If you watched the last moments of the Paralympics closing ceremony last night when the fireworks went off at Stratford, you might have seen a short clip of a small display happening at Tower Bridge as well.
That was one of four displays on the Thames last night – a short display by the London Eye at 10pm, then a couple of big fireworks at Tower Bridge, which might have gone off early by mistake.
For a few minutes later a huge display was set off around Tower Bridge, and was vastly larger than the TV hinted at.
Less than 10 minutes later, the Thames Festival fireworks went off, which while normally being very impressive felt like a bit of a damp squib after the huge Paralympic fireworks. Not just in size, but the variety of explosions.
I am increasingly of the opinion that the New Year’s Eve fireworks should be moved from the London Eye to Tower Bridge. The Bridge is such an icon of London now. I also suspect they could fit a lot more people along the riverside on both sides of Tower Bridge, and on London Bridge to watch it live.
Anyway, a few photos:
And a close up video by the local firm firm, Baynes Media.
Beautiful photos :)
Brilliant photos – what camera settings do you use to capture it so?
Great photos, was wondering where you were standing to get the Shard in view too?
As for your idea about moving the NYE fireworks to Tower Bridge, it does seem very photogenic and it would give the pyrotechnics a new challenge instead of the wheel they’ve had for the past decade. Just wondering if transport links in the immediate area would be as good at coping as those near the London eye.
It’s pretty difficult to take photos of Tower Bridge without The Shard in them though.
As to the location itself – there is London Bridge and Blackfriars for national rail, and usefully the underground is split by the river so you have double the route options in the area compared to what’s at Embankment.
Have thought for few years that Tower Bridge would be a better venue for the NYE fireworks. The useful viewing area would be much larger than at the eye, where anything approaching sideways-on is hopeless, and the view from the south bank behind isn’t that great either.
Putting the centre of the fireworks on a prominent 3 dimensional icon in the middle of the river would surely provide a better view to more people, plus a more spectacular show for the TV. And it would make a change.
There’s also always the option of doing both, and perhaps co-ordinating a more dispersed display along the river between them.
AIUI, the Tower Bridge fireworks went off as timed so that the blimp/helicopter could film these, the London Eye and the Thames Festival fireworks, and get across to Stratford to broadcast the fireworks there live, with the earlier fireworks cut into the live ones fron Stratford to make the closing cermony fireworks seem more impressive. Paralympics done on a tight budget so only one eye in the sky…