To start your new year off with a bang, you’ll want a fantastic, unforgettable New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. That means planning ahead and picking just the right spot.

You might want to opt for London with its spectacular parties and firework display. But there are many other great locations for new year festivities, all with their own unique attractions. You don’t have to head to a city, either – there are plenty of places to visit for a fantastic new year celebration that let you fit in some countryside relaxation before or after the big event.

So, whatever kind of New Year’s Eve you’re looking for, read through our list of some of the best new year breaks in the UK to find just the right spot for you.

Let’s start with London

There are so many parties and events going on in London for New Year’s Eve, that it would be impossible to list them all!

But the London New Year’s Eve fireworks would likely be at the top of most people’s lists. This massive fireworks display is famous worldwide and definitely a sight not to be missed if you can get tickets to it. If you can’t, try just soaking up the atmosphere among the sparkling lights on Regent Street before enjoying a special New Year’s Eve Dinner, or go ice skating at Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland.

Then on New Year’s Day, you can keep the fun going by watching London’s New Year’s Day parade.

Naturally, hotels in London tend to be crammed full over the New Year’s holiday. You can escape the crowds by heading back to a luxury retreat near London instead. For example, the Mansion in the Meadows in greater London sleeps 19 and offers a heated indoor swimming pool, cinema room and games room. It’s the perfect way to relax and unwind after an exciting time celebrating the new year in the glittering city.

St Ives and Newquay, Cornwall

Of course, London isn’t the only place with an impressive fireworks show. St Ives on the Cornish coast has a great fireworks display too – and they’re over the harbour, which adds a unique touch.

But St Ives is also known for its costumed revellers who party in the streets on New Year’s Eve. For people who love wearing fancy dress, St Ives is definitely one of the best new year breaks in the UK.

Just a little further down the coast, Newquay also boasts a fireworks show over the harbour and partiers in fancy dress, although its event isn’t as famous as the one in St Ives. If you’re looking for a great New Year’s Eve experience in Cornwall but want a spot that’s slightly less crowded, Newquay might be the one for you.

For a truly special New Year’s celebration, bring your friends or family to a holiday cottage in Cornwall and take a few days to rest and relax during your new year’s break. A luxury home like Halula Beach House warms those wintery days with colourful beachy décor plus a heated pool and hot tub.

Allendale, Northumberland

What if you’re wishing for a totally unique New Year’s Eve experience?

Then head to Allendale, Northumberland for the Tar Bar’l – a fire festival that will definitely brighten up your New Year’s Eve! In this fiery custom, men carry whiskey barrels blazing with boiling tar through the town in a musical procession. The parade ends with a great bonfire in the town centre.

Needless to say, Allendale also has its share of more expected New Year’s Eve festivities, like dancing and celebrations in the streets.

Make your New Year in the north of England even better by enjoying a real rural retreat before and after the excitement. A luxury cottage like Durham Dale House could be a great choice to take in some nature and quiet. You can enjoy the hot tub, log burner and 1.5 acres of grounds where your dog can race around to its heart’s content.

Torquay, Devon

While partying and fireworks might be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of New Year’s Eve, plenty of the best new year breaks in the UK are a little quieter and more family-friendly.

For example, Torquay celebrates the winter season with an Illumination Trail featuring sparkling lights across a 1.5-mile span of seafront. This could be a great option to add glitter and excitement to New Year’s Eve in Devon, if you have children who won’t be up until midnight or dogs who could find fireworks scary.

Plus, you could rent a holiday cottage in Torquay to enjoy the fine dining and fun of the English Riviera. Take in the sights of the harbour from Torquay View before you recharge in its pool, sauna and home gym.

Enjoy some of the best new year breaks in the UK with kate & tom’s

New Year’s Eve is always an exciting night and a great opportunity to have fun as you say goodbye to the old year. New Year’s Day is important, too – it often seems to set the tone for the year ahead. If your New Year’s resolution is to relax more, work out or make time for friends and family, New Year’s Day is the perfect time to start.

That’s why taking a new year’s break in a lavish holiday house is so valuable. You can get away from the ordinary and start the new year right. When you’re staying in a beautiful location, you can enjoy the other sights that are nearby too. Your holiday cottage’s luxury amenities will ensure you finish your holiday rested and more than ready for the new year.

At kate & tom’s, we’re specialists in exactly this kind of holiday home that can make your new year break truly special. If there’s anything we can do to help you choose your luxury holiday cottage for new year’s, we’d love to hear from you. Just send us an email at [email protected].