London's New Year's Eve fireworks are staged along the River Thames.
The display is centered on the area around the London Eye, with fireworks launched from the wheel, nearby barges, and sometimes other riverside structures. The illuminated skyline includes landmarks such as the Palace of Westminster and St Paul's Cathedral.
London's official celebration developed into a major annual public event in the early twenty-first century. The midnight display is accompanied by the chimes of Big Ben, although the clock tower's official name is Elizabeth Tower. Viewing areas along the river are often ticketed or controlled because of the large crowds.
The Thames is sometimes called simply the London river, but it has a specific name and flows through the capital before reaching the North Sea. The River Mersey, by contrast, is associated with Liverpool, making it a plausible but incorrect alternative.