Olympics focus of New Year's Eve celebrations

London's annual New Year celebrations will have an Olympics theme.

As 2007 is ushered in, a spectacular light show will focus on the area around the London Eye, with huge projections beamed on to the Shell Building.

The images will feature local children with messages about their hopes and dreams for the future, which include their thoughts on the 2012 Games.

Then the traditional countdown to midnight will be followed by a 10-minute fireworks spectacular along the river.

About 150,000 watched the display at the London Eye from the river last year and a similar number is expected on Sunday to watch the £1 million show.

For those who don't head to the river - the projections begin at 8pm - other options include everything from an unseasonal barbecue to a medieval feast.

Despite research by Yahoo! Mail which shows that almost half of us will see in 2007 at home, hundreds of thousands will flock to central London and tickets are still available for some events.

Mayor Ken Livingstone said the capital was one of the best places in the world to celebrate.

He added: "People come here from across the world to bring in the New Year.

"As the most diverse city, London has an unrivalled number and range of things to do, from bars, to clubs, to restaurants, to parties, as well as London's fantastic fireworks show."

He issued a reminder to revellers that, once again, public transport will be free throughout the night making it "much easier to get out and about and safely home".

Left it a bit late? You can still buy tickets for these parties

ARABIAN NIGHTS
Isis, Dover St, W1. £120 per person, 7pm-6am. Includes champagne reception, belly dancers and live music. Prizes for best costume include trip to Egypt.
Dress code: Women - Scheherazade meets BeyoncÈ.
Men - Sinbad meets Aladdin.

KYLIE NEW YEAR'S EVE AT G-A-Y
The Astoria, Charing Cross Road, W1. £14 per person, 9pm-5am.
Kylie Minogue tunes all night with a special recorded message from her at midnight. Every hour a balloon drop will contain a pair of tickets to see Kylie perform at Wembley next month.

NEW YEAR'S EVE MEDIEVAL BANQUET
Ivory House, St Katharine's Dock, E1. £100 per person, 7.45pm-2am. Five-course dinner by torchlight hosted by "King Henry VIII" and his court with jousting knights and a strong man as entertainment. Glass of champagne to see in 2007 and a late disco.

RONNIE SCOTTS
Frith Street, W1. £250 per person, 6pm-3am. Cocktail and glass of champagne on arrival, three-course meal and gift bag. Music by Ray Gelato Giants.

STUDIO 54
Battersea Park, SW11. £85 per person, 6.30pm-2am. The Battersea Park Events Arena will be transformed into New York's Studio 54. Includes a welcome drink, four-course meal, half-bottle of wine, disco, professional dancers, skaters, acrobats, trapeze artists and fire eaters, dodgem cars and a chocolate fountain.

TROPICAL NEW YEAR'S EVE
Trader Vic's at The London Hilton, Park Lane, W1. £174 per person.
Five-course dinner, Mai-Tai cocktails and Hawaiian dancers.

WINTER BBQ
Hoxton Grille, Great Eastern St, EC2. £49.50 per person. Winter cocktail on arrival and a barbecue menu to be enjoyed in front of a roaring fire.