LONDON - More than 20 million Britons are planning to do nothing on New Year's Eve except watch Dame Kiri Te Kanawa on television singing at a dawn concert in Gisborne.
A survey showed yesterday that at least two out of five British adults plan to see in the year 2000at home.
A further 16 per cent still have no plans on how they will celebrate the big night, and 6 per cent don't intend to do anything special, the Mori survey found.
About 17 million people watch Coronation Street each night, which suggests more sedentary Brits will be snuggled up in their homes on the chilly millennium evening