels, but beginners are always made welcome. The usual soundtrack of funk, soul and disco is great for a party, and all the crashing into each other breaks the ice perfectly - indeed this is one of the most welcoming club nights we've been to in London, even for those who can barely stay vertical in skates. Prices are also very reasonable, with £22 covering your skate hire as well as your entry.

More info: Roller Disco Map, Prices, Opening Times and Nearest Tube