New Year was rang in with fireworks, lasers, drones and live performances in London tonight.
A live broadcast on BBC One featured iconic landmarks across the capital including Shakespeare’s Globe, Greenwich Old Royal Naval College, Millenium Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral.
There were 500 drones in the display and an image of a lion in the New Year’s Eve fireworks.
Festivities took place and people gathered along the Thames despite London mayor Sadiq Khan cancelling the official firework display this year.
He had encouraged people to watch the fireworks on television and dispersed the display around the city to stop people gathering but people still did.
Many were left disappointed as they could not see fireworks from where they stood on the river and others reacted on social media to the event, unimpressed.
The midnight show acknowledged the NHS and the vaccine campaign, mentioning the England football team’s Wembley heartbreak as well as Marcus Rashford’s campaign to feed children.
Instead of one large fireworks display, there were smaller pyrotechnic shows along the River Thames interspersed with live performance from Olly Alexander and The Pet Shop Boys.
The event on television also featured a performance from the West End Musical Choir at Shakespeare’s Globe and messages from Paloma Faith and Jessie Ware.
Londoner Tomfoolery wrote a special poem for the event which was performed by actor Giles Terera.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: ‘For the first time ever, we also included live performances to celebrate London’s world-class creative sector which has been hit hard by the pandemic. Our unique cultural offer is one of the reasons we are the greatest city in the world, and I’m delighted that tonight we have sent a message to the world that we are strong, we are resilient, and we can look forward to 2022 in London with excitement.’
Ahead of the fesitivities, ar the London Eye, a group of anti-vaxxers held a protest which resulted in a heavy police presence.
It involved Piers Corbyn and comes after he was arrested in late December for encouraging people to burn down MPs’ offices.
Despite festivities and large crowds gathering in London, Hogmanay was cancelled for the second year in Scotland.
Fireworks lit up the sky in front of the London Eye at midnight with a smaller display than normal
The banks of the River Thames were considerably quieter than a normal New Year’s Eve as Londoner’s stayed away
The Millennium Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral were used as a backdrop for tonight’s firework display
Pedestrians walk
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan had urged Londoners to watch the display on television
Crowds line the Southbank beside the Thames for New Year’s Eve but they did not see any fireworks
As well as fireworks and lasers, the New Year Eve show featured performances by Olly Alexander and the Pet Shop Boys
One of those who gathered on the Thames expecting to see fireworks resorted to climbing on a post for a better view- but still did not see any fireworks
Hundreds of people gathered in central London ahead of midnight, although this year’s fireworks display was not visible from the ground
Large crowds of masked and unmasked revellers gathered to watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks but could not actually see anything
People gathered along the Thames to watch the fireworks amid a heavy police presence but the display was not visible from the ground and many were left disappointed
Fireworks light up the sky over the Old Royal Naval College after the normal New Year’s Firework display was cancelled due to the pandemic
Social media users were not all impressed with the fireworks this year, with one using a picture of Mr Bean to express their disappointment
Another wrote “The British public reacting to the “firework” display with a Gavin and Stacey gif saying ‘Is that it?’
But London mayor Sadiq Khan wrote a positive social media post, wishing Londoners and the world a ‘Happy New Year’ and showcasing parts of the midnight display
Piers Corbyn was part of an anti-vaccine protest at New Year’s festivities tonight despite his recent arrest for encouraging people to burn down MPs’ offices
Pictured: Anti-vaxxers clash with police at their protest in Jubilee Gardens ahead of New Year’s celebrations
Angry protesters fought with police at an anti-vaccine event at Jubilee Gardens ahead of the New Year’s Eve television show
Anti-vaxxers held demonstration in central London with various people opposed to Covid-19 regulations and possible vaccine passports
Maskless protesters stood on the Southbank next to the London Eye for the late night demonstration against Covid rules
Lasers were shot across the London skyline from St Paul’s Cathedral