London welcomes 2025 with dazzling fireworks display despite the weather concerns millions tune in for a spectacular display on the embankment.
2025 ushers in the Year of the Snake in asian culture and London responded with a better and bigger than last year the skyline in London has been lit up with stunning fireworks as the UK welcomes in the New Year.
London welcomes 2025 with dazzling fireworks
2025 has kicked off with a bang as huge crowds filled the capital’s streets to watch the display.
The River Thames, Big Ben and the London Eye have been illuminated with the colourful light show, accompanied by music and of course Big Ben’s bongs.
Latest London news
Mayor Sadiq Khan, who’s just been knighted, has promised London will see the biggest firework display across Europe.
A very wet and windy Manchester
Huge crowds have turned out in Manchester to watch the stunning display in Manchester city centre.
Despite the relentless rain 10,000 people made their way to central Manchester and stood in unison to countdown the new year.
The heavy rain caused major flooding in areas not only in Manchester but also in the surrounding areas, parts of the M60 motorway were flooded which prevented the usual influx of people.
But those who made to St Peter’s Square, for Manchester‘s New Years Eve countdown enjoyed a fabulous show/ fireworks display.
Dazzling fireworks display for London
The London skyline is filled with colour and a dazzling fireworks display with thousands bracing the cold to enjoy the firework displays.
The London Eye and other landmarks have been lit up and despite the weather warnings crowds are gathering to watch the show.
While London’s display has gone ahead as planned, other major displays such as Edinburgh’s Hogmanay event were forced to cancel due to the terrible weather.
Displays in Blackpool, Newcastle and Ripon were also cancelled.
Organisers of the event at Edinburgh Castle
Scotland faced an amber weather warning for rain winds and snow, which would have made the journeys for commuters hazardous. As such the organisers of the event at Edinburgh Castle made the difficult decision to call it off.
The Met Office anticipates ‘disruptive’ and potentially hazardous weather over the next few days, with warnings for rain, snow and wind covering most of the UK at various times.
Chief forecaster Andy Page said: ‘There is a very complicated weather forecast for the UK with snow, strong winds and heavy rain all feature for parts of the UK.
‘Almost the entire UK is covered by at least one weather warning during the coming week.
‘With such a varied and complex weather situation there is potential for the pattern of warnings to shift and possibly escalate in some areas.
‘With lots of celebrations and people on the move over the coming days, we are urging everyone to keep checking the forecast so they can update their plans.’
How the world welcomed the new year
Auckland, New Zealand was the first major city to enter 2025 at 11am GMT.
Australia started to celebrate the new year from 1pm London time, with Japan and South Korea entering 2025 at 3pm.
However celebrations in South Korea have been cut back or cancelled as the country observes a period of national mourning following the crash on Sunday of a Jeju Air flight at Muan that killed 179 people.
China celebrated the new year at 4pm GMT, followed by Thailand at 5pm, Bangladesh at 6pm, Moscow at 9pm, Greece at 10pm, Germany France and Italy all welcomed the new year at 11pm GMT, before leading to Big Ben started to ring out at midnight as London welcomes 2025 with dazzling fireworks.