London's annual New Year's Eve fireworks display beside the London Eye began in 2000.
The first display accompanied the celebrations welcoming the year 2000 and was staged around the London Eye on the South Bank of the River Thames. The landmark, also known as the Millennium Wheel when it opened, quickly became the visual center of London's modern midnight festivities.
The event developed into a large organized spectacle involving fireworks, music, and timed effects around the river. Later displays expanded the viewing area and introduced ticketed zones, while television broadcasts made the celebration familiar to audiences around the world.
The display is often confused with older London New Year's traditions, including celebrations at Trafalgar Square and public events near the Thames. Fireworks have appeared in earlier celebrations, but the regular London Eye-centered display dates from the millennium celebration in 2000.