Skip to content

Watch: London welcomes 2025 with fireworks display and Paddington Bear

The traditional bongs of Big Ben have ushered in 2025 as onlookers lined the Embankment in central London for a fireworks spectacular.

Paddington Bear made a cameo appearance at the London Eye to play his part in the UK's celebrations for the new year.

For more, follow the BBC's live coverage as UK ushers in new year despite bad weather hitting major events.

Also, take a look at images of New Year 2025 celebrations from around the world.

3 days ago

Explore More

Jordan Izzett head-to-head with the 425 bus during a race.

Watch: 'I challenge London's bus drivers to race me'

Three people with champagne bottles ring in the year 2000 infront of fireworks and Big Ben

Watch: London's first new year fireworks

American popstar Taylor Swift waving. She is holding a pink an orange micrphone.

Five moments that made Londoners smile in 2024

Woman looks through clothes at Peckham Car Boot sale

How Peckham Car Boot has become a fashion hotspot

Tony Heywood in his community garden

Greenhouse artwork highlights need for human rights

Lydia Hepworth bites an orange

Ambulance crew reunite with mum and baby they saved

Big Zuu stands in a Christmas-decorated kitchen

Big Zuu takes on Christmas leftovers

A black and white image of a popular 1950s television puppet called Hank the Cowboy

What London's children got for Christmas in 1952

Kate Kinsella with Christmas decorations

What does London's weather have in store for Santa's visit?

A man dressed as Santa Claus smiling to the camera with a long white beard, black glasses, rosy nose, a red and white Christmas hat and coat

Santa Claus gets emotional over loss at Christmas

A man falls to the floor after standing too close to a train which then hits him

Man clipped by train pulling into railway station

George Michael and Debbie Killingback in the music video for Last Christmas

'I was George's girlfriend in Last Christmas video'

Plane being jet-washed by one of the twins, who is cleaning it from a hydraulic crane.

Watch: Twins' dream of cleaning plane comes true

Last Christmas film director Paul Feig

Last Christmas director on 'love letter' to London

Children from the school wave at their teachers from a tractor

North London school welcomes farm animal guests

Major Samuel Littlejohn looks at Jake, one of the horses leading the gun team

Army horses enjoy Christmas break after busy year

CEO Maria Quaife with Christmas presents in the background

Presents needed for children in temporary housing

Children from St James the Great school sing their Christmas song

School choir bids for UK Christmas number one

The Queen Mother attends the first ever London film premiere

London’s 80 years at the heart of the film industry

Two men in ceremonial robes tasting beer as part of an ancient tradiiton

The ancient tradition of ale conning

Split screen of roof being blow off house in explosion and view of blast from inside neighbouring house

Watch: Moment house explodes in north-east London

Two people were hospitalised after a huge blast destroyed a house in Ilford.

Nick Mohammed on stage in character as A Christmas Carol

Ted Lasso star takes on Christmas classic

A woman who is a dark red jumper is lying on the floor and is surrounded by scissors. she is looking directly into the camera and is holding a giant pair of silver scissors.

The London woman going viral with her scissor obsession

Cydney Harding aka 'CydneyScissorhands' shares her love of scissors with an online audience.

Actors Matt Henry and Vanessa Williams

How The Devil Wears Prada went from movie to musical

A West End production has just opened starring American singer and actress Vanessa Williams.

A computer screen showing plant samples at Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens digitising eight million plant samples

Works to digitise and preserve plant samples are about three quarters complete.

People stand in Trafalgar Square to watch the tree's Christmas lights being turned on

Trafalgar Square's Christmas tree lights turned on

The moment Trafalgar Square’s Christmas tree lights are switched on as part of a 77-year-long tradition.

A seaweed underwear top displayed on a mannequin

Seaweed underwear making a difference to women

Alexander Perry developed natural underwear for women after his mum was treated for cancer.

Person wearing a jacket and jeans with a black and white dog on a lead walking on grass. Their backs are to the camera.

Deer killed by dog in Richmond Park, police say

Met Police are appealing for help in identifying the owner of a dog believed to have killed a deer.

A man fighting off watch muggers with a takeaway bag

Rolex robbers fought off by grandad with a takeaway

Christopher Harris was targeted as he was making his way back to his holiday rental in Paddington.

A dancing instructor teaching a blind woman ballroom dancing

Strictly's Chris McCausland inspires more blind dancers

The success of blind Strictly contestant Chris McCausland has prompted new interest in dance.

A black and white image of a Father Christmas decoration stood on a sleigh

When is too early to start Christmas shopping?

In 1957, the BBC asked shoppers on London's Oxford Street and Regent Street for their views.

A shop window sign with the words Black Friday

How to protect against Black Friday website scams

Consumer group Which? on how to check whether online retailer websites are a scam or legitimate.

90s boy band Damage in a black and white promotional photo

Watch: Boy band Damage on their journey to stardom

The group behind Love II Love talk about how their journey was different from other 90s boybands.

The world's smallest playing card being held against a normal size card

Watch: Man creates world's smallest playing cards

Rob Hallifax has achieved a Guinness World Record creating the world's smallest playing cards.

Actor Jeff Goldblum with a thumbs up while sat at a piano in St Pancras station

Jeff Goldblum plays piano at London rail station

As part of the release of movie Wicked, actor Jeff Goldblum performed Christmas songs for commuters.

Roy Castle OBE parasailing under Charing Cross Bridge. The houses of parliament can be seen in the background.

World record set parasailing under London bridges

In 1986, Record Breakers' Roy Castle parasailed under 10 London bridges in a world record time.

A performer spitting fire infront of an audience

Watch: La Clique returns to London's West End

The show of cabaret and circus has returned to the London stage for the festive period.

A man moving sacks of vegetables

Watch: Fifty years of New Covent Garden Market

The market supplies flowers, fruit and vegetables to institutions across London, such as Claridge's.

A blue car reversing into a Metropolitan Police motorbike

Watch: Met Police officer rammed off motorcycle

David Doyle has been jailed for more than five years following the attack in May.

An aerial image of The Shard with white Christmas lights shining

Gareth Malone turns on The Shard's Christmas lights

TV choirmaster Gareth Malone conducted a special choir performance to mark the occasion.