Spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks light up the London sky as huge crowds celebrate across the UK for the first time in three years.

Last night, New Year’s fireworks returned to London with a roar, for the first time in three years, the capital staged a sparkling show.

Britons have not been afraid of the weather to watch the show in person after having to tune in from home during the Covid pandemic.

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Two years ago, a drone show aired near the city’s landmarks with a touching tribute to lockdown hero Captain Sir Tom Moore.

On New Year’s Eve 2021, fireworks began after a last-minute turnaround, but the crowd was not allowed in – instead, thousands of people tuned in to watch on TV.

Big Ben blared last night as a crowd of more than 100,000 people gathered along the Thames in central London to watch 12,000 fireworks blast through the sky.

The sold-out show was meant to convey a message of “love and unity” as it highlighted the Lionesses’ historic Euro victory at Wembley, marked 50 years of London Pride with a message from Peter Tatchell of the Gay Liberation Front, and sent a message of support to Ukraine.

The exhibit also paid tribute to the late Queen, featuring a recording of her voice and words from Dame Judi Dench before honoring the King, as well as Charles’s message to preserve the future of our planet.

The show concluded with music including Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline, Ukrainian Eurovision winner Kalush Orchestra and hits by Stormzy, Dua Lipa, Cher, Dave, Rihanna and Calvin Harris, and concluded with the traditional Auld Lang Syne.

While other parts of England also celebrated with fireworks, the North Yorkshire seaside town of Scarborough did not.

An Arctic walrus believed to be “Thor” that was spotted off the coast of Hampshire earlier this month arrived at the harbor earlier that day.

Scarborough City Council has canceled the fireworks display on the advice of British Divers’ Marine Life Rescue Service after the organization raised concerns it could cause “stress” for the mammal.

In a village further up the coast in East Yorkshire, reenactors took part in the Flamborough Fire Festival in a Viking-themed parade.

In Newcastle, for the second year in a row, crowds were treated to laser demonstrations rather than fireworks as city council leaders deemed it safer and more environmentally friendly.

In Scotland, 30,000 people filled the streets of Edinburgh as Hogmanay celebrations resumed after a break due to Covid.

The Pet Shop Boys were headlining events in the capital, with thousands of people partying on the streets.

Neil Tennant of Pet Shop Boys said: “It’s a really exciting show, once you get here you realize that Hogmanay is a big deal in Edinburgh.

“We played it for the first time nine years ago and it was just a fantastic audience, it’s an amazing place with a castle above you and everyone is here to have a good time.”

Revelers were able to become part of the Hogmanay show with LED-lit wristbands that connected to the music played during the show.

Eurovision star Sam Ryder performed on the TV show Jools Holland Hootenanny with George Ezra and Self Esteem.

Yesterday, Sam Ryder wrote on his Instagram: “Happy, rainy and windy New Year! Whether you’ve had a year to celebrate, or a year you’re ready to leave, let go and start over, we’re all going the way and it’s forward so we might as well go there all together.”

Earlier that day, thousands of Australians gathered at Sydney Harbor to celebrate the New Year.

The impressive pyrotechnics in front of the Sydney Opera House was also able to celebrate the crowd for the first time since 2019.

New Zealanders were among the first to ring in 2023 with a stunning display above the Sky Tower in downtown Auckland.

The Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest building – has been the center of Dubai’s fireworks display as celebrations return around the world after Omicron toned down last year’s events.

Despite the ongoing Covid outbreak, thousands of people have gathered on the streets of China’s Wuhan and released balloons to welcome 2023.

Hong Kong’s iconic skyline served as the backdrop for a stunning fireworks display with a huge image of 2023 projected onto a building above Victoria Harbor.

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