UK celebrates start of 2025 with spectacular fireworks display in London

ITV News' David Harper reports on what was a dazzling night for London - despite weather concerns

Thousands of people across the UK have welcomed in the new year, despite several events being cancelled because of weather warnings for wind and heavy rain.

Crowds lined the streets in London to watch the annual firework display - the largest in Europe.

More than 12,000 fireworks and 450 lights lit up the sky in the capital as 100,000 ticket-holders gathered along the banks of the Thames.

Credit: PA

After Big Ben marked the start of the new year, the 11-minute display began with the message “Your New Year Is Unwritten”.

The display featured a diverse soundtrack covering the likes of Vera Lynn, Sir Elton John, Travis, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, One Direction and Charli XCX - with voiceovers from people including Dame Imelda Staunton and Sir Ian McKellen.

The celebration doubled as a 25th birthday party for the London Eye, which provided the centre point for the fireworks, with the message to “honour our history and never give up hope for our future”.

Credit: PA
Credit: PA

There were concerns the event would be cancelled because of bad weather, however London mayor Sadiq Khan confirmed it would go ahead as planned.

He said: “It’s fantastic to welcome 2025 with our biggest and best-ever New Year’s Eve celebrations.

“From honouring the heroes of the D-Day landings to Paddington Bear celebrating our capital’s diversity, I’m proud that we sent a message of hope and love to the world, as we build a better London for everyone.”

Thousands lined the streets to watch the spectacular firework display. Credit: AP

Meanwhile, public celebrations in Edinburgh, Blackpool, Newcastle and the Isle of Wight were called off as almost every part of the UK faces at least one Met Office weather warning between Monday and Wednesday.

Tourists hoping to attend Edinburgh’s Hogmanay street party and fireworks display were disappointed after the events were cancelled on Monday due to rain and snow warnings across Scotland.

However, the indoor celebrations still went ahead as planned.

Countries across the world have also welcomed in the new year with spectacular firework displays, with those in the South Pacific the first to see in 2025.

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