London's annual New Year's Eve fireworks traditionally take place beside the River Thames.
The modern London fireworks display is staged around central London, with launch sites on the river and landmarks such as the London Eye and bridges forming part of the televised scene. Crowds gather along the Thames embankments and in designated viewing areas, while the display accompanies the midnight countdown to the new year.
London's celebration is closely connected with Big Ben, although the clock tower and the fireworks are separate landmarks and elements of the event. The display has become one of the United Kingdom's most prominent public New Year's celebrations, with tickets and controlled viewing zones introduced to manage large crowds.
The first major display associated with the modern annual format welcomed the year 2000, meaning it took place on New Year's Eve in 1999. Later events developed into a large coordinated production involving music, lighting, and fireworks. The River Thames is the decisive geographic detail: London has many famous landmarks, but the central fireworks are specifically organized around the river corridor.