London's world-famous New Year's Eve fireworks display, a televised spectacle of light and sound, has been labelled a "pointless" and expensive ordeal by one disillusioned attendee, who claims the on-the-ground experience is a far cry from the glamour seen on TV.
The High Cost of Celebration
This year's Mayor of London's New Year's Eve celebrations, centred on the London Eye, required paid tickets for entry into designated viewing zones. Alex Dodman, a Londoner who attended, paid £45 for a spot in the Green Zone behind the London Eye. In a candid YouTube review highlighted by MyLondon, Dodman lamented the loss of the event's former free access and complimentary Underground travel, which have both been scrapped in recent years.
Attendees were corralled into areas with a strict last entry time of 10:30pm, leaving large crowds with over ninety minutes to wait in the cold with little to do. Dodman described the scene as an anxiety sufferer's "worst nightmare," with options limited to queuing for a portaloo or joining an enormous line for the sole food van, where a burger cost a staggering £20.
A View Not Worth the Price Tag
The view from the paid zone, according to the review, failed to justify the hefty admission fee. "For £45, the view from this section is awful as well," Dodman stated. "Yeah, you can see the back of the London Eye, but you also get to see the back of the building site."
While the BBC broadcast featured a soundtrack with artists like Raye, Sabrina Carpenter, Ed Sheeran, and Coldplay, and celebrated 2025 highlights such as England's Women's Rugby World Cup win, those in the crowd reported a disconnected experience. "We could hardly hear any of the music and got none of the good stuff," Dodman remarked, adding that watching the replay later confirmed the event was "definitely set up for TV."
The Gruelling Aftermath and Final Verdict
The ordeal did not end with the final firework. The exit process was described as the "worst bit," with cold, tired revellers facing rammed Tube stations and lengthy waits just to get inside. This capped off a night that left Dodman thoroughly unimpressed, even with the pyrotechnics themselves, which were summarised as "loud and bangy."
The attendee's final verdict was unequivocal. "It was one of the most pointless nights I’ve ever had," they concluded, advising those who stayed home to watch under a duvet: "well done. You did the right thing. What a waste of time." This stark review stands in contrast to Mayor Sadiq Khan's praise of the capital's festivities as the "greatest in the world," highlighting a significant gap between the official presentation and the lived reality for some paying guests.
