London On The Cheap: New Year's Edition

Right, so you're either saving up to blow the last of the December salary on one helluva NYE out or you're just stony broke after Christmas/sales shopping. Either way, unless you're happy to simply hibernate for the week here are some ideas for New Year jollity on a budget.

New Year's Eve: Follow our top tips and gird your loins

for the massive fireworks display along the Thames, focusing on the London Eye and get home for free on public transport.

New Year's Day:Blow the cobwebs and hangovers away with the New Year's Day Parade which starts at midday at Westminster and finishes around 14.45 at Green Park.

Wednesday: Back to work? Good luck. We reckon you'll need a night in tonight to recover. However, if you're still suffering the effects of Da Vinci Code mania you might benefit from a lectury thing about the Knights Templar at the Devereux Pub near Temple (yes, that one) from 8pm costing only 2 pounds. And yes, the people involved appeared in the film so take something along to be autographed.

Thursday: Did your NYE flop? If so, you might want to forget it at one of two free music nights: Softmachines at the Vibe Bar, Brick Lane embraces Afro, Cosmic, Glam Rock and Disco while Flomotion live at the Big Chill House, Kings Cross promises folk disco and electronica. Friday: Hooray for Late at Tate Britain! From 18.00 - 22.00 get free entry to an evening of performance and music, including "interventions" from !WOWOW! and Plastique Fantastique. Saturday: Perfect for banishing those London January blues, you can catch Paprika Balkanicus playing fiery Balkan, Eastern European and Gypsy music free at the Clore Ballroom, Royal Festival Hall at 12.30Sunday: Celebrate Twelfth Night in a traditional, folksy, pagan way on Bankside, outside the Globe from 12.45 with the Lions Part. See the Holly Man from the Thames, the Bankside Wassails, the Mummers Play and King Bean and Queen Pea. You'll end up skipping down Borough High Street and settling in the George Inn for a couple of ruminatory pints. Don't forget to take down your Chrissy decs when you get home though.

Here's to a happy and prosperous New Year!

Photo from Jason Rogers' flickr stream.

With many thanks to the London Freelist. Check the websites for more information.