London
New Year's Eve in London: the hotels with a view of the fireworks
Big Ben strikes twelve and the sky above the London Eye turns red and gold. Along the Thames the crowds stand shoulder to shoulder. From the right hotel room you see the same show, with a warm bed ten steps away.
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London's New Year fireworks are launched from the London Eye and from barges on the Thames, right by Westminster Bridge. The riverside viewing areas are ticketed, and they sell out long before Christmas.
That makes a hotel on the river, or high above it, more than a bed for the night. It is your seat when the clock strikes. We have picked seven hotels where you can watch from your room or the bar, or walk to the river in minutes.
In short: New Year's Eve in London
The best hotel for New Year's Eve in London is Park Plaza Westminster Bridge. Its Iconic View rooms face Parliament and sit beside the London Eye, the launch point for the fireworks. To watch the whole city celebrate from above, stay on floors 34 to 52 at Shangri-La The Shard. River-facing rooms sell first, often in autumn.
Our first choice: Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, for rooms that face the fireworks.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge
Top picks
Closest to the fireworks: Park Plaza Westminster Bridge
At the foot of the London Eye: London Marriott Hotel County Hall
Highest above the city: Shangri-La The Shard
For a classic New Year's party: The Savoy
With the London Eye across the river: The Royal Horseguards
By the London Eye: front row
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge
From Westminster Bridge you simply cross the road. Park Plaza has more than a thousand rooms, but on New Year's Eve only one type matters: Iconic View, with windows facing Parliament and Big Ben across the river.
The London Eye is a few hundred metres away, which is as close to the fireworks as a hotel room gets. On New Year's Day there is an indoor pool and a spa. Good for anyone who wants the show without queuing in the cold.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge
London Marriott Hotel County Hall
The hotel occupies County Hall, London's former seat of government from the 1920s, at the foot of the London Eye. River-facing rooms look across the water to Parliament, and the long corridors still feel like a place where the city was once run.
The streets around the London Eye close on New Year's Eve, so ask the hotel how guests get in and out that evening. There is an indoor pool. Good if you want the fireworks right outside and your room a minute away.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at London Marriott Hotel County Hall
The old town hall by the London Eye
London Marriott Hotel County Hall sits in London's former county hall, right on the river. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Above the Thames: the whole city at once
Shangri-La The Shard
From the 34th floor up you see more than the display at Westminster. You see all of London celebrating, with fireworks large and small over neighbourhoods you did not know were visible. Ask for a west-facing room, towards Westminster.
GŎNG, the bar on the 52nd floor, fills early on New Year's Eve, so ask about a table when you book your room. Good for a couple marking something big who want the view to themselves.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Shangri-La The Shard
Sea Containers London
The hotel sits on the South Bank by Blackfriars Bridge, in a building whose interiors recall an old transatlantic liner. From the 12th Knot rooftop bar you look across to St Paul's and the City.
The London Eye is some way upriver, so whether you see the fireworks from your room depends on the floor and the angle. In return, the river is right outside and you can walk along the South Bank towards the party. Ask for a river-view room.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Sea Containers London
Embankment and the Strand: walk to the party
The Royal Horseguards
The hotel occupies Whitehall Court, a turreted building from 1884 on Victoria Embankment. River-facing rooms look straight across to the London Eye, and on New Year's Eve the water is a few minutes' walk away.
The building looks like a château from the Loire set down in Westminster. Good for staying somewhere grand and close to the action, without the price of the biggest luxury hotels.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Royal Horseguards
The Savoy
The Savoy opened on the Strand in 1889 and is the London hotel most associated with a grand party. River rooms look over the Thames to the London Eye further round the bend.
The hotel usually holds a New Year's Eve dinner, and tables go early, so ask when you book your room. Good for black tie and a walk to the river afterwards.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Savoy
Corinthia London
Corinthia sits between Whitehall and the Embankment, a few minutes from Westminster Bridge. Its spa fills four floors, which makes it the plan for New Year's Day while the rest of the city sleeps in.
The lobby under its huge chandelier is a fine place for a glass before you head to the river. Good for luxury, calm and a short walk to the celebrations.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Corinthia London
Before you book
Ticket or hotel room: The riverside viewing areas need a ticket from the Mayor of London. They go on sale online in autumn and sell out quickly. Last checked October 2026.
Minimum stays: Many hotels ask for two or three nights over New Year. Check before you compare prices.
Choose free cancellation where you can: New Year rooms are expensive and booked early. Free cancellation secures the date without tying you in.
Ask about the evening: Streets by the river close to traffic, and several hotels hold their own dinner or party. Ask the hotel about both before you travel.
Editor's pick
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge is the hotel for anyone who wants to be as close to the New Year fireworks as possible. The London Eye stands next door, and the Iconic View rooms look across the river to Parliament and Big Ben. After midnight you step straight back into the warmth while the rest of the city queues for the Tube. On New Year's Day the pool and spa are waiting.
Check availability and prices at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge
Frequently asked questions about New Year's Eve in London
Where is the best place to see the London fireworks on New Year's Eve?
The best places are Victoria Embankment, the South Bank and the bridges around Westminster, where the fireworks are launched from the London Eye and barges on the Thames. These areas are ticketed by the Mayor of London. Without a ticket, watch from a hotel room or bar facing the river, or from a distance on high ground such as Primrose Hill.
Do you need a ticket for the London New Year's Eve fireworks?
Yes, you need a ticket to stand by the Thames in the area around the London Eye. Tickets are sold online by the Mayor of London in autumn and usually sell out well before Christmas. If you stay in a hotel with a river view, you can watch from your room without one. Ask the hotel how guests get in and out when the streets close.
Which London hotel has the best view of the New Year's Eve fireworks?
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge is the best choice, because its Iconic View rooms face Parliament and sit beside the London Eye, where the fireworks are launched. London Marriott Hotel County Hall is right next door. To watch the whole city celebrate from above, Shangri-La The Shard on floors 34 to 52 is a strong alternative.
When should I book a hotel for New Year's Eve in London?
Book as early as you can, ideally in autumn. River-facing rooms near the London Eye and the Embankment go first, and many hotels require two or three nights. Choose a room with free cancellation if it is offered, so you secure your place without committing before you know the trip will happen.
Does the Tube run all night on New Year's Eve?
Yes, the Tube and many buses run through the night after midnight on New Year's Eve. Stations closest to the river, such as Westminster and Embankment, close or have restricted entry to manage the crowds. If you stay within walking distance of the river, you avoid the queues. Otherwise, walk away from the Thames before taking the Tube.