The River Thames runs beside the main display area for London's New Year's Eve fireworks celebration.
The event is staged around central London, with fireworks launched from the London Eye, nearby barges, and rooftops. The river provides a prominent setting and helps organize viewing areas along the South Bank and Victoria Embankment. The display is coordinated with the midnight change of year and is broadcast internationally.
London's celebration developed into a major annual spectacle in the 21st century. The London Eye, opened in 2000, became one of its most recognizable visual landmarks. The fireworks are often associated with Big Ben, although the pyrotechnics and the clock tower are separate features. Big Ben is technically the nickname of the Great Bell at the Palace of Westminster, not the entire tower.
The Thames is tidal through central London, so it is not simply a freshwater city river. It has also played a central role in London's transport, trade, and history for centuries.