The Shard will tonight beam out the highest ever New Year's Eve countdown as the rest of the world continues to celebrate the arrival of 2015
The
Shard will tonight beam out the highest ever New Year's Eve countdown
as the rest of the world continues to celebrate the arrival of 2015.
Europe's tallest skyscraper will provide the glittering back drop for a night of festivities when it lights up the night sky in London.
The
300-metre building will come alive with a dazzling lights display,
including Western Europe's highest countdown clock, as parties get
underway across Britain tonight.
It comes as millions around the world continue to welcome in 2015 with a series of spectacular fireworks displays.
In Sydney,
Australia, an estimated 1.6million people turned up to watch more than
10,000 aerial fireworks, 25,000 shooting comets and 100,000 pyrotechnic
effects on show during this year's New Year's Eve display over Harbour
Bridge and the Opera House. 
What a way to go: Sydney and Australia say goodbye to 2014 as the new year rolls in across the globe
Merry new years tidings: Fireworks explode over Malaysia's landmark Petronas Twin Towers during New Year celebrations in Kuala Lumpur
Going off with a bang: An explosion of fireworks erupted over Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong as the city ushered in the New Year
Arriving in style: Sydney locals, Demi Bryant, 22, and James Hundt, 28, celebrate the beginning of the New Year atop a high-rise overlooking the iconic Sydney New Year's Eve fireworks sitting on a Ford Mustang
And we're off: An estimated 1.6million people gathered on the shores of the Sydney Harbour for the midnight fireworks show
Heavy artillery: This image shows just some of the seven tonnes of fireworks that were set off around midnight in Sydney
Nearly there: Thousands of people watched the fireworks in Sydney from some 50 vessels in the water
Happy New Year: The midnight show over Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House welcomes 2015
People without tickets were told by the office of the London Mayor to watch the display from home.
'Whether it's in a pub or from the comfort of your sofa, for those without a ticket the best view of #londonnye fireworks is on BBC1,' it said in a tweet.
Hogmanay celebrations have got under way in Scotland's capital as thousands of revellers arrived to bring in the new year.
Up to 75,000 people are expected to gather on the streets of Edinburgh for the world-famous event which will see Lily Allen headline the Concert In The Gardens.
There will be five live stages throughout the city, with 13 acts performing including Soul II Soul and Twin Atlantic.Four fireworks displays will be held - at 9pm, 10pm, and 11pm before the five-minute spectacle at midnight.
In Sydney earlier, hundreds of umbrellas and tents began popping up on Sydney's Blues Point early Wednesday morning as people settled in to wait for the symphonic light display, with huge queues forming overnight to secure a prominent view.
Malaysia celebrates the New Year 2015 in modest mood in honor to the victims of the Malaysia Airlines MH370 and MH17 plane tragedies and floods that hit the country at this time claimed 24 lives and more than 200,000 have been evacuated
Five decades of independence: Singapore celebrates its 50th anniversary of independence with a year long festival
One big global show: Fireworks go off at the Taipei 101 skyscraper to celebrate New Year 2015 in Taipei, Taiwan
All over the globe: Fireworks explode over the Victoria Harbour as Hong Kong celebrates the arrival of 2015
Konnichiwa 2015: Some 2,000 people release balloons beside the Tokyo Tower to celebrate the New Year in the Japanese capital
People are gathered as fireworks explode over the Yokohama port during new year celebrations in Yokohama, near Tokyo
Worldwide cheer: Hundreds of South Koreans gather to celebrate the New Year at the Imjingak Pavilion near the border village of Panmunjom, which has separated the two Koreas since the Korean War, in Paju, north of Seoul
Moment of peace: Buddhists light candles during New Year celebrations at Jogye Buddhist temple in Seoul, South Korea
While much of the evening was dedicated to celebrating, floral tributes to Martin Place siege victims Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson were on display amid the evening's fireworks.
'It is in memory of the two young and talented people that we lost because of that siege,' said Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore.
'We remember the trauma the hostages experienced, the bravery of the police and we remember the way Sydney responded as we expected - an inclusive, welcoming, multicultural community,' he said.
Sydney Harbour will be a beacon of celebration as Australia farewells another year, sending 2014 off with an extra round of fireworks. In what is believed to be a first, drones will be used to live stream the fireworks as they launch from the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and several barges in the water.
