How to Celebrate NYE in London Without Spending All Your Money

So you’ve decided to spend New Year’s Eve in London. Congratulations! What an excellent choice you’ve made! We’re 100% sure the loan and second mortgage will be worth it! We jest, we jest, although you should be prepared to splash the cash in London on December 31 (as with every other day of the year). Is it possible to have a relatively economical NYE in the English capital? We’ll do our best, but we’re not Jesus. We’ve learnt to accept that.

There is a general rule of thumb for having a cheap night out in London, a rule that can be summed up in one magical word; Weatherspoon’s. Any hardened British boozehound will know that you can always get a cheap pint of ale at Weatherspoon’s, and you’ll even get to drink it in the company of builders, plumbers, joiners and the rest. There is something inherently authentic about J.D.Weatherspoon’s, and we’re not just talking about their cheap food, unlimited hot drink refills and inexpensive pints of London Pride.
 

But this isn’t just a standard night out in the Big Smoke, this is New Year’s Eve! This is special! Is it possible to celebrate the big occasion in the capital without spending masses? Well, the fireworks will explode high over the London sky, and watching them from the many parks of the city costs approximately nothing, or better yet the city’s most famous bridges. Tower Bridge and Millennium Bridge are your best bet. Londoners are a strange sort so keep in mind there might be all sorts of spontaneous street performances taking place, all of which will be free to enjoy.

Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland runs until the beginning of January and it costs absolutely nothing to wander around the stalls, rides, bars and shops. Sure, you’ll have to spend money if you want to stop for a pint or some mulled wine, but you can have plenty of fun just soaking it all in as the clock gets closer and closer to midnight.

You know what, forget it. You’re going to be in London for NYE, you are aware of the financial side of that. If you wanted an economical night, you’d stay at home. Take out that loan, hit the pubs of the English capital and accept that Dry January is going to get off to a cloudy start. Best make plans for that Full English already.