London's New Year's Eve fireworks to be ticketed - £10 each
Discussion
London's New Year's Eve fireworks display is to be limited to 100,000 ticketed spectators for the first time.
The event's popularity made it "untenable" to put such a strain on the capital's transport and safety infrastructure, the Mayor's office said.
The display was first staged at the London Eye on the South Bank in 2003.
Attendance grew from 100,000 in its first year to an estimated half a million at last year's event.
Boris Johnson said: "London's New Year's Eve fireworks are phenomenally popular, not just in the capital, but across the world and we want to ensure it continues to be a safe, enjoyable and sustainable event for the long-term."
A spokesman said last year's display had put "enormous strain on transport and safety infrastructure", and after consulting emergency services and Transport for London the event in its current form was found to be "untenable".
It increasing popularity meant capacity was often being reached by early evening, leaving hundreds of thousands of people unable to get a good view, with even the early arrives facing a wait of several hours and cramped conditions.
Visitors have also faced long delays after the close of the event to find their way home on public transport.
People wishing to attend this year's event will be able to book up to four tickets, costing £10 each, from 26 September at 12 noon.
The event's popularity made it "untenable" to put such a strain on the capital's transport and safety infrastructure, the Mayor's office said.
The display was first staged at the London Eye on the South Bank in 2003.
Attendance grew from 100,000 in its first year to an estimated half a million at last year's event.
Boris Johnson said: "London's New Year's Eve fireworks are phenomenally popular, not just in the capital, but across the world and we want to ensure it continues to be a safe, enjoyable and sustainable event for the long-term."
A spokesman said last year's display had put "enormous strain on transport and safety infrastructure", and after consulting emergency services and Transport for London the event in its current form was found to be "untenable".
It increasing popularity meant capacity was often being reached by early evening, leaving hundreds of thousands of people unable to get a good view, with even the early arrives facing a wait of several hours and cramped conditions.
Visitors have also faced long delays after the close of the event to find their way home on public transport.
People wishing to attend this year's event will be able to book up to four tickets, costing £10 each, from 26 September at 12 noon.
To be honest I have no complaints about this. Pay £10 to guarantee a good view without having to be crushed in a crowd for 6 hours or find a vantage point further away and watch for free. The crowds in the centre were getting ridiculous last time I went and that was a few years ago now!
Frybywire said:
Charging people to look up in London. Go Tory boy.
Great display of intelligence and logic!Hint, it's not about if you can look up, but how comfortable you want to be doing so and do you fancy standing around for 5 hours before to get a good view or rock up with an hour to go...
Rude-boy said:
Frybywire said:
Charging people to look up in London. Go Tory boy.
Great display of intelligence and logic!Hint, it's not about if you can look up, but how comfortable you want to be doing so and do you fancy standing around for 5 hours before to get a good view or rock up with an hour to go...
So £10 for the countries premiere fireworks display doesn't sound bad, and believe me the way it was a few years ago i wouldn't be going again, 5-6 hours before left us crushed in a crowd on Whitehall fortunately with a view of the wheel between buildings but only about 1/3 of the fireworks, the embankment and bridges having already been sealed off as full, and we had a much better view than many down in parliament sq etc So £10 to guarantee a pitch on embankment or a bridge where i don't have to stand for 6 hours sounds ideal.
Chances are anyone going has paid much more on their train fare or hotel for the night, the only issue i would have is its a bit late to be announcing this now for this years display as many will have made arrangements for accommodation and now may not get tickets for the fireworks
ViperDave said:
not to mention on the 5th nov or Saturday thereabouts, there are lions clubs, schools and what not all over the country charging £5 - £10 odd to stand in a muddy field and look up, ok they may chuck in some dodgy fairground rides for an extra fee or the local z list radio star and tribute band.
So is Boris doing this for a charitable cause, as the organisations you've I located do with their 5th November events?As far as I'm concerned, anyway, it's fine, it will presumably ease the burden on the general taxpayer by £1M or so.
KareemK said:
Once again the Tories manage to discriminate against those families who are not so well off - £50 for a husband, wife and 3 kids, brilliant. And at just the time of year when household budgets are reeling anyway.
But by that argument, access to the London Eye, London Dungeon and the Royal Opera House should also be free. Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff