Primrose Hill to close overnight on Bonfire Night and New Year's Eve

Primrose Hill in Camden will be closed overnight on Bonfire Night and New Year's Eve as a safety measure. The Royal Parks, which manages the site, has decided to lock the gates between 10pm and 6am from October 30 to November 9, and from 8pm on December 30 until 6am on New Year's Day. This closure period includes Halloween night.

Safety Concerns Drive Decision

The decision to close the park during these busy periods is a response to safety concerns, particularly following two fatal stabbings in Primrose Hill over the past three years. In 2023, 16-year-old Harry Pitman was fatally stabbed during New Year's Eve celebrations. More recently, student Finbar Sullivan was killed during an alleged altercation on the viewing spot in April of this year. The Royal Parks stated that large crowds often gather for firework displays, and the park's open nature offers limited control for ensuring public safety.

A spokesperson for The Royal Parks said: "The safety of all park visitors is our priority. Closing the park over the bonfire night period and on New Year’s Eve is not a decision we take lightly. We know that in the past large numbers have gathered in the park to celebrate these occasions. These are not organised events, they are gatherings in open parkland and we have limited controls that we can deploy to ensure public safety. Closing Primrose Hill overnight is the only responsible course of action."

Police Response to Policing Unit Closure

The Royal Parks charity had previously indicated that crowd management capabilities for fireworks events would be reduced due to the closure of the Metropolitan Police's Royal Parks Operational Command Unit in November 2024. However, the Metropolitan Police stated that this disbandment was not the reason for the park closures. They clarified that officers from that specific unit constituted a small fraction of the total police presence during previous New Year's Eve deployments at Primrose Hill.

The closures, which were first implemented last year, have previously drawn criticism online, with some describing the security measures as a "depressing sight". The park's closure on Bonfire Night and New Year's Eve is intended to prevent large, uncontrolled gatherings and mitigate safety risks.

What Happens Next

Primrose Hill will be closed overnight during the specified dates. The Royal Parks will manage the access points to enforce the closures. Residents and visitors are advised to note the restricted access times for these periods.