Several of London's iconic Royal Parks will be closed or face significant restrictions on New Year's Eve as authorities implement major safety measures for the capital's annual fireworks display.
The Royal Parks charity has confirmed there will be no official viewing areas for the Mayor of London's fireworks spectacle within any of its green spaces. Officials are strongly advising the public not to travel into central London without a valid ticket for the ticketed event.
Park Closure Times and Restrictions
Specific parks will be shut completely during the key celebration period. Primrose Hill will be fully closed and locked from 8pm on Tuesday, 30 December, and will not reopen until 6am on Thursday, 1 January.
At Greenwich Park, all pedestrian and vehicle gates are scheduled to close at approximately 6pm on December 31. In Richmond Park, vehicle gates will shut earlier, at around 4pm. Hyde Park will close at the later time of midnight.
St James's Park will also see significant disruption, with access restricted due to the installation of fireworks infrastructure. The east side of the park, including Horse Guards Road and Horse Guards Parade Ground, will close to the public from 5pm, with broader road closures starting from 2pm.
Police Advice and Public Safety
A spokesperson for The Royal Parks reiterated the warning against unauthorised gatherings, stating that organising large events without permission or setting off fireworks or lanterns breaches park regulations and may lead to enforcement action by the Metropolitan Police.
Commander Nick John, leading the Met's New Year's Eve policing operation, emphasised that the night is one of the busiest of the year. Public safety remains the absolute priority, with officers deployed across all 32 London boroughs. He encouraged people to avoid closed parks like Primrose Hill and consider attending one of the many organised events happening across London instead.
The coordinated closures and warnings underscore the extensive planning required to manage one of London's largest annual public events safely, directing spectators towards official, secure viewing areas.
