The London Eye is the landmark at the center of the United Kingdom's famous New Year's Eve countdown fireworks.
London's annual display is staged along the River Thames, with fireworks launched from barges and bridges as well as from the area around the London Eye. The giant observation wheel provides a recognizable visual centerpiece opposite the Palace of Westminster and near the South Bank.
The modern public fireworks tradition began for the transition into 2000, when London staged a major Millennium celebration. The later annual display became closely associated with the London Eye and is broadcast widely. Large crowds gather in designated viewing areas, while ticketing and safety controls have changed over time.
Big Ben is nearby and its clock is central to the countdown atmosphere, but it is not the landmark named for the fireworks display's visual setting. The London Eye itself opened to the public in 2000.