The Royal Parks closing times over New Year’s Eve

Many of London’s Royal Parks will be closed or have restrictions in place over the New Year’s Eve period, including Primrose Hill, Greenwich Park and St. James’s Park.

There are no official viewing areas for the Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve firework display in any of the Royal Parks.

Primrose Hill will be closed and locked during the New Year’s Eve period. The park will close at 8pm on Tuesday 30 December and reopen at 6am on Thursday 1 January.

The pedestrian and vehicle gates to Greenwich Park will close at around 6pm on December 31. Whilst in Richmond Park, the vehicle gates will close at around 4pm. Hyde Park will close at midnight.

Due to the installation of infrastructure to support the Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks, there will be restricted access to St. James’s Park on December 31. Commencing at 2pm, when road closures are introduced to through traffic. From 5pm, the east side of St. James’s Park will close to the public, including Horse Guards Road and Horse Guards Parade Ground, and there will be restrictions in place on all remaining footpaths.

Visitors are reminded that organising large gatherings without permission and setting off fireworks or lanterns is in breach of The Royal Parks regulations, which are enforced by the Metropolitan Police. 

A spokesperson for The Royal Parks said: 

“There are no official viewing areas for the Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve firework display in any of the Royal Parks. We urge visitors not to travel into London to watch the fireworks without a ticket.”

Commander Nick John, who is leading the Met’s policing operation on NYE, said: 

“New Year’s Eve is one of the busiest policing nights of the year, with millions of Londoners turning out to enjoy planned events across the city. The Met’s policing operation spans all 32 London boroughs and includes a significant operation in central London.

“As always, public safety is our priority which is why many of our officers are out on the night.

“We would encourage the public to avoid parks such as Primrose Hill that will be closed, and instead spend their evening at one of the many organised events taking place across London.”