New Years Eve in London

Friends of mine from America are coming to stay in London and will be here on New Years eve. They want to know what restaurant they can go to for both dinner and dancing. Anyone any suggestions?

I would suggest throwing the bolts and staying in until all of the silliness is over!

Check Timeout or toptable, probably your best best.

Here you go

You are a star! Which one would you choose?

Cafe de Paris - the Yanks will love it

I'd choose Dover Street but I stand by my first suggestion of not going anywhere in central London on new years eve.

But then I am a bit of a bah humbug!

The Pont de la Tour is advertising what they describe as a "1920s and 1930s gala dinner", which seems to be followed by a party (although the website doesn't actually mention dancing).

Pont de la Tour

On a similar note, I have relatives coming down to stay for New Year and they want to be out amongst the masses around Westminster to see the fireworks launched from the London Eye. Can anyone tell me how early we'll need to get to Westminster Bridge/north bank of the river to get a decent spot to watch the fireworks on the Eye?

I've found one website advising arriving by 9pm, but I'm thinking that three hours stood out there might be a bit boring unless there are usually any pre-fireworks entertainments...

The view from Lambeth Bridge was fine. We arrived about ten minutes in advance. They dont last very long, so you might cheated if you had waited 3 hours.

Isn't the view from Lambeth Bridge a bit side on? The Eye fireworks usually seem designed to be viewed along the axis of the Eye, although I must admit that's the only way I've ever seen them as that is the view we get from home. Unfortunately I get the impression that our guests may feel cheated if they aren't sandwiched between vast hoards of drunken revellers, so I'm trapped between finding somewhere that will be busy by midnight, but that won't be so packed we have to be there ridiculously far in advance.