Best Places to See in the New Year with Kids

The post-Christmas and New Year celebrations offered by Luxury Family Hotels include a ‘Family New Year’ on the coast at marvellous Moonfleet Manor, with afternoon tea, an inflatable obstacle course, a children’s party, a Punch & Judy show on the beach and a pirates' feast, among other treats. 

Nowhere does New Year’s Eve like Edinburgh, but with Princes Street and other party locations packed with revellers, families with children under 16 are advised to keep away from the main Hogmanay events on the night itself. Retreat instead to Calton Hill, one of the best places to view the city’s unforgettable fireworks, which are launched from seven different hills around the city and centred on the iconic castle. New Year’s Day events this year include free games to herald the beginning of the year of the Olympics.  

Austria’s lively capital sparkles at New Year, with the Old Town transformed into one big party zone. A New Year’s Trail starting at the City Hall (Rathaus) leads revellers through picturesque narrow streets lined by around 80 stalls selling culinary treats including hot punch, and past stages hosting live music ranging from rock and folk to waltzes and operettas, while fireworks light up the skies over the city. You can also take a spin on the famous Riesenrad or Giant Ferris Wheel, which awakes from its winter slumber for the New Year period; some of the attractions of the surrounding Prater fairground will also be open, including the ghost train. New Year’s morning brings revellers back to the City Hall for a bracing 11am open-air screening of the Vienna Philharmonic’s world-renowned New Year’s concert.

The Spanish like to do everything that little bit later, meaning that the atmosphere on the streets of Seville in Andalucia as the clock strikes midnight on 31 December is calmer than in many other places – most people have a big family dinner at home and only head out to party after midnight has passed. That said, you’ll still find plenty of atmosphere at Plaza Nueva, where people gather to watch the clock. Nobody bats an eyelid if you bring your own bottle of champagne to pop, while the kids should bring some grapes too – the tradition in Spain is to eat one for every chime of the clock at midnight, each one bringing a month’s worth of good luck in the coming year. 

Everyone knows about Times Square’s dropping ball, and that’s the problem – crowds are immense, and you’re unlikely to see much of the action if you stick to this most famous of festivities. Cross the bridge to Brooklyn to find a far more civilised affair in Grand Army Plaza and Prospect Park, where suburbanites gather to watch fireworks and there are even free hot drinks to help you keep warm. 

Home to more than 20 hectares of parks, gardens and attractions, many of which will be open extended hours, Navy Pier on the shores of Lake Michigan is a great place to see in the new year with the family. A lakefront carnival and lots of fun themed activities for the kids will be on offer, as well as great views of the fireworks exploding over the lake at 8.15 (for those with younger kids) and at midnight. 

If you want to see in the new year with fireworks but without freezing, know that the mercury in the capital of New South Wales hits a balmy 25° on average in December. Which means that you won’t mind arriving at the Sydney Opera House 12 hours early to stake out a place from which to ogle the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge fireworks. Bring a picnic, soak up the rays and enjoy the party atmosphere as the hours tick down to midnight and the fireworks light up the bridge in a series of dazzling pyrotechnics.