Silent prayer: A woman prays during New Year celebrations at Jogye Buddhist temple in Seoul
Religious holiday: Buddhist monks and believers pray during a ceremony to celebrate the new year at Bongeun Buddhist temple in Seoul
A burst of orange light brightens up the night sky in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, as the country welcomes in 2015
Revelers watch a laser show being projected on buildings as the countdown for the New Year begins in Manila, Philippines
Chinese folk artists dress up for a drama performance during the New Year's Eve count down in Beijing to promote the city's 2022 Winter Olympic bid at Olympic Park
Actors carried feathers and wore a range of colourful outfits for the event in Beijing as the city counted in 2015
After a year in which conflict has claimed thousands of lives, Ukrainians have been celebrating New Year's Eve near to St. Sophia's Cathedral, by the main Christmas tree, in Kiev
Laser lights illuminate the Lujiazui financial district of Pudong in Shanghai during a light show as part of a New Year countdown celebration. Xinhua News Agency has reported tonight that 35 people have been killed in a stampede during the city's New Year's celebrations
Lift off: China has marked the end of 2014 by launching a Long March-3A rocket carrying a meteorological satellite from a facility in Xichang, Sichuan Province
Some 70,000 LED panels wrapped around the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which draws throngs of thousands of spectators every New Year's Eve for an impressive fireworks display
Spectacular: Revellers watch on as Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower at 828 metres, lights up amid a display of red fireworks
Revellers celebrate ahead of New Year's Day in Red Square in Moscow as Russia celebrated the arrival of 2015
Fireworks light the sky over the Kremlin's Spasskaya (Saviour) Tower, covered by scaffolding, during celebrations of New Year's Day in Red Square in Moscow
Fireworks light the sky over St. Basil's Cathedral and Kremlin's Spasskaya (Saviour) Tower in Red Square in Moscow
In the Chinese capital Beijing, eight hours ahead of London, an event will be held in the Olympic Park designed to highlight the capital's bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Skaters will perform and Olympic medalist figure skater Zhao Hongbo, Paralympics gold medalist swimmer Yang Yang and pianist Lang Lang will appear.
Japan prepared for 'osechi ryori', the country's biggest traditional holiday on New Year's Day. At midnight, temple bells will strike 108 times, the number of evils, or temptations, as defined by Buddhism.
There will be fireworks and bonfires around the nation as millions of people flock to neighborhood temples and shrines to pray for health and happiness.
First up: A grand fireworks display lit up the sky at the stroke of midnight in Wellington, New Zealand
One down: New Zealand, along with Fiji, was among the first nations to welcome the new year at 11am GMT
More joy: Fireworks were set off from the top of the Sky Tower to welcome the New Year in Auckland, New Zealand
Smashing show: More than 10,000 aerial fireworks, 25,000 shooting comets and 100,000 pyrotechnic effects are expected to be used
For the world: Drones will be used to live stream the fireworks as they launch from the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and several barges
Honuring those lost: Tributes to the Martin Place siege victims are planned amid the evening's fireworks in the harbour
Smashing show: More than 10,000 aerial fireworks, 25,000 shooting comets and 100,000 pyrotechnic effects are expected to be used
For the world: Drones will be used to live stream the fireworks as they launch from the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and several barges
Honuring those lost: Tributes to the Martin Place siege victims are planned amid the evening's fireworks in the harbour
The Gulf Arab emirate of Dubai was aiming to break the world record for the largest LED-illuminated facade.
Some 70,000 LED panels wrapped around the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, which draws throngs of thousands of spectators every New Year's Eve for an impressive fireworks display.
Emaar Properties said a team from Guinness World Records monitored the preparations. Last year, Dubai won the title for the world's largest firework display, according to Guinness.
Gearing up: Fireworks are set off over Calton Hill during Edinburgh's Hogmanay festival on Tuesday night
They sure know how to party: Men dressed as Vikings take part in the torchlight procession as it makes its way through Edinburgh for the start of the Hogmanay celebrations on Tuesday
How they do: A midnight fireworks display will welcome in 2015, followed by the traditional mass rendition of Auld Lang Syne (pictured is celebrations on Tuesday night)
Let it burn, burn, burn: A fire surrounded by revellers in viking costumes burns on Calton Hill during Edinburgh's Hogmanay on Tuesday
Doing it big: Edinburgh's Hogmanay, which kicked off last night, is the UK's biggest outdoor winter music festival
Don't drop the ball! Workers test out the lighting on the New Year's Eve ball used in the Times Square celebration in New York
Jeffrey Straus, president of Countdown Entertainment and Brent Shafer, CEO of Philips North America, watch the Times Square crystal ball which is illuminated with 32,256 LED lights and is made up of 2,688 Waterford crystals