The first official London New Year's Eve fireworks display took place for the arrival of the year 2000.
London organized a major public celebration on the night of December 31, 1999, leading into January 1, 2000. Fireworks were staged around the River Thames, with the London Eye and nearby landmarks becoming central parts of the visual spectacle. The event helped establish the large annual display now associated with the capital.
The wording can be confusing because the celebration occurred in 1999, but it welcomed the year 2000. For that reason, sources often describe the inaugural display as the 2000 London fireworks or the millennium celebration. Later displays became a regular ticketed event, with viewing areas along the Thames.
The London Eye itself opened to the public in 2000 and soon became one of the celebration’s key symbols. The annual fireworks are separate from the New Year’s Day parade, which is a daytime event held on January 1.