The BBC's Geeta Guru-Murthy: 200,000 visitors to celebrate Hogmanay in Edinburgh

But both have a long way to go to beat Sydney, Australia, where one million people have already welcomed 1999 at the annual fireworks display over the harbour.

At least 180,000 people are expected to descend on the Scottish city to celebrate Hogmanay, compared with 100,000 who will flood London's Trafalgar Square for the chimes of Big Ben.

Due to a quirk of the Earth's rotation, the last minute of 1998 will be 61 seconds long - incorporating a 'leap second' to ensure that the world's atomic clocks, which are accurate to millionths of a degree, are on precisely the right time.

Edinburgh's Princes Street: The UK's biggest street party

Contrary to the London policy of discouraging people from congregating in Trafalgar Square, Edinburgh has pulled out all the stops to accomodate New Year's Eve party-goers.

Hogmanay organiser Liz Smith said: "It is going to be really, really busy. Everything is sold out, and everybody is going to party, whatever the weather."

The countdown to midnight culminates with a massive firework display over Edinburgh Castle, followed by a lone piper playing in the New Year.

The cavernous GPO building on Princes Street has been converted to accomodate a huge party and the traditional street party and Concert in the Gardens event will roll on until the early hours.

Top bands UB40, The Pretenders and Mansun are billed to play.

London's Trafalgar Square: "Nothing organised"

In London, Trafalgar Square's famous fountains, the Christmas tree and Nelson's Column have been cordoned off and crowd control measures are in place

The annual fireworks over Tower Bridge are scheduled to go ahead as usual, but the Metropolitan police have suggested that party-goers should avoid the square.

Commander Michael Messinger said: "We would advise them that there is actually nothing at all organised for them to do except to stand around for long periods of time in uncomfortable and possibly cold and wet conditions surrounded by large crowds.

"They would have a much more enjoyable and safer time celebrating the incoming New Year closer to home."

No alcohol or fireworks will be permitted and people entering the square may be searched.

Big in Belfast

Belfast in Northern Ireland is following Scotland's lead with a street party organised around open air concerts by Ash and the Saw Doctors in an event that organisers hope will one day rival Edinburgh in popularity.

More than 10,000 people are expected for the celebrations, which feature a firework display over Lagan Weir.

Cardiff is hosting a 20,000-strong traditional Calennig celebration over three days. It revives the Celtic tradition of gift-giving to welcome in the New Year.

Cardiff City Council has organised a funfair, firework display, New Year's resolution trees and a lantern procession in the run up to midnight.

Cities across the UK are marking the New Year in their own individual style and many are using it as a "dry run" for next year's millennium celebrations.

But few will rival Newcastle upon Tyne as the earliest starter with 30,000 expected for events beginning at noon and continuing - with late licence extensions in most bars - well into 1 January.

New Year's tragedy

Birmingham council estimates that 60,000 people will pour into the city's Centenary Square for a free party featuring boy band 911.

The majority of the UK's street parties will enjoy a mild, but cloudy night with a good chance of getting caught in at least one rain shower in the east of England.

In a tragic start to the Edinburgh festivities, two Brazilians were killed in a car crash in Lanarkshire while travelling to the city.