Hi,
We are going down to London with the kids on Sunday and stopping 2-nights coming back New Yrs Day.
We want to go see the fireworks but with the kids being 5, 7 & 9 - the oldest in a wheelchair and SEN - the main viewing pens for over 2-hours would be too much for the kids.
We're looking to drive in from the West (T5 area) then walk/tube to somewhere decent but still able to basically get about a little with the kids.
A tall order I know, but any advice is welcome.
We've done New Years eve several times over the last few years and while i don't know what the viewing pens are, or where they are, but doing the new year there is not for the faint hearted.
Its brilliant, fantastic atmosphere, never seen any trouble, but...
We travel in by tube (possibly not an option for you) and switch lines to get where we want.
Incoming the tubes are busy, but ok. We tend to get into London around 6 / 7 pm, head to the Embankment......and sit it out. If you're not in there by say 9pm...you're going to struggle to get anything like the bast places, it gets shoulder to shoulder, cram packed. Basically you find your spot...and sit it out and wait. There's plenty to keep you occupied, each other, the crowds, the atmosphere, they have a radio broadcast going as well, plenty of music etc etc.
There's plenty of security around the perimeter, so no bottles allowed, you will be checked. This slows things down a bit.
The fireworks are the best ive ever seen, don't suppose i will see better.
Now you've got to get out
Tubes are chokka, absolutely packed. It'd take a miracle to get a seat, you're going to be packed in like sardines.
Again, i know you're probably not going by tube, but use the same rules we apply....have an exit plan if you get seperated. Its a nightmare, you can lose each other in the blink of an eye. Whenever we go down the tube...we agree a meeting place if we get seperated, prompted by one occasion when i looked round on the escalator...sh1t..she's gone. Do i carry on, did she get in front, or do i wait, or do i get out and come in again. Did the last and found her sensibly waiting where we'd last seen each other. Phones were useless of course, so a sticky moment that came from nowhere.
A very very different evening can be had, very memorable, but tread carefully, i could see it could so easily go wrong if you didnt take it seriously.
