New Years in London
 

I am going to be visiting Europe for the first time and I get to London on New Year's Eve. I am noticing that many of the bigger museums are closed on January 1st, does anybody have some suggestions on what a solo traveler might do on the first?

Living here, my instinct is usually to stay indoors in the warm. There's the New Year's Day concert from Vienna on TV.

But if you want to get out and about there's usually an attempt at a US-style parade:
http://www.londonparade.co.uk/event/

You could take a trip to Greenwich (Thames Clipper boat one way, DLR via Docklands the other) - the National Maritime Museum and the Observatory should be open later in the day.

Most everything apart from Government owned places will be open.

Greenwich is a good suggestion - but it does need good weather.

Most locals will be wandering aropund like zombies with Category 5 hangovers. So the city will be like Shaun of The Dead.

Just don't expect to be able to go out on New Years Eve without a booking.

You could look into doing a London Walk on the 1st:
http://www.walks.com

Also, Hampton Court Palace is open on the 1st.

The New Year's Day Parade i saw the first year they had it - lots of American high school bands, majorettes, pom-pom squads, etc. Seems to be a cottage industry hyping being invited to the New Years Parade IF they buy the tour package - after first parade one tabloid said 'there were more participants than spectators'

perhaps has become more popular in subsequent years?

Anyway American high-school bands running amok all over central London during late Dec IME

the Parade was the brainstorm, no doubt, of London's legendary Mayor, 'Red' Ken Livingstone, who did so much for London - cleaning it up, installing super loos, etc.

Only someone who doesn't understand the British would organise something loud and colourful on New Years Morning.

ps When I was based in Hammersmith I used to see these bands as they stay there. The kids seemed to be having the time of their lives.

Which is why the parade predates Livingstone by about 20 years. And still has never demonstrably attracted a single real Londoner to go and watch it.

Or rather, no-one living within 100 miles of London has ever met anyone who's been to it

Mind you, Livingstone might think he invented it. He's pretty fond of the old paint too, and is probably as vague about what happens on New Year's Day as everyone else.

How dare me contradict Sir Flanneur but when i waz in London about 5-6 yrs ago on New Year's Day the parade was being billed as the First London New Year's Parade.

But that obviously waz not the case

and the Parade site says 29th annual so as usual flim must be right? And me wrong?

>>the parade was being billed as the First London New Year's Parade.<<

I would guess that like a lot of these things there have been endless re-inventions, re-organisations and squabbles between different potential organisers - especially when there are commercial interests involved. There's nothing we like better in Britain than daggers drawn and non-speaks on the Carnival Committee: it keeps many a community busy for years.

I saw one a good ten years ago, but no doubt that was the management before the management before last.

&quot;<i> . . . . so as usual flim must be right? And me wrong?</i>&quot; Yes indeedy - as usual . . . . .

janisj - And as usual you are RIGHT

PS - How bout meeting for tea at the Big Giant?