Whatever you choose, arrive early. London gets aggressively crowded. By 10 PM, the nearest tube station might be a mob scene. Wear shoes that you don’t mind getting stepped on—and bring a coat so thick you could survive a Yeti attack. Also, carry snacks. The food stalls nearby will charge you £12 for a soggy hot dog. That’s almost enough to buy a ticket for the official show.
Oh, and one final surprising fact: the fireworks are set off from a barge on the Thames. It’s a floating gunpowder factory. So truly, you’re watching a controlled explosion on a boat. If that doesn’t feel like a free, high-stakes theatre show, I don’t know what does. Now go forth, stand on a hill, and let the sky light up your (empty) wallet.
