Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has urged Londoners to plan ahead and to use public transport when they celebrate New Year’s Eve in just under two weeks time.
The Mayor and Visit London are again sponsoring a fireworks display by award-winning London based experiential marketing agency Jack Morton Worldwide and internationally renowned pyrotechnician Christophe Berthonneau.
The display will be broadcast live on BBC One from 11:15pm and will also be available online at www.london.gov.uk/newyearseve.
BBC Radio 1 will be providing a pre-recorded soundtrack featuring exclusive mixes by DJs Rob da Bank and Gilles Peterson, which will be played as crowd gathers until the midnight countdown.
With 2008 being the year of the handover to London as Olympic and Paralympic host city the New Year’s Eve projections onto the Shell Building in the build up to the midnight countdown will feature striking photographic images inspired by the greatest sporting event in the world.
Mayor Ken Livingstone said: "London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display is world famous and the capital one of the best places in the world to be during the festive season. The success of the display is down to the many organisations, including police, transport and local authorities, that come together to provide a stunning backdrop to the capital’s celebrations."
"Hundreds of thousands of people will be in central London on New Year’s Eve and they should plan ahead to get the best out of the night’s festivities. Whatever you do, and wherever you are bringing in the New Year, have a safe and enjoyable night and my best wishes for 2008."
FREE TRANSPORT
On New Year’s Eve services on London Underground, the Docklands Light Railway and Croydon Tramlink will run all night, in addition to normal 24-hour London Bus services.
The Mayor of London and Transport for London will be providing free travel between 11.45pm on New Year’s Eve and 4.30am on New Year’s Day.
The Mayor is also funding some national rail services in areas where there are fewer Tube connections. There will be some changes to normal services, so Londoners and visitors to the capital are advised to check before traveling.
Travel information will be available on the Transport for London website at www.tfl.gov.uk.
More information about London’s New Year celebrations can be found at www.london.gov.uk/newyearseve