Happy New Year 2016: Guide to London's New Year's Day parade

The 30th New Year's Day Parade will take place in London on 1 January, drawing thousands to watch the entertainment marking the start of 2016. More than 8,000 performers will take part in the free event, which is expected to attract around 500,000 people from across the capital and beyond. This year's entertainment will reflect the theme of 30 Magical Years.

When does it start and what is the route?

It begins at 12noon at Piccadilly and finishes at Parliament Square at 3.30pm. The parade will go through Piccadilly Circus, Lower Regent Street, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall. Click here for a map of the route.

Which roads are closed?

It is best to steer clear of roads around the parade route. All streets surrounding the parade area will be closed from 4am until 6pm on 1 January, including Piccadilly (from Hyde Park Corner to Piccadilly Circus), Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street St James's, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Berkeley Street, Berkeley Square, Stratton Street, Mayfair Place, Dover Street and Arlington Street.

How do I get there?

Westminster, Piccadilly Circus and Charing Cross stations are all on or very near the Parade route for access via the Tube. Embankment, St James's Park and Green Park are all a short distance away. For up-to-date travel information and to plan your connections within the capital, visit Transport for London.

To get there by mainline rail, Charing Cross British Rail station is about a five minutes' walk away from Trafalgar Square, which is at the middle of the parade route.

What is the full line-up?

You can click here to see the full line-up of the Parade.