The final countdown! Revellers brave the rain as they gather in crowds across Britain ahead of midnight firework displays to kick off 2024

Hardy revellers have braved the lashing rain and strong winds ahead of midnight firework displays across Britain to kick off the new year.

Partygoers, some dressed to the nines in their finest outfits, were seen on the streets of London, Newcastle, Leeds and Liverpool powering through the pouring rain in a bid to make the most of New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Others dressed little bit more suitably for the weather have flocked into city and town centres across the country to marvel at spectacular light and firework displays.

That’s despite a forecasters putting a storm warning in place which has caused some events in the south to be cancelled due to powerful 75mph gales.

In true British fashion, large parts of the country are set to welcome 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.

NEWCASTLE: A group of girls brave the horrible weather to see in the New Year together

NEWCASTLE: A reveller covers her head  from the rain with a piece of fabric as she heads out into town 

NEWCASTLE: A woman holds her coat aloft in a bid to keep dry ahead of New Year celebrations

NEWCASTLE: Hardy revellers take cover under umbrellas, coats and even handbags to stay safe from the elements

BLACKPOOL: Fireworks erupt over the water as a light show illuminates the Blackpool Tower

EDINBURGH: Sisters Sophie (left) and Scarlett Strang (right) smile during Hogmanay celebrations

EDINBURGH: University students from Japan pose with placards that spell out ‘2024’ in front of Edinburgh Castle

There are due to be dramatic displays across Britain, with the iconic London fireworks set to soar as high as 200m into the air when they are launched from the London Eye on the stroke of midnight.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said tickets for the event were sold out, adding: ‘If you didn’t manage to get tickets to attend, the capital is packed with plenty more exciting New Year’s Eve events.’

In Scotland, the 30th Hogmanay street party in Edinburgh will be 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, will be 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. 

Alex MacDonald, 26, said he is 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 will take 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.

NEWCASTLE: Revellers brave the rain as they head for a night on the town in Newcastle

NEWCASTLE: A pair of well-prepared revellers hold their umbrellas aloft as they walk through Newcastle city centre

LEEDS: Two girls give a male reveller a peck on the cheek ahead of the last night out of the year

LEEDS: A pair of ladies pose for the camera in Leeds city centre on New Year’s Eve

LEEDS: A group of ladies take cover from the rain in Leeds under an umbrella as they head out to celebrate New Year

BLACKPOOL: Spectacular fireworks erupt over the water next to Blackpool Tower as the iconic venue lights up for New Years

LIVERPOOL: Revellers smile as they dart through the rain in a bid to reach the clubs and bars in Liverpool city centre

LIVERPOOL: A pair of ladies cover their heads with jackets in a bid to stay dry this evening

EDINBURGH: Brandon Fernandes and partner Tylo Verreynne embrace as they celebrate Hogmanay

NEWCASTLE: A spectacular light show takes place at the Baltic Flour Mills in Newcastle’s Quayside

NEWCASTLE: Crowds gather in front of the Baltic Flour Mills in Newcastle’s Quayside

LONDON: Rain falls over the Houses of Parliament ahead of the New Year’s Eve fireworks

NEWCASTLE: Revellers brave the rain and cold weather to enjoy the New Years Eve celebrations

EDINBURGH: Visitors from Spain dress up in Santa hats ahead of Hogmanay New Year celebrations

EDINBURGH: Partygoers get ready for a fun night ahead during the Hogmanay Street party celebrations

EDINBURGH: A man and woman pose for the cameras after picking up some food during the Hogmanay New Year celebration

EDINBURGH: Tourists from Brazil dress up in kilts for the Hogmanay New Year celebrations

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.

WIGAN: Clubbers brave the cold and wet weather as they hit the city centre on New Year’s Eve

LONDON: Met Police officers have descended on the capital ahead of New Year’s celebrations

EDINBURGH: Fireworks explode during the New Year celebrations in Scotland

EDINBURGH: Fireworks explode over Edinburgh Castle during the street party for Hogmanay New Year celebrations

NEWCASTLE: A reveller gives his pal a piggyback as they enjoy the New Year’s Eve celebrations

NEWCASTLE: Two friends strike a pose as they hit the town amid the cold and stormy conditions

LEEDS: Partygoers did not let the grim weather dampen their spirits as they see in the New Year together

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.’