The London Eye has been the focal point of London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks since 2004.
The giant observation wheel stands on the South Bank of the River Thames, opposite the Palace of Westminster. Its location gives fireworks designers a prominent circular structure around which to stage the display, while the river provides a broad viewing corridor.
London’s major public fireworks event began as a large organized display in 2003–04, with later celebrations developing into a ticketed central-London event. Fireworks are launched from barges on the Thames, nearby bridges, and locations around the Eye.
The London Eye is sometimes confused with Big Ben because both appear prominently in broadcast countdowns. Big Ben is the nickname commonly used for the Great Bell at the Palace of Westminster, while the Eye is the illuminated wheel beside the river.