At London's New Year's Eve celebration, the London Eye is the main backdrop for the annual fireworks.
London's large public countdown is staged along the River Thames, with fireworks launched from and around the London Eye and nearby river barges. The display is timed to midnight and is watched by crowds along the embankments as well as by viewers through television broadcasts.
The London Eye, officially the London Eye Millennium Wheel when it opened, became a major visual feature of the capital's celebrations after its launch in 2000. Its illuminated circular structure provides a recognizable center for the pyrotechnic display, while the surrounding skyline supplies additional launch points and viewing locations.
Big Ben is often associated with the countdown because its clock tower is nearby, but it is not the principal fireworks backdrop. Public access, ticketing, transport arrangements, and the exact display design can change from year to year, while the riverside setting remains the defining feature.