People hoping to watch London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks from Primrose Hill will be turned away this year, as authorities close the popular viewpoint over safety concerns.
The Royal Parks charity says the gates will be locked from 8 pm on New Year’s Eve until New Year’s Day morning, after warnings that crowd control capacity has been severely reduced. Around 30,000 people gathered on the hill last year.
Concerns intensified following the fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old boy during New Year celebrations at the site in 2023. The closure also comes after the Metropolitan Police disbanded its dedicated Royal Parks policing unit amid budget cuts.
Police are urging Londoners and visitors to make alternative plans and attend organized events instead, warning that access to Primrose Hill will not be possible as the city prepares for one of its busiest nights of the year.
