As the UK welcomed 2025, London shone brightly with a spectacular fireworks display around the iconic London Eye and Big Ben, captivating tens of thousands of attendees and millions watching from home.
Despite the excitement in the capital, severe weather conditions led to the cancellation of numerous New Year’s celebrations across the country. Heavy rain and strong winds forced events in cities like Edinburgh, Blackpool, and Newcastle to be called off, disappointing many tourists who had traveled specifically for these festivities.
While some sought alternative ways to celebrate, such as visiting Christmas markets, the adverse weather overshadowed the holiday spirit in many regions.
Spectacular Fireworks in London
London put on a breathtaking show as fireworks lit up the sky around the famous London Eye and Big Ben. This stunning display, captured by Adrian Dennis of AFP/Getty Images, welcomed the New Year with excitement.
Celebrations Amidst Weather Challenges
The UK celebrated the arrival of 2025 with vibrant fireworks in London, but many events across the country were canceled due to bad weather. Tens of thousands gathered in the capital, while millions more watched from home.
Before the festivities, London Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed his excitement, calling it the biggest fireworks event in Europe, featuring hundreds of thousands of fireworks and a fantastic soundtrack.
Cancellations in Edinburgh
In contrast, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay stage was empty after all outdoor events were canceled because of severe weather. Heavy rain and strong winds affected much of the country on New Year’s Eve and into New Year’s Day. This led to the cancellation of celebrations in places like Blackpool, Newcastle’s Quayside, the Isle of Wight, Bangor in North Wales, and Ripon in North Yorkshire.
A Disappointing Experience for Tourists
In Lowestoft, Suffolk, two firework displays planned for New Year’s Day were postponed until Saturday. The biggest cancellation was Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festival, which usually attracts around 50,000 people with its music and street parties.
Elisa Dorris, a 23-year-old shop assistant from Spain living in Dublin, flew to Edinburgh with friends specifically for the fireworks. She expressed disappointment but hoped to enjoy the Christmas market instead.
Making the Best of It
David Liew, a 59-year-old lawyer from Singapore on holiday in the UK, planned to explore the city and take photos of the festive lights. Scottish Culture Secretary Angus Robertson supported the decision to cancel events due to safety concerns. He said that organizers acted quickly to inform travelers about the cancellations.
Weather Warnings Across the UK
From Monday to Wednesday, nearly every part of the UK faced at least one weather warning from the Met Office. Initially, a yellow warning for snow and rain covered most of Scotland until midnight but was later limited to specific areas until 4 AM. Landslides and flooding caused road and rail disruptions in these regions.
A Chance to See the Northern Lights
Despite the poor weather, some areas in the UK had a chance to see the northern lights on New Year’s Eve. The Met Office noted that people in eastern Scotland, northeast England, and Northern Ireland might catch a glimpse of this natural wonder while celebrating.
