Ring in 2020: London's Best New Year’s Eve parties to book early
Wondering where to go to see out 2019? From glossy parties to underground raves, here are some of the most exciting ways to spend New Year's Eve in London
Ring in 2020: London's Best New Year's Eve Parties
There’s nothing worse than a last-minute panic about what to do on New Year’s Eve in London. If you're yet to make plans but keen to see out 2019 with a bang, read on for our round-up of the city’s best parties and events. From vintage glamour and high-end dining to a masquerade ball and dinner on a yacht, Culture Whisper’s guide to New Year’s Eve 2019–20 events in London will ensure you don’t miss out on the biggest night of the year.
The Petersham
Best for… a Victorian fairy-tale
With its green, leafy location and views over the Thames, the Petersham in Richmond feels a world away from normal city life. And the elegant Victorian hotel certainly knows how to throw a New Year’s Eve party: the night will begin with drinks and background music by acclaimed pianist Gareth Giles, followed by a gastronomic seven-course dinner, then the dawn of the New Year will be toasted with a glass of Champagne. To add to the magical feeling of this opulent venue, organisers have promised a real snowfall at midnight.
Tickets from £165.
Click here to book tickets
The Candlelight Club New Year's Eve Ball
Best for... bootlegged bubbly
In honour of the start of the 20s, the Candlelight Club will be seeing in the New Year like they did in the Jazz Age, with music and cabaret all crafted to transport you from 2020 to 1920. You can also book a dining ticket for one of two dinner sittings. Champagne Charlie will oversee proceedings and the Bubbly Boys will pop in to play live jazz – and you can learn to Charleston while they play.
Early bird tickets from £45.
Click here to book tickets
Christmas in New York: London New Year's Eve Ball
Best for... a black-tie blowout
Head over to Battersea and party like they do Stateside at this all-out Big Apple themed do with space for thousands of guests. If you're more Times Square ball-drop than London Eye fireworks this is the place to be come the 31st: you can stroll through Central Park while munching roast chestnuts, sneak an Irish tipple at Molly Malone's and generally absorb the buzz of the city that never sleeps – all without leaving Zone 1. Oh, and did we mention there's a four-course dinner and unlimited drinks? The party planners are even laying on dodgems for revellers – just remember to drive on the right.
Tickets £185.
Click here to book tickets
Soho 2020: NYE at the Boulevard
Best for... 50s throwback
Soho 2020: New Year's Eve opens a week-long celebration of the new year at the Boulevard in Walker's Court. On the big night itself, guests can enjoy a throwback to the Soho of the 50s, fuelled with champagne, drag and burlesque. Expect to start the night in style with canapés and retro cocktails, followed by a feast of antipasti and cheeses in Marcel's Salon. The rest of the evening stars classy entertainment acts, from contortionists to hula performers. And don't forget to bring your dancing shoes: live jazz bands and cabaret performers will help you boogie the night away until 2am.
Early Bird tickets £49.
Click here to book tickets
Electric Dreams New Year's Eve Party
Best for... low-key disco
Ring in the New Year with a healthy dose of musical nostalgia. Electric dreams will be running a no-frills night of classic 80s and alternative electronica featuring the likes of Depeche Mode, The Human League, Soft Cell, Ultravox, Simple Minds and Duran Duran. For those wanting a good time free from the glitz and glam of fancier events, this is the one to choose.
Tickets not yet on sale.
New Year at The Mansion
Best for... sartorial splendour
The Mansion arranges exclusive events in the most impressive of private spaces. This year, their gold-themed NYE party is in a secret location in northwest London with three dance floors, four DJs, two exhibitions, face-painting, cage dancers, fire shows and even a clairvoyant to let you know what to expect in 2020. With hip-hop, house and electro on the dancefloor, and great drinks, usher in a new golden age this December.
Early bird tickets from £24.
Click here to book tickets
NYE at London Sky Bar
Best for... sky-high views
London Sky Bar offers a champagne-fuelled, 12-hour celebration where guests will see in the New Year from on high. Located on the upper floors of the Millbank Tower, the event will give unrivalled Thames-side views of the annual fireworks display. Add in a champagne reception upon arrival, a champagne breakfast in the early hours and entertainment all night, and you have a formidable party.
