Last Minute New Year’s Eve

In many ways, 2012 has truly been one to remember. Supersonic freefalls, super injunctions, the royal baby, the royal boobs, Higgs bosons, Gotye, the rise of ‘mummy porn’,@Michael_Haneke – albeit a wholly reductive overview of the year but one that highlights the size of the proverbial shoes 2013 must fill. But before we turn our attentions towards the future, we must first see out the old in what is perhaps the most divided night of celebration in the festive calendar – how to celebrate New Year.

And of course, how does one begin to celebrate the year we survived the much afeared Olympics and the apocalypse in one fell swoop?

For a start, you could have planned ahead and thought of a 2012-worthy celebration more than one day in advance. But alas, while 2012 has indeed has seen triumphs for the London folk, New Year in the capital will forever be the same – populated by overpriced taxis and club entrance fees, frenzied last-minute tube trips and distinctly lacking phone signal and of course, the perpetual conversations about what we should be doing to propel ourselves into the New Year in suitably debauched style.

With such pressures and stresses awaiting us for this one night, it is understandable that many of us may find ourselves reading this a mere matter of hours before Big Ben gets his bong on (chimes, of course), with no clue where we will find ourselves for the lauded bells. Granted most club nights will be sold out, the tourists will already be camping out for the firework displays and your purse already girding itself for a night of loose will, but nonetheless, someone needs to think of all you foolhardy last-minute New Year celebrators…

Fireworks
I shall spare you the inevitable ‘see the year out with a bang’ puns and cut straight to the chase – New Year would be nothing without the standard anticipatory build-up followed by the all too short, but nonetheless shiny, climatic explosion in the skies. London has no shortage of firework displays for us to enjoy but the most popular is the Mayor’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks by the London Eye (tube: Westminster/Embankment). This is the biggest free display in the city so while spectacular is a given, so are huge crowds – make sure you get there before 9pm if you want a vaguely good viewing spot. There will also be a DJ getting the hoards dancing. Alternatively, you can watch the display on the big screens in Trafalgar Square. Or, you can just stick your head out of your window and enjoy the free displays from your neighbours.

Clubs
In case you haven’t had enough indulgence this Christmas, see in the New Year with some unashamed decadence in the East as the Belle Epoque comes to Village Underground complete with jaw dropping acrobatics, illusionists and corseted courtesans (entry £40). Westwards, Bristolian pensioner DJ Derek and friends will be bringing their infectious set of reggae, funky soul and dancehall to the Notting Hill Arts Club (entry £18). For something a little different, join the crew on The Battersea Barge for a night of underground electro in the intimate surroundings of The Dodo Club (entry £20).

Last Minuter tip: call ahead to check for sell outs to avoid doorman disappointments and Auld Lang Syne in a bus shelter.

Free – or under £10
The most holy of grails of New Year’s Eve, particularly for the last minute planners, an event that costs less than a tenner. The Camden Head are transporting punters back to Prohibition to entertain for £5 with their Speakeasy themed party while The Big Chill Bar, just off Brick Lane will be blasting the beats, breaks and bass around the block in their free bash with resident DJs Main Squeeze.

And if all else fails, or desperation sets in, everyone is invited to the most underground party in London… free tube travel from 11.45pm – 4.30am. And buses, trams and DLR, and on London Overground until the last train. Most transport is running a Saturday service so make sure you check Transport for London to plan your journey.

So wherever your last minute New Year’s Eve takes you – Happy New Year!

Photo by anthonycramp courtesy of Flickr