As London prepares to welcome the coming year, IBTimesUK looks back at nearly a century of New Year's Eve celebrations and parties in the capital.
January 1917: Wounded soldiers have tea at a New Year's party during the First World WarTopical Press Agency/Getty Images1922: Guests pose in and around the pool at a New Year's party at the Royal Automobile Club on Pall Mall in LondonHulton Archive/Getty Images31 December 1923: Crowds gather outside St Paul's Cathedral, London, waiting to hear the last stroke of midnightStevens/Topical Press Agency/Getty ImagesCirca 1925: A doll is presented to the first child that year to be born in Harringay, LondonHulton Archive/Getty Images31 December 1929: Guests celebrate at a New Year's Eve party at Deauville Restaurant on Regent Street in LondonJ. A. Hampton/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images30 December 1933: A woman checks one of the giant nets full of balloons before it is raised to the ceiling of the Albert Hall, London, for the annual Chelsea Arts BallFox Photos/Getty Images31 December 1934: A baby is propped up with a bottle of port, ready for the New YearDavid Savill/Topical Press Agency/Getty ImagesDecember 1934: A 45-foot figure depicting 'Speed' is prepared for the centrepiece of the Chelsea Arts Ball at the Albert Hall, LondonFox Photos/Getty Images31 December 1934: Cupid, 4-year-old British film star Deidre Gale, introduces the 'Birth of 1935' at midnight on New Year's Eve at the Piccadilly Hotel, LondonSmith/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images31 December 1953: American actor Ben Lyon fills Edana Romney's slipper with champagne at the Limelight Ball at the Savoy Hotel in LondonMonty Fresco/Getty Images1 January 1955: Revellers crowd into London's Piccadilly Circus to welcome the New YearHarry Kerr/BIPs/Getty Images1 January 1957: A huge caricature of conductor Sir Malcolm Sargent floats above the crowd of revellers as the balloons drop to welcome the New Year at the Chelsea Arts BallKeystone/Getty Images31 December 1958: Sputnik Girl, five-year-old Linda Chapman of Kent, stands in costume beside her toy rocket at New Year's Eve celebrations at the Gillingham NAAFI ClubPhoto by George Hales/Getty Images1 January 1963: The date is written in the snow at Piccadilly Circus as the clock strikes midnightExpress/Hulton Archive/Getty Images31 December 1963: George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney and John Lennon dress up for the Beatles Christmas Show at the Astoria Cinema in Finsbury Park, LondonEvening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
