London fireworks 2013 at the banks of River Thames on the New Year’s Eve promise to be a treat as around 250,000 people are expected to throng to the river banks to watch the fireworks display. According to Mayor Johnson, the fireworks display would round off a year that “glimmered with excitement and enthusiasm”.

People have been advised to prepare ahead to encounter large crowds as the viewing area is likely to be full by 22:00 GMT. Transport facilities for the event have been organised as free London travel on bus, Tube, tram and Docklands Light Railway (DLR) will be available from 11:45 GMT on New Year’s Eve until 4:30 GMT on January 1. The Tube, DLR, tram and selected National Rail services in Greater London will run all night.

Night buses and 24-hour bus routes will function as usual, but bus services leaving central London from about 17:00 GMT to around 03:00 GMT will be reduced, because of road closures. More than 150 Team London Ambassadors, who volunteered during London 2012 Games, will also volunteer the New Year’s celebrations. The volunteers will hand out maps, and help direct people to the viewing areas and also provide guidance and advice on getting home safely.

The Shard, which is the tallest building in Western Europe, will usher in the New Year with a specially designed lighting sequence. The top of the building will be lit from 16:00 GMT, rising in intensity during the evening, with major effect changes planned for 22:00 GMT and 22:30 GMT. But the Shard is not part of the London fireworks 2013 display, which is centred around the Royal Festival Hall area of the South Bank.