Where to Stay for New Year’s Eve in London: 13 Hotels Near the Fireworks

I’m the first to admit that London is beautiful any day, but there’s something special about celebrating a holiday there. Whether it’s a new take on your Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas celebrations, or a romantic evening for Valentine’s Day, a birthday, or an anniversary, London is the perfect place for any occasion. Celebrating New Year’s Eve in London is no exception!

While there are a number of events across London to mark the new year, there’s one main place everyone wants to be: the Embankment fireworks near the London Eye. Fireworks are visible along the Victoria Embankment from Westminster Bridge to Waterloo Bridge, which is a pretty small area by London standards.

For this reason, there are a limited number of hotels if you want to be close enough to conveniently walk to the fireworks. I’ve gone through and created a list of all the hotels within a 15-minute walk, which are listed below. (You could certainly stay further afield, but be prepared for Tube disruptions and possible closures near Westminster, which might necessitate walking anyway!)

Without further ado, let’s get your New Year’s Eve in London plans sorted, at least for where you’re going to stay. I’ll leave it up to you to set resolutions and other important traditions to kick off 2024.

London Marriott Hotel County Hall

Photos courtesy of Hotels.com, Nida K on Instagram

If you’re looking for hotels for NYE in London that are as close to the action as possible, try London Marriott Hotel County Hall. Located literally one minute from the London Eye – where the main firework display takes place – this 5-star hotel has rooms with Molton Brown toiletries, great views of the Thames River, Big Ben, and the London Eye has a great indoor pool, and terrific service.

Guests are offered sparkling water or Prosecco during check-in and the hotel will even place a mini fridge in your room upon request – perfect for kicking off your New Year’s celebrations in style!

Premier Inn London County Hall

Photos courtesy of Premier Inn London County Hall

For a more affordable option that is equally close to the fireworks – one-third the price, last I checked! –there’s the Premier Inn London Country Hall. 

Housed in a Grade II listed building, along with Shrek Adventure, this Premier Inn looks much nicer than its counterparts. (For views of the Big Ben, ask for rooms at the back.) You can also catch the hop-on, hop-off bus next to the hotel, for sightseeing elsewhere in the city after you recover from your NYE celebration. The English-style breakfast is pretty good, with lots of choices available – ideal if you need a bit of fuel after a late night enjoying the fireworks.

Park Plaza County Hall London

Photos courtesy of Booking.com

Slightly further away (six minutes from the London Eye, so not exactly a stretch) is the Park Plaza County Hall London.

Certain rooms on the upper levels have views of the London Eye, and would be a great place to view the fireworks without being caught in all the hustle and bustle – this part of London is very busy even on a regular day, let alone New Year’s Eve! (Look for the “London Eye” category rooms.) 

Complimentary lemonade, popcorn, and gifts for children are offered at check-in. If you don’t want to eat out every day, ask for a room with a microwave, or if you’re noise-sensitive, request a room further from the lifts (as they can make a fair bit of noise when people use them!). Basically, you’ve got lots of choices to help you have the perfect stay and be close to London’s top New Year’s celebrations.

Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London

Photos courtesy of Booking.com

The Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London is also six minutes from the London Eye, which has a 24-hour gym, a swimming pool, a terrific spa, and live entertainment every evening at the Primo Bar. There are also two restaurants: the award-winning Brasserie Joël and Ichi Sushi & Sashimi, which specializes in sushi and sashimi (as the name suggests!). An on-site illy Caffè serves Italian coffee and pastries, perfect for breakfast on the first day of the new year.

Being a bit further (relatively speaking) from the Eye means you might still be able to get a last-minute reservation for this year.

Citadines Trafalgar Square

Photos courtesy of Booking.com

If you prefer a hotel near the New Year’s Eve fireworks in London that has a kitchenette in the rooms, Citadines Trafalgar Square is an option. It’s a half-mile or 10-minute walk from the London Eye and offers a microwave, refrigerator, and tea/ coffee facilities in the apartments; this is great if you have budgeted for your hotel stay but not as much for meals out during your trip.

However, as an aparthotel, don’t expect the same level of service that you get at a regular hotel. For example, complimentary room cleaning is only offered to guests who stay for more than 6 nights. If not, there’s a charge for room cleaning/changing of bedsheets – but you might not even need that during your stay anyway, so it’s just something to keep in mind.

Moreover, whilst the location is fantastic, the property feels quite old. In addition, whilst the Citadines properties in London that I’ve stayed in have usually been scrupulously clean, eth Trafalgar Square has had a few negative reviews regarding cleanliness.

Ruby Lucy Hotel London

Photos courtesy of Booking.com

If you want London New Year’s Hotels with a balcony, try Ruby Lucy Hotel London, which is also 10 minutes from the excitement. (Look for the Deluxe Rooms, which are named LOFT on the homepage, but the rooms do not offer direct views of the London Eye.) 

This is a small, quirky 4-star boutique hotel with friendly and happy staff. Check-in is done at the lovely bar (which has a great drinks list and snacks menu to distract you while checking in), using a tablet, and (at the time of writing) there is no check-out process: guests simply leave! Simple either way, leaving you extra time to enjoy your celebrations in London and stick to that resolution about getting more done in 2024.

