The New Year is always a very exciting time for everyone as we kiss goodbye to the old and welcome in the new. Now's the time to get your New Year celebrations off to a cracking start with one of our amazing New Year breaks to some of the greatest places on earth!
The majority of people tend to spend their New Year's Eve at home hosting parties with their loved ones but if you have tired of that and would like to be somewhere else when the chimes of the New Year ring out, we may have the perfect New Year breaks for you. Where better to start than with a visit to London where you can really get your New Year's Eve celebrations off to a flying start. Make a beeline for the river bank as this is where the massive firework display takes place. You'll need to get here early though to secure a good viewing spot. Take a picnic, maybe some foldable chairs and warm clothing as it will be a while before darkness falls and midnight arrives. You are not limited to London for your New Year breaks, you could travel up to Edinburgh to experience Hogmanay or spend New Year's Eve in Cardiff with friends.
Add a bit of magic to your New Year celebrations and take the whole family to Disneyland® Resort Paris where the whole family can spend New Year's Eve with their favourite characters. Gasp in wonder at the beautiful Christmas lights, be dazzled by the colourful character parades, stare in awe at the amazing firework display to the backdrop of Cinderella's Castle and remember to say 'Happy New Year' to Mickey and his friends! If you can drag yourself away from Disneyland®, take the metro into the heart of Paris and wish 'Bonne Annee' to family and friends along the Champs-Elysees just make sure you're looking towards the Eiffel Tower when the midnight bells chime as it explodes into a dazzling display of fireworks.
Spend your New Year break in Belgium as you join 100s of people in the Market Square of Bruges and listen to the traditional sounds of the Carillon (allowing the bells in the Belfry to be played by means of a hand keyboard). Soak up the festive air in Ostend and make your New Year resolutions in Ghent or Antwerp. Travel into Germany this New Year and make a toast to the new as you cruise along The Rhine or head into Berlin for a New Year's Eve night to remember! For something completely different, see the world-famous ball drop in New York's Times Square, catch a dazzling show in Las Vegas, watch Sydney Harbour Bridge come alive with fireworks at midnight or snuggle up with a loved one in Vancouver.
One thing's for certain whatever you get up to, make sure that your New Year celebrations go with a bang to make your New Year's Eve party one that you'll never forget!
If you fancy welcoming the New Year somewhere different, there's a whole host of destinations offering an exciting alternative compared to staying at home. Here's just a selection of the places where you could be celebrating at midnight:
London
Welcome the New Year with the chimes of Big Ben and a spectacular firework display by the River Thames in London. The atmosphere is inescapable as the crowds join in for a loud rendition of 'Auld Lang Syne' after the clock strikes midnight.
Paris
Why not see in the New Year in this remarkable city? The celebrations tend to be centred around the Eiffel Tower with a spectacular firework display as the clock chimes midnight. The Champs-Élysées can get a little crowded with hundreds of people wanting to see in the New Year, so feel free to join them but please remember, it's French tradition to exchange kisses on each cheek as the New Year arrives!
Amsterdam
Should you decide to visit Amsterdam to see in the New Year, you are in for a real treat. Celebrations continue throughout the night and when the clock strikes twelve, the night sky lights up with a multitude of fireworks, lights and sounds. Major tourist areas to see in the New Year are: Leidseplein, Dam Square, Rembrantplein and Nieumarkt.
Disneyland Paris
If anyone knows how to bring in the New Year with an almighty bang it is of course Disney! Following a fun-filled day in the park enjoying the rides, crowds gather to watch a spectacular firework display by Cinderella's Castle – what better way is there to see in the New Year?