Tickets from £250.
Click here to book tickets
Immersive Woolf of Wall Street Experience
Best for... immersive excitement
All the hedonism of 90s Wall Street comes to life in Alexander Wright's immersive theatrical production of The Wolf of Wall Street. And what better time to over-indulge than New Year's Eve? The show has now extended its running time to January 2020 following the same logic, so you can party it up with Jordan Belfort at the biggest party of them all. The production reaches across four storeys of its secret London venue, encompassing bars, a restaurant and even 'supercars' through which audience members can wander as they decide whether to join Jordan as a crooked banker or else help the FBI to root them out. Perfect if you fancy something a bit different this New Year's Eve.
Tickets from £60.
Click here to book tickets
Morton's New Year's Eve Masquerade
Best for... avoiding the crowds
Morton's prides itself on being the most exclusive club in Mayfair, but this New Year's Eve it's letting in those lucky few members of the public who manage to get tickets to their New Year's Masquerade Ball. The whole ground floor is due to be transformed into a masquerade ballroom with DJs on hand for music and plenty of live entertainment. Tickets are very limited and sure to sell out, so book soon to avoid disappointment.
Tickets from £40.
Click here to book tickets
A Curious Invitation New Year's Eve Ball
Best for... elegant views
The Century Club's stylish interiors are hidden behind an unassuming door in Shaftesbury Avenue, exemplifying the chic but discreet approach the club takes to festivities. Usually only open to members, it is opening its doors for one night only this December to host a New Year's Eve party organised by A Curious Invitation, the team behind a series of perennially popular and well-executed workshops, parties and events (they do Halloween particularly well). This looks to be no less impressive, with a slew of carnival-esque live acts, scrumptious cocktails and exquisite design. But the highlight will undoubtedly be when you serenely ascend the stairs to the club's rooftop (Soho's largest) as midnight approaches to watch the fireworks over the river – no jostling along the banks of the Thames for you this year. Masks are obligatory, but be creative: from Second World War gas masks to elegant Venetian, make yours memorable.
Tickets from £25.
Click here to book tickets
The Yacht London NYW Black Tie Event
Best for... black-tie boating
For an extravagant New Year's Eve to remember, book tickets for the Yacht this 31 December. Their annual black-tie event is held in a moored yacht by the London Eye and sees the evening progress from champagne and canapés to a six-course dinner and finally to their outdoors viewing platform to watch the world-famous fireworks from a front-row seat. The accompaniment of a live band playing well-loved classics and an open bar all night will make for a truly special end to 2019. Black tie is de rigueur and children are discouraged at this highly atmospheric soirée. But be sure to book soon, as spaces are strictly limited.
Tickets £299.
Click here to book tickets
Sea Containers
Best for… divine cocktails
Formerly Dandelyan – aka 2018's best bar in the world – Lyaness still serves world-class cocktails, just in revamped surroundings. Still headed up by Ryan Chetiyawardana (aka Mr Lyan, aka 'The World's Most Awarded Bartender'), the space has been redesigned with a fresh menu by hotel design whiz Jacu Strauss (talented ex-pupil of Tom Dixon). There couldn't be a more chic place to spend an evening sipping Mr Lyan's exciting concoctions, with your bed just a stumble up the stairs. With the hotel perched on the South Bank, you'll have a second-to-none view of the midnight fireworks display over the river, too. Be sure to ask for a room with a view, or else get there early to bag a spot on the restaurant terrace, which overlooks the river.
Prices vary.
Click here to reserve a table
Viennese New Year’s Eve Gala at the Barbican
Best for… classical chill
The Barbican’s relaxed pre-party offering this New Year’s Eve features an evening of music from the Strauss family and friends, topped off by a complimentary drink. Classics like the Blue Danube Waltz, effected by the Johann Strauss Orchestra and Dancers, will transport guests to snow-steeped Vienna. And with the concert wrapped up by 10PM, there’s still plenty of time for partying late after a serene start to the evening.
Tickets from £19.50.
Click here to book tickets
Natural History Museum, New Year’s Eve: Creatures of the Night
Best for… cultural scares
Don't fall asleep with the fishes on New Year's Eve. Instead, dance under the famous, life-sized blue whale in the Natural History Museum. Dressed up like a ‘creature of the night’ and decked out in UV body paint, you’ll belt out the words to replayed anthems by the ‘Massaoke’ band. If the appeal of silent disco and musical bingo begins to tire, the museum’s two special exhibitions running over Christmas are also open: Wildlife Photographer of the Year and Museum of the Moon.
Tickets £90 for non-members.
Click here to book tickets
Comedy Carnival, Leicester Square and Clapham
Best for…light-hearted partying
Comedy Carnival has its fingers in two different pots this New Year's Eve – get your funny fix either at Bar Rumba in central Leicester Square or at Infernos in Clapham. Before the Clapham show, you can also book in for a three-course dinner. Last year’s comedians included Bobby Mair (8 out of 10 Cats), Tom Deacon (BBC Radio 1) and Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Imran Yusuf. With the comedy show running from 8–10 PM, followed by a club night until 5 AM, the side-splitting carnival barely ceases.
Ticket prices tbc.
Click here to book tickets
Party with Bourne and Hollingsworth
Best for... historical hedonism
The team behind Bourne and Hollingsworth are seasoned party throwers. And tickets to their New Year’s Eve celebrations are selling out fast. But don't worry: they still have tickets available for two of their most popular events. The Blitz Party promises a night of 40s-style revelry, taking place in a makeshift air-raid shelter plentifully stocked with alcoholic provisions. The Prohibition Party, meanwhile, will play out in a clandestine central location filled with flapper girls, DJs on gramophones, and free-flowing, illicit cocktails.
Tickets from £50.
Click here to book tickets
The Piano Works
Best for... all-night tunes
Farringdon favourite The Piano Works is laying on a black-tie affair this New Year's Eve. Expect non-stop live music from 5PM until 2AM, at which point a DJ is taking over to keep the party going until 6AM. The venue is offering flexible ticket options depending on your preferred time of arrival and whether or not you want to tuck into the three-course dinner.
Tickets from £10.
Click here to book tickets
New Year’s Eve Spectacular at the Royal Festival Hall
Best for… musical variety
Southbank Centre is metamorphosing into a decade-blurring party haven for New Year’s Eve. With the venue’s five floors including two new themed rooms for 2019, the six themed pop-up clubs span a musical selection from the 20s to the present day. Expect live orchestras, dance lessons, specialist DJs and photo studios. And don't forget that Southbank Centre boasts prime river views, hence priority seats for London’s main firework show come midnight.
Tickets from £95.
Click here to book tickets
The Petersham
Best for… a Victorian fairy-tale
With its green, leafy location and views over the Thames, the Petersham in Richmond feels a world away from normal city life. And the elegant Victorian hotel certainly knows how to throw a New Year’s Eve party: the night will begin with drinks and background music by acclaimed pianist Gareth Giles, followed by a gastronomic seven-course dinner, then the dawn of the New Year will be toasted with a glass of Champagne. To add to the magical feeling of this opulent venue, organisers have promised a real snowfall at midnight.
Tickets from £165.
Click here to book tickets
The Candlelight Club New Year's Eve Ball
Best for... bootlegged bubbly
In honour of the start of the 20s, the Candlelight Club will be seeing in the New Year like they did in the Jazz Age, with music and cabaret all crafted to transport you from 2020 to 1920. You can also book a dining ticket for one of two dinner sittings. Champagne Charlie will oversee proceedings and the Bubbly Boys will pop in to play live jazz – and you can learn to Charleston while they play.
Early bird tickets from £45.
Click here to book tickets
Christmas in New York: London New Year's Eve Ball
Best for... a black-tie blowout
Head over to Battersea and party like they do Stateside at this all-out Big Apple themed do with space for thousands of guests. If you're more Times Square ball-drop than London Eye fireworks this is the place to be come the 31st: you can stroll through Central Park while munching roast chestnuts, sneak an Irish tipple at Molly Malone's and generally absorb the buzz of the city that never sleeps – all without leaving Zone 1. Oh, and did we mention there's a four-course dinner and unlimited drinks? The party planners are even laying on dodgems for revellers – just remember to drive on the right.
Tickets £185.
Click here to book tickets
Soho 2020: NYE at the Boulevard
Best for... 50s throwback
Soho 2020: New Year's Eve opens a week-long celebration of the new year at the Boulevard in Walker's Court. On the big night itself, guests can enjoy a throwback to the Soho of the 50s, fuelled with champagne, drag and burlesque. Expect to start the night in style with canapés and retro cocktails, followed by a feast of antipasti and cheeses in Marcel's Salon. The rest of the evening stars classy entertainment acts, from contortionists to hula performers. And don't forget to bring your dancing shoes: live jazz bands and cabaret performers will help you boogie the night away until 2am.
Early Bird tickets £49.
Click here to book tickets
Electric Dreams New Year's Eve Party
Best for... low-key disco
Ring in the New Year with a healthy dose of musical nostalgia. Electric dreams will be running a no-frills night of classic 80s and alternative electronica featuring the likes of Depeche Mode, The Human League, Soft Cell, Ultravox, Simple Minds and Duran Duran. For those wanting a good time free from the glitz and glam of fancier events, this is the one to choose.
Tickets not yet on sale.
New Year at The Mansion
Best for... sartorial splendour
The Mansion arranges exclusive events in the most impressive of private spaces. This year, their gold-themed NYE party is in a secret location in northwest London with three dance floors, four DJs, two exhibitions, face-painting, cage dancers, fire shows and even a clairvoyant to let you know what to expect in 2020. With hip-hop, house and electro on the dancefloor, and great drinks, usher in a new golden age this December.
Early bird tickets from £24.
Click here to book tickets
NYE at London Sky Bar
Best for... sky-high views
London Sky Bar offers a champagne-fuelled, 12-hour celebration where guests will see in the New Year from on high. Located on the upper floors of the Millbank Tower, the event will give unrivalled Thames-side views of the annual fireworks display. Add in a champagne reception upon arrival, a champagne breakfast in the early hours and entertainment all night, and you have a formidable party.
Tickets from £250.
Click here to book tickets
Immersive Woolf of Wall Street Experience
Best for... immersive excitement
All the hedonism of 90s Wall Street comes to life in Alexander Wright's immersive theatrical production of The Wolf of Wall Street. And what better time to over-indulge than New Year's Eve? The show has now extended its running time to January 2020 following the same logic, so you can party it up with Jordan Belfort at the biggest party of them all. The production reaches across four storeys of its secret London venue, encompassing bars, a restaurant and even 'supercars' through which audience members can wander as they decide whether to join Jordan as a crooked banker or else help the FBI to root them out. Perfect if you fancy something a bit different this New Year's Eve.
Tickets from £60.
Click here to book tickets
Morton's New Year's Eve Masquerade
Best for... avoiding the crowds
Morton's prides itself on being the most exclusive club in Mayfair, but this New Year's Eve it's letting in those lucky few members of the public who manage to get tickets to their New Year's Masquerade Ball. The whole ground floor is due to be transformed into a masquerade ballroom with DJs on hand for music and plenty of live entertainment. Tickets are very limited and sure to sell out, so book soon to avoid disappointment.
Tickets from £40.
Click here to book tickets
A Curious Invitation New Year's Eve Ball
Best for... elegant views
The Century Club's stylish interiors are hidden behind an unassuming door in Shaftesbury Avenue, exemplifying the chic but discreet approach the club takes to festivities. Usually only open to members, it is opening its doors for one night only this December to host a New Year's Eve party organised by A Curious Invitation, the team behind a series of perennially popular and well-executed workshops, parties and events (they do Halloween particularly well). This looks to be no less impressive, with a slew of carnival-esque live acts, scrumptious cocktails and exquisite design. But the highlight will undoubtedly be when you serenely ascend the stairs to the club's rooftop (Soho's largest) as midnight approaches to watch the fireworks over the river – no jostling along the banks of the Thames for you this year. Masks are obligatory, but be creative: from Second World War gas masks to elegant Venetian, make yours memorable.
Tickets from £25.
Click here to book tickets
The Yacht London NYW Black Tie Event
Best for... black-tie boating
For an extravagant New Year's Eve to remember, book tickets for the Yacht this 31 December. Their annual black-tie event is held in a moored yacht by the London Eye and sees the evening progress from champagne and canapés to a six-course dinner and finally to their outdoors viewing platform to watch the world-famous fireworks from a front-row seat. The accompaniment of a live band playing well-loved classics and an open bar all night will make for a truly special end to 2019. Black tie is de rigueur and children are discouraged at this highly atmospheric soirée. But be sure to book soon, as spaces are strictly limited.
Tickets £299.
Click here to book tickets
Sea Containers
Best for… divine cocktails
Formerly Dandelyan – aka 2018's best bar in the world – Lyaness still serves world-class cocktails, just in revamped surroundings. Still headed up by Ryan Chetiyawardana (aka Mr Lyan, aka 'The World's Most Awarded Bartender'), the space has been redesigned with a fresh menu by hotel design whiz Jacu Strauss (talented ex-pupil of Tom Dixon). There couldn't be a more chic place to spend an evening sipping Mr Lyan's exciting concoctions, with your bed just a stumble up the stairs. With the hotel perched on the South Bank, you'll have a second-to-none view of the midnight fireworks display over the river, too. Be sure to ask for a room with a view, or else get there early to bag a spot on the restaurant terrace, which overlooks the river.
Prices vary.
Click here to reserve a table
Viennese New Year’s Eve Gala at the Barbican
Best for… classical chill
The Barbican’s relaxed pre-party offering this New Year’s Eve features an evening of music from the Strauss family and friends, topped off by a complimentary drink. Classics like the Blue Danube Waltz, effected by the Johann Strauss Orchestra and Dancers, will transport guests to snow-steeped Vienna. And with the concert wrapped up by 10PM, there’s still plenty of time for partying late after a serene start to the evening.
Tickets from £19.50.
Click here to book tickets
Natural History Museum, New Year’s Eve: Creatures of the Night
Best for… cultural scares
Don't fall asleep with the fishes on New Year's Eve. Instead, dance under the famous, life-sized blue whale in the Natural History Museum. Dressed up like a ‘creature of the night’ and decked out in UV body paint, you’ll belt out the words to replayed anthems by the ‘Massaoke’ band. If the appeal of silent disco and musical bingo begins to tire, the museum’s two special exhibitions running over Christmas are also open: Wildlife Photographer of the Year and Museum of the Moon.
Tickets £90 for non-members.
Click here to book tickets
Comedy Carnival, Leicester Square and Clapham
Best for…light-hearted partying
Comedy Carnival has its fingers in two different pots this New Year's Eve – get your funny fix either at Bar Rumba in central Leicester Square or at Infernos in Clapham. Before the Clapham show, you can also book in for a three-course dinner. Last year’s comedians included Bobby Mair (8 out of 10 Cats), Tom Deacon (BBC Radio 1) and Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Imran Yusuf. With the comedy show running from 8–10 PM, followed by a club night until 5 AM, the side-splitting carnival barely ceases.
Ticket prices tbc.
Click here to book tickets
Party with Bourne and Hollingsworth
Best for... historical hedonism
The team behind Bourne and Hollingsworth are seasoned party throwers. And tickets to their New Year’s Eve celebrations are selling out fast. But don't worry: they still have tickets available for two of their most popular events. The Blitz Party promises a night of 40s-style revelry, taking place in a makeshift air-raid shelter plentifully stocked with alcoholic provisions. The Prohibition Party, meanwhile, will play out in a clandestine central location filled with flapper girls, DJs on gramophones, and free-flowing, illicit cocktails.
Tickets from £50.
Click here to book tickets
The Piano Works
Best for... all-night tunes
Farringdon favourite The Piano Works is laying on a black-tie affair this New Year's Eve. Expect non-stop live music from 5PM until 2AM, at which point a DJ is taking over to keep the party going until 6AM. The venue is offering flexible ticket options depending on your preferred time of arrival and whether or not you want to tuck into the three-course dinner.
Tickets from £10.
Click here to book tickets
New Year’s Eve Spectacular at the Royal Festival Hall
Best for… musical variety
Southbank Centre is metamorphosing into a decade-blurring party haven for New Year’s Eve. With the venue’s five floors including two new themed rooms for 2019, the six themed pop-up clubs span a musical selection from the 20s to the present day. Expect live orchestras, dance lessons, specialist DJs and photo studios. And don't forget that Southbank Centre boasts prime river views, hence priority seats for London’s main firework show come midnight.
Tickets from £95.
Click here to book tickets
