LONDON, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- New Year's Eve revellers are paying dearly to hear the chimes of London's world famous Big Ben ring in the arrival of 2015.
For the first time ever London's Mayor Boris Johnson has imposed a 10-pound-a-head charge (about 15.6 U.S. dollars) for people wanting to party on the streets along the River Thames, with numbers allowed to enter a restricted zone limited to 100,000.
Last year an estimated 500,000 headed for the heart of London causing chaos on public transport systems and a major headache for crowd stewards.
Johnson said: "London's New Year's Eve fireworks are phenomenally popular, not just in the capital, but across the world and we want to ensure it continues to be a safe, enjoyable and sustainable event for the long-term."
But some London politicians have warned of potential problems with crowd control just outside the closed zone.
London Assembly Member, Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the assembly's Liberal Democrat group, has said the fireworks "should be accessible to all" and warned of "the potential for serious crowd management issues outside the 'pay' zone".
It has fuelled a frenzy among party goers eager to snap up tickets at any cost. Many are being offered for between 50 and 100 pounds, with some on sale on Internet sites for 200 pounds.
Johnson said the 10-pound charge will help the cost of policing the event, the highlight of which is a spectacular fireworks display centred on the London Eye big wheel on the banks of the River Thames.
Last year the fireworks also included the famous clock tower housing Big Ben in the nearby Palace of Westminster.
The Mayor's office has urged people without tickets to stay at home and watch the celebrations on television.
Warnings have been issued about buying tickets from forgers or ticket touts, as illicit tickets will not allow entry into the closed off zones along the banks of the Thames.
The Mayor's office added this stern warning: "There are a number of NYE 2014 Fireworks tickets being sold from second sellers at higher prices. Do not buy these tickets as you won't be able to use them on the night without valid ID that matches the name on the ticket."
People without valid tickets are being told of other events in the capital, mainly in popular nightclubs.
Closing of entry points to the zone will start from around 4 p.m. on Dec. 31.
London's celebrations continue on New Year's Day with a festive parade through the city, with tens of thousands certain to be lining the streets.
The other famous destination on New Year's Eve in Britain is Scotland's capital city, Edinburgh, home of the famous Hogmanay Street Party.
Limited to 75,000 party-goers, each paying 22.5 pounds, Edinburgh's Hogmanay has been listed as "one of the 100 things you must do before you die". Television's Discovery Channel recently listed Edinburgh's Hogmanay as one of its Top 25 World Travel Experiences.
Traditionally Scots celebrate Christmas in a low-key way, but let their hair down as they say good bye to the old and greet the new. The Scottish New Year ballad, Auld Lang Syne, written by the celebrated poet Robert Burns in 1778, has become a universal anthem.
Midnight is signalled by the firing of a huge canon from Edinburgh Castle, perched on a rock 130 meters above the city, and still operational as a military fortress. Revellers from 60 countries have already bought tickets for the Scottish celebration. (1 pound = 1.56 U.S. dollars)