The Royal Horseguards Hotel

Photos courtesy of Hotels.com

Want an absolute splurge as part of celebrating New Year’s in London this year? Try the Royal Horseguards Hotel. This beautiful hotel is a 10-minute walk from the London Eye, uses disinfectant to clean the premises, and seals the rooms after cleaning – helping you keep any resolutions about being healthier this year, I guess!

Some rooms overlook the River Thames and London Eye and the items in the mini-bar are complimentary. This property also has a garden and terrace, in which one can have cocktails or a bite to eat – although December and January are probably not the best months for al fresco dining unless you bundle up quite a bit! 

Club Quarters Hotel Trafalgar Square

Photos courtesy of Booking.com

Club Quarters Hotel Trafalgar Square is an 11-minute walk from the London Eye and has a 24/7 tea and coffee machine; this can help you fuel up before staying up til midnight – and warm up after you return from the fireworks show.

Unfortunately, parts of the property are quite tired, to the extent that some doors don’t fit the frames properly and a few of the (small) windows can’t quite open (not that you necessarily need them to during the winter!). The wi-fi connection can also be quite weak in parts of the property, so keep that in mind if you’re planning to document New Year’s in London right away on social media.

Great Scotland Yard Hotel

Photos courtesy of Hotels.com

For luxury hotels near the New Year’s Eve fireworks in London, try the Great Scotland Yard Hotel. This hotel is housed in a gorgeous 1820s Grade II listed property with Edwardian and Victorian architecture and complimentary water and soda in the rooms.

Now part of the Hyatt family, this hotel is a 12-minute stroll from the London Eye; it’s further from the main festivities but closer to the heart of the city. For those who prefer more space, have the budget, or are traveling in a large group, you can even book the standalone, 5-story townhouse!

Park Plaza London Waterloo

Photos courtesy of Booking.com

For London New Year’s Hotels with amenities to help you meet your new year’s fitness resolutions (pool access as well as a sauna, steam room, and gym), there’s the Park Plaza London Waterloo. It’s a 13-minute walk from the London Eye, which is easy enough of a base for walking to watch the fireworks when the clock strikes midnight.

This property is also a fun place for kids as there’s even a children’s check-in desk. If you’re on a budget, the hotel has an eco-friendly program where you can get a £10 discount voucher if you decide not to have your room cleaned; this is a cool new program some hotels in London offer that can help you save… maybe you can achieve financial goals for 2024 instead!

Raffles London at The OWO

Photos courtesy of Hotels.com

13 minutes from the London Eye is the new (for London) Raffles London at The OWO, which opened in 2023 in London’s former Old War Office building (Winston Churchill’s World War II headquarters and where Ian Fleming was inspired to write James Bond). After six years of restoration, the newly reopened Grade-II listed, Edwardian, baroque building is magnificent, with soaring 14-ft ceilings, a large chandelier, and a grand entrance. 

As if just staying in luxury wasn’t enough, Raffles is a great place to be pampered, boasting a 27,000 square-foot Guerlain Spa that spreads over four floors, a movement studio, a cutting-edge gym, and a 20m swimming pool. Foodies will also be spoilt for choice with nine restaurants to choose from. Don’t be surprised if you secretly don’t want to leave even for the fireworks display.

The Clermont London

Photos courtesy of Booking.com

If you don’t have over £1000 to spend on a hotel room, The Clermont in Charing Cross is another gorgeous hotel housed in a Grade II-listed building that is a 14-minute walk from the London Eye. 

Opened in 1865 and previously known as The Amba, it is one of TripAdvisor’s 2023 Traveler’s Choice Best of the Best Hotels. The rooms have modern bathrooms, complimentary minibars (a very nice touch), and a Nespresso coffee machine. Some rooms can be noisy, so do ask for one on a higher floor or request a quiet room when booking.

The Clermont has multiple locations in London so make sure you book the one at Charing Cross if you want to be near the fireworks!

Page8

Photos courtesy of Booking.com

Last but not least, the Page8 is a modern hotel 15 minutes from the London Eye; it’s the furthest hotel I recommend staying at for New Year’s Eve in London since you’ll have to make the trek back after the fireworks.

Rooms are on the small side but they have nice touches such as a Marshall speaker, electric blinds, an air filter, 3rd party laundry service, and a complimentary mini-bar that is refilled on a daily basis. (Weirdly enough, the electricity to the fridge is controlled by the keycard – so don’t leave anything that requires chilling in it when you’re out!) 

Keep in mind that there is no restaurant on-site, but you can purchase coffee, pastries, and even books on-site. There are loads of restaurants on nearby Villiers Street leading to the Thames if you’re peckish before joining the crowds for the fireworks display.

Any other hotels I reviewed were further than a 15-minute walk from the London Eye, so it’s really up to you if you want to stay elsewhere in London for New Year’s Eve. Have any questions about these hotels or making your New Year’s Eve in London plans? Let me know in the comments below!