MOTORISTS in London will not have to pay congestion charges over the festive period, while revellers will enjoy free public transport on New Year's Eve.

The charge has been suspended for the third year running between Christmas and the New Year, when the volume of traffic on the capital's roads is likely to decrease.

Meanwhile, those travelling by Tube, London buses, Docklands Light Railway or tram will get a free ride on New Year's Eve.

London Mayor Ken Livingstone said: "It makes sense to suspend the congestion charge between Christmas and the New Year when traffic is already a lot lighter than normal weekdays.

"The overwhelming majority of people travelling into central London over Christmas will use public transport, and free services on New Year's Eve make it much easier to get out and about and safely home."

There will be no congestion charge from Monday, December 25 until Tuesday January, 2, while charging will resume on Wednesday, January 3. The normal free weekend road also applies and drivers who have paid congestion charges for the whole year will have their expiry date extended by three days.

Thousands of revellers

Many transport services will run all night on New Year's Eve, with free travel at the busiest periods sponsored by NatWest and the Mayor of London.

Visitors to the capital are being advised to plan their journeys carefully as there will be some changes to normal services.

Transport Commissioner Peter Hendy said: "With many thousands of people expected to celebrate the New Year in London, many public transport routes will be running through the night to get people safely home.

"But we are asking people to plan their journeys in advance and allow plenty of time as there will be special arrangements in place, particularly in the West End and parts of Central London."

Fireworks extravaganza

Transport for London said extra transport would be in place to cope with the large numbers expected to travel to the midnight fireworks display near the London Eye.

The 10-minute spectacular will be conducted by Christophe Berthonneau, who lit up the Eiffel Tower in Paris for the Millennium.

At a total cost of £1.3million, the show is expected to attract some 150,000 people as well as being broadcast to the nation.

Mr Livingstone said: "The display will be big enough and loud enough to be seen from high ground, balconies and gardens all over the capital.

"The BBC is also planning to broadcast it live again, meaning millions more will be able to see it, across the country and throughout the world."

New Year's Eve travel

  • Westminster Tube station will be closed from 9pm until about 3am.
  • Embankment Tube station will be closed from midnight until about 3am and passengers must exit north to Villiers Street.
  • Leicester Square Tube station is open for interchange and exit only from 7pm until around 12.15am.
  • Covent Garden Tube station is open for exit only from 7pm until about 3am.
  • Buses on routes through central London will be diverted from 7.30pm, with roads closed in the West End and around Waterloo. Buses will continue to destinations around the capital from Aldwych, Green Park station, Hyde Park Corner, Lambeth North, Marble Arch, Tottenham Court Road (Centre Point) and Oxford Circus.
  • Westminster Bridge can be accessed from south of the river only between 8pm and 1am.
  • Golden Jubilee Bridge at Embankment will be closed from 8pm until crowds have dispersed.
  • More New Year's Eve transport information is available at www.tfl.gov.uk/nye or by calling the London Travel Information 24-hour helpline on 020 7222 1234. Copies of the leaflet 'Stay out longer this New Year's Eve' will also be available at Tube and bus stations, travel information centres and staffed Docklands Light Railway stations.