Prohibition Party Dancers, Image courtesy of Max Ross
Here at Londonist Towers we've been sorting through the hugely varied and delightfully tempting events that are happening in this fair city to welcome 2010. Here are our picks of the most interesting, hopefully with something for every taste...
Wind the Clock Back
East London has fallen into some sort of time warp with, among other things, a 1920's gang war going on. The ever-popular Prohibition Party will be opening up a new speakeasy in Shoreditch, complete with flapper dancers, live music, silent films and roulette tables. (Dress: 1920's; Tickets £40)
Meanwhile, The Last Days of Decadence will be doing their own Great Gatsby impersonation with live music and cabaret acts to entertain the guests like it's 1929. (Tickets £20)
Or wind the clock all the way back into a sundial, and get classical at The Golden Age of Babylon at Beach Blanket Babylon (Dress:"Black Tie, Cocktail Dresses and GOLD...GOLD...GOLD!!!" Tickets £15)
Don a Mask
You can always get things started early with The Last Tuesday Society's New Years Eve Eve Ball on December 30. (Dress: "Masks obligatory. Clothes optional." Tickets: £15)
Happy Noir Eve promises a Neo-Victorian Diamond Age celebration with a strict "No costumes, goggles or mask - NO ENTRY!" policy (Dress: Victorian steampunk... we think; Tickets £20)
For something a little less bizarre but where you can still hide your identity, Bar Sequence invite you to Islington's Masquerade Ball, which runs until 6am and includes breakfast. (Dress: Smart. Tickets: £15)
Have a laugh
Leicester Square Theatre have a night of comedy so you can see in the New Year with a smile on your face. (Tickets £30)
Rock Out
The Chalk Farm Jamboree creates a mini music festival out of The Barfly, The Monarch and The Enterprise, so if you don't like what's playing in one venue, move on! (Tickets £16)
Dress Up
Zoo Years Eve at the Old Queen's Head promises panda-monium in a zoo-themed night with a musical retrospective of the last decade and DJ sets from The Maccabees and Mr Thing. (Dress: animals, facepainting available on the night; Tickets £20)
Albert and Pearl are hosting Naughty in the Noughties with a karaoke bar and Little Barrie DJ set (Dress: naughty; Tickets £15)
Vintage Pleasure Land at Ginglik is a circus themed event, with appropriate entertainments (Dress: circus/burlesque; Tickets £20)
Go... um... Bowling
Bloomsbury Bowling are putting on a New Year's Eve extrvaganza, with bowling, DJs, comedy, and...er a hot tub? (Tickets £25)
Eat, Drink and Be Merry
Fifteen London has a range of dining options, whether you want to eat before moving on to another party, or want to dine your way to the first of January (Tickets £60 to £110)
Harvey Nichols 5th floor champagne bar offers great views, a masquerade ball and 3 course dinner (Dress: masquerade; Tickets £100)
Or if you've got a banker's bonus to blow, why not go to the Ritz at £1,000 per head? That cool k gets you a 7 course meal, piper, live band and private fireworks display. Because one wouldn't want to be looking at the same sparkly bits of sky as everyone else, would one?
And of course, remember to stay safe and plan your travel appropriately. Illegal mini-cabs are bad, mmm-kay.
Know of any other great events? Leave details in the comments!
