The London Eye is the central launching point for London’s annual New Year’s Eve fireworks.
The giant Ferris wheel stands on the South Bank of the River Thames, opposite Westminster. Fireworks are fired from the wheel and from barges and nearby river structures, creating a display visible across central London. The countdown is synchronized with the striking of midnight.
London’s modern large-scale fireworks celebration began at the turn of the millennium, with later displays becoming ticketed events because of crowd-management and safety requirements. Big Ben supplies the familiar midnight chimes, but the wheel is the event’s visual centerpiece and a major firing platform.
The celebration is often confused with the London Eye’s everyday function as an observation wheel. It remains open as a tourist attraction at other times, while its New Year role involves special pyrotechnic equipment and event operations.