Celebrations

New Year’s Day Parade London

This lively and colourful parade through London starts at 12 noon. Spectators line the streets, from Piccadilly to Whitehall, via Pall Mall and Trafalgar Square, to see marching bands, dancers, wind bands, bhangra groups, Chinese dragons and other performers sashay past. Expect giant inflatables making their way down the streets too.

Free; lnydp.com

Beach walk and fireworks Norfolk

Shake off the night’s excesses with a refreshing group ramble along Cromer’s coast. Organised by Norwich Ramblers, this is a six to seven mile walk, heading to the Overstrand area before coming back along the beach to Cromer for the New Year’s Day fireworks display from the pier at 4pm. The meeting point for the walk is the pier at 11.30am. You do not need to be a club member.

Free; norwichra.org.uk

Sandown Carnival Isle of Wight

Get down to the beach at Sandown where the sea will glow pink, red and purple as it reflects the lights from the town’s New Year’s Day fireworks. The display kicks off at the end of Sandown pier from 6pm and is run by the Sandown Carnival Association. The best views are from the esplanade. Free; sandowncarnival.com

Southbank ceilidh London

Kick up your heels at the Royal Festival Hall for an energetic start to the year with a traditional ceilidh. The raucous dance will take place in the Clore Ballroom as part of the Southbank’s Winter Festival. Music comes courtesy of the Ceilidh Liberation Front, and the event is suitable for all ages. The whole thing goes on for around three hours, though you can pop in and out if all the wild abandon gets a little too much.

Free; southbankcentre.co.uk