Londoners can put their Christmas cards away as they look forward to a million-pound New Year's extravaganza at the London Eye.

Mayor Ken Livingstone has talked up the city as the premier destination for New Year's revellers: "People come from across the world to bring in the New Year in London, which is one of the best places to celebrate New Year's Eve.

"As the most diverse city in the world, London has an unrivalled number and range of things to do all across the capital, from bars, to clubs, to restaurants, to parties, as well as London's fantastic firework show."

The £1.3 million spectacle, themed "Dreams for London", kicks off at 8pm with a video, projected onto the Shell Building on the South Bank of the Thames, about the dreams and ambitions of young Londoners.

Those attending can also expect an eye-popping show that will light up both the 135 metre London Eye and the Shell building as the final countdown to 2007 begins.

To greet the New Year, a fireworks display will begin at midnight, which the mayor claims will be "big enough and loud enough to be seen from high ground, balconies and gardens all over the capital."

Jack Morton Worldwide and Christophe Berthonneau, who lit up the Eiffel Tower in Paris for the Millennium, have been commissioned to oversee the fiery display, which will last ten minutes and will be broadcast worldwide on television.

The public can watch the spectacle from a large viewing area that spans from Westminster Bridge to Waterloo Bridge. The area will be closed off once it has reached capacity, to prevent overcrowding.

Stewards with maps will be on hand to help anyone who is lost.

More than 3000 police officers will be active on the night to keep order throughout the capital.

Superintendent Ian Chappell urged the public to plan their night carefully and to keep an eye on their belongings.

"We want people to have the best possible night out," he said.

Although New Year's Eve usually passes without too much trouble, the superintendent says that in the past "some people have used the cover of crowds and spirit of the event to commit crime".

These people would be dealt with "very robustly", he promised.

There's no need for cars, as Tube, bus and tram services as well as the Docklands Light Railway will operate free of charge for the entire night.

Revellers must note that several Tube stations will be closed or partially closed on New Year's Eve.

New Year's Eve travel

  • Westminster Tube station will be closed from 9pm until about 3am.
  • Embankment Tube station will be closed from midnight until about 3am and passengers must exit north to Villiers Street.
  • Leicester Square Tube station is open for interchange and exit only from 7pm until around 12.15am.
  • Covent Garden Tube station is open for exit only from 7pm until about 3am.
  • Buses on routes through central London will be diverted from 7.30pm, with roads closed in the West End and around Waterloo. Buses will continue to destinations around the capital from Aldwych, Green Park station, Hyde Park Corner, Lambeth North, Marble Arch, Tottenham Court Road (Centre Point) and Oxford Circus.
  • Westminster Bridge can be accessed from south of the river only between 8pm and 1am.
  • Golden Jubilee Bridge at Embankment will be closed from 8pm until crowds have dispersed.
  • More New Year's Eve transport information is available at www.tfl.gov.uk/nye or by calling the London Travel Information 24-hour helpline on 020 7222 1234. Copies of the leaflet 'Stay out longer this New Year's Eve' will also be available at Tube and bus stations, travel information centres and staffed Docklands Light Railway stations.

Where to partyIf you're not heading to the river for the fireworks, there's plenty of partying to be done, as clubland celebrates the most important date on its calendar.

Here are just a few places you can party like it's 1999:

  • Nude Years Eve @ Ministry Of Sound 103 Gaunt Street, London SE1 6DP. 9am - 7am Tickets £40
  • Heat 5 Year Anniversary @ Carling Brixton Academy 211 Stockwell Road, London, SW9 9.30pm - 6am Tickets tba
  • School Disco @ Hammersmith Palais 230 Shepherd Bush Road, London, W6 7NL 9.30pm - whenever Tickets £39.99
  • NYE @ Fabric 77a Charterhouse Street, London, EC1M 3HN 9.30pm - 9.30am Tickets £35
  • Funkinyou @ Park Lane Hotel Piccadilly, London W1J 7BX 8pm - 4am Tickets £80 - 135