Cheers! London will be full of popping champagne corks

2012 has been a year for celebrations – the Queen’s Jubilee, the Olympics and Paralympics… so why not finish 2012 on a high note and party one last time. Although increasing amounts of friends are staying in for New Year because they find it ‘doesn’t live up to the hype’, I personally have always gone out and done something different every year and always had a good time. I try to start the night with moderate to low expectations and keep an open mind… perhaps that’s my secret to having a string of brilliant New Year’s Eves for the past decade.

So obviously there are 100s of New Year’s Eve events on in London and I don’t have the time or inclination to list them all – I do have a full-time job after all! But if you’re looking for some inspiration, here’s a few parties that caught my eye. Whatever you do, hope you have a Happy New Year!

Central London

• New Year’s Eve firework display over the River Thames

Thousands expected to take to the north and south of the River to watch the free fireworks display near the London Eye. Wrap up warm and bring a flask of mulled wine! There will be a lot of congestion or potential closures of some tube stations around the Southbank so check with TFL before you travel. For more information, visit the London.gov.uk website.

• NYE Stand -Up Show – The Comedy Store

Start your night off with some comedy from Pete Johansson, Imran Yusuf, Paul Tonkinson, Curtis Walker, Stefano Paolini and The Boy With Tape On His Face. After you’ve laughed yourself silly, there will a DJ spinning tracks after for some dancing. Show starts at 8pm. Tickets: £55. The Comedy Store, 1a Oxendon Street, London SW1Y 4EE. Nearest tube: Piccadilly Circus or Leicester Square. For more information, visit the Comedy Store website.

• Vintage New Year’s Eve Party – Royal Festival Hall

The team behind the Vintage Festival (Wayne and Geraldine Hemingway) put on a glamorous extravaganza of live bands and DJs spread across pop-up nightclubs, bars and beauty parlours. Music and looks from across the decades, including 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. Around midnight, some of the action will move to one of the balconies for a great vista of the New Year’s Eve fireworks over the Thames. Tickets: £80 in advance. Starts 7pm onwards. Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX. Nearest tube: Waterloo. For more information, visit the Southbank Centre website.

London’s skyline will be lit up with a pyrotechnical display

• Winter Prom Party – The Refinery

London Grooves host the Winter Prom Party at this Southwark venue, playing Commercial RnB, 90s Old Skool, Funky House and Club Classics. Tickets: £25 (going up to £30 after 24th Dec). Times: 9.30pm-3am. The Refinery, 110 Southwark Street, London SE1 0TF. Nearest tube: Southwark. For more information, visit the London Groove website.

• 1920s Flapper Glamour New Year’s Eve Party – Dirty Martini

1920s-themed party at the Mayfair branch of Dirty Martini. Fancy dress is encouraged with a complimentary prosecco cocktail on offer for  those who arrive before 9pm. Tickets £20. Times: 8pm-3am. Dirty Martini, 10c Hanover Square, London W1S 1JH. Nearest tube: Oxford Circus. For more information, visit the Dirty Martini website.

• New Year’s Eve – Bounce

Food, drink and… ping pong is a great choice for someone looking for something a bit different. Located at the new ping pong bar in Holborn, tickets include stone-baked pizzas, canapes, DJs and free ping pong all night. Tickets: £40. Doors open 8pm. Bounce, 121 Holborn, London EC1N 2TD. Nearest tube: Chanchery Lane. For more information, visit Bounce’s website.

East London

• Belle Epoque’s Circus Party, New Year’s Eve Extravaganza – Village Underground

Tunes: What music will help you see in the new year?

Be welcomed into the ‘sensational, sequinned and often shady world of the circus’, featuring music, DJs from across the decades, dance routines and acrobatics. Fancy dress encouraged. Tickets: £41.80 (inc booking fee). Times: 9pm-3am (acrobats start @ 10pm). Village Underground, 54 Holywell Lane, London EC2A 3PQ. Nearest tube: Old Street or Shoreditch High Street (overland). For more information, visit the Belle Epoque website.

• Mat Horne presents Session NYE – Queen of Hoxton

Party featuring a rooftop silent disco with sounds from Mat Horne, Babyshambles, The Milk, Ryan Paul, Maddox and others. Times 8pm-4am. Tickets: £20 (+booking fee). Queen of Hoxton, 1 Curtain Road, Hoxton, London EC2A 3JX. Nearest tube: Shoreditch High Street (overland). For more information, visit the Queen of Hoxton website.

South London

• Defected In The House New Year’s Eve Party – Electric Brixton

Iconic house label Defected will be hosting 10 hours of some of the world’s finest underground house DJs, including Dennis Ferrer, Deetron, Noir, Copyright, Simon Dunmore and Sam Divine. Tickets start from £40 (+booking fee). Time: 9pm-7am. Electric Brixton (formerly The Fridge), 1 Town Hall Parade, Brixton, London SW2 1RJ. Nearest tube: Brixton. For more information, visit Electric Brixton’s website.

• New Year’s Eve Party of comedy and clubbing – Clapham Grand

The Clapham Grand is offering three packages depending on what whets your appetite – comedy or club or both. Early birds wanting a laugh can see the comedy show featuring Live at The Apollo star Sara Pascoe, British Comedy Award nominee John Moloney and brilliant Canadian comic Glenn Wool from 7pm. Alternatively those who just want to dance can arrive from 10pm onwards for the club, featuring club classics and commercial dance all night, and a performance from Robbie Craig with Woman Trouble. At midnight there will be a live link-up with Big Ben, balloon drop and party canons. Tickets start from (club only) £15, (comedy only) £25 or (comedy and club package) £40. Venue closes at 4am. Clapham Grand, 21-25 St John’s Hill, London SW11 1TT. Nearest train: Clapham Junction. For more information, visit the Clapham Grand website.

Vintage fun: Several venues in the capital are hosting fancy dress bashes, including 1920s parties

North London

• Secret Agents’ Ball – The Driver

From the team behind the Bond Ball, the Secret Agents’ Ball will be full of James Bonds, Austin Powers, and Bond girls partying across three rooms. Fancy dress is encouraged. As well as a drinks reception, there is also an option for dinner beforehand. DJs will be spinning house, electro and disco, while guests can try their hand at poker at the casino. Tickets: £20-£30 in advance. Time: 9pm-5am. The Driver, 2-4 Wharfdale Road, King’s Cross, London N1 9RY. Nearest tube: King’s Cross St Pancras. For more information, visit The Driver’s website.

•  Shake – The Electric Ballroom

Music: Dance, indie, electro, pop from the 70s, 80s and 90s and feel good anthems. Dress code: Smart and sexy. 9pm-4am. Advance tickets £20 (not inc. booking fee), £25 on the door. Electric Ballroom, 184 Camden High Street, London NW1 8QP. Nearest tube: Camden Town. For more information and tickets visit Electric Ballroom’s website.

West London

• Blagclub NHG New Year’s Eve – Blagclub Notting Hill Gate

Intimate party with DJs playing a mix of party styles and classics. Tickets: £10 in advance (+booking fee). Blagclub, 1st floor, 68 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3HT. Nearest tube: Notting Hill Gate. For more information, visit the Blagclub website.

For daytime activities around London on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, check out the MOAMG blog post on What’s on this Winter: Fun things around London this December.