Happy New Hangover! Thousands of bleary-eyed Brits wake up with sore heads after braving the rain to celebrate arrival of 2024

Boozy Britons braved the dreary weather and dressed to the nines in their best outfits to kick off 2024 in spectacular fashion last night.

Thousands of revellers from cities including London, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Leeds and Newcastle refused to let the miserable weather dampen their parade as they powered through the pouring rain.

Forecasters had earlier in the day issued a storm warning for 75mph gales and downpours which had sparked event cancellations across the South.

However, partygoers posed for photos with pals as they descended on Britain’s pubs and bars and firework displays.

A huge crowd flocked to the banks of the Thames to watch London’s unity and diversity-themed firework display where ‘London: A Place For Everyone’ was written high in the skies over the capital as the bongs of Big Ben sounded midnight.

The display marked the King’s coronation year and also used Charles’ quote to mark the 75th anniversary of the Windrush crossing in which he said the new arrivals ‘collectively enrich the fabric of our national life’. There were repeated references to London’s diversity and inclusivity, with the capital telling the world everyone is welcome in a city where people can be themselves.

The show, designed by Cambridgeshire-based pyrotechnics firm Titanium Fireworks, boasted more than 12,000 fireworks.

After millions watched the incredible displays in Sydney and Auckland, Mayor Sadiq Khan told Sky News that the events would be ‘nothing’ compared to London’s – which lasted for just under 15 minutes.

After the bongs of Big Ben sounded midnight, ‘London: A Place for Everyone’ was written high above the crowds as the unity-themed display welcomed the new year. 

As hits by the Spice Girls, Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa and others rang out across the city, revellers were invited to look back on 2023.

The celebration referenced the King’s coronation and also used Charles’ quote to mark the 75th anniversary of the Windrush crossing in which he said the new arrivals ‘collectively enrich the fabric of our national life’. 

The display – which included more than 12,000 fireworks, 600 drones and 430 lights – also paid homage to the NHS, which celebrated 75 years in 2023. 

There were repeated references to London’s diversity and inclusivity, with the capital telling the world everyone is welcome in a city where people can be themselves. 

Further messages throughout the pyrotechnic show were heard from Mr Khan, Dame Helen Mirren, Bella Ramsey, Stephen Fry, Joanna Lumley, George the Poet, and Baroness Floella Benjamin, who read a poem by the late Benjamin Zephaniah. 

Mr Khan said: ‘Our unique combination of fireworks, drones, lighting and music have put on a fabulous show for the millions watching around the globe, sending a message of unity and showing why London is the greatest city in the world.

‘2023 was filled with so many special moments, and as we move into 2024, I feel more inspired than ever to continue our work towards building a better, greener and more prosperous city for everyone.’ 

In true British fashion, large parts of the country have welcomed 2024 in with a deluge of rain, but many who are out and about to celebrate the occasion will do their best not to let it dampen their spirits. 

In Scotland, the 30th Hogmanay street party in Edinburgh was headlined by rock band Pulp after their surprise reunion last year.

Edinburgh City Council leader Cammy Day said: ‘After the difficult years of the pandemic, I’m overjoyed that our festivals are back to their brilliant best and providing such high calibre cultural offerings for our residents and visitors.’

Elsewhere, there has already been an impressive firework show in Blackpool, as the explosives erupted into the sky with Blackpool Tower illuminated in the background.

In Newcastle’s Quayside crowds were treated to BAFTA award-winning artist Seb Lee-Delisle’s new Laser Light City laser show, which was projected onto the Baltic Flour Mills.

Revellers also gathered in anticipation of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay firework display as musicians hyped the crowd up for an evening of entertainment. 

Thousands of people are at the sold out Princes Garden Street Party and Concert in the Gardens in what mark’s the festival’s 30th anniversary. 

The event, organised by UniqueAssembly and City of Edinburgh Council, was headlined by Pulp, who have not played in the city in 20 years. Following their set, the fireworks will begin at midnight and will end at around 00.50am on Monday. 

Before the event, Alex MacDonald, 26, said he was most excited for Pulp and the fireworks. He told the PA news agency: ‘I’m heavy looking forward to Pulp, like – it’s gonna be smashing. ‘The fireworks will be phenomenal man. It’ll be brilliant. We’ll have a heavy bevy to that, ken what I’m saying?’ 

Dave Reed, also 26, said he is ‘here for the tunes and everything else that’s happening’. 

He added: ‘I’m well excited for the fireworks, it’s gonna be everything. ‘That’s what Edinburgh is all about, and that’s what Hogmanay is all about.’ 

Ahead of the main display, there were some small firework displays between different musical sets, much to the applause of the hyped-up crowd. 

Commenting on the news of a sell-out, Al Thomson, co-director of UniqueAssembly, said: ‘We’re in for one hell of a party now. Fifty thousand people in the streets of Edinburgh enjoying good music, good company, and one of the best fireworks displays in the world – there’s no better way to start the new year. 

‘We started things off right with the Torchlight Procession on Friday, where we saw 20,000 people come together to shine a light on homelessness, raising money for our charity partner Social Bite; and this is just the perfect end to the year and the best way to celebrate 30 years of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay.’ 

However, not every planned event took place this evening, with Plymouth’s Winter Wonderland and a Devon town’s fireworks display both cancelled.

A yellow weather warning for wind is in place for Britain’s entire southern coastline and south Wales.

While the north west has been slapped with a rain warning with heavy downpours expected across Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Blackpool, Blackburn, and West Yorkshire.

Saturday’s Eurostar cancellations hit one family who were hoping to make it back to Britain in time for New Years, after they were stranded in Brussels following a surprise trip for a Canadian relative.   

Luke Gibbs, 32, from Kenley, south London, travelled with his wife, Kyla, cousin Liam Eton and sister-in-law Brea Melanson, from Canada, and planned to arrive in London in time for New Year’s Eve celebrations on Sunday. 

Mr Gibbs, a business development manager, paid £600 for a New Year’s Eve event in London Bridge, which is not refundable and now he cannot attend after his train from Brussels to St Pancras was cancelled. He described the communication with Eurostar as ‘appalling’. 

‘I think the way (Eurostar) dealt with it is pretty appalling in terms of not trying to say ‘this is how you rebook it, we’ll help you out with expenses’,’ Mr Gibbs told the PA news agency. 

‘They just said, ‘unfortunately, it’s cancelled, we’re sorry, get on with it’, which is shocking really.’ 

Organisers of Plymouth’s Winter Wonderland took the ‘very difficult decision’ to rip up its plans for New Year’s Eve tonight because of the expected stormy winds.

‘As much as we are very disappointed and frustrated, your safety comes first, as well as ours, and we can’t possibly take the risk,’ they said as they confirmed those who had bought tickets will be fully refunded.

Elsewhere, Barnstaple, in Devon, cancelled its annual fireworks because of the ‘horrendous’ weather, reported Devon Live.

Barnstaple Town Centre Management said it axed the display for safety reasons.

They said: ‘Unfortunately due to the weather conditions and the gusting winds we will be unable to do the fireworks this evening due to safety.

‘We know this is disappointing, but safety is always the priority and we unfortunately can’t control the weather.’

Temperatures are set to plummet on New Year’s Day and in January increasing the chance of sleet and snow on higher grounds in the north, with frosty mornings for many.

Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: ‘There are growing signs of cold weather developing as we head through the first half of January.

‘The chance of a significant cold spell is quite high.

‘The highest risk of snow will probably be in the North and East. But if low pressure pushes up from the southwest, this would lead to the possibility of snow as weather fronts move northeast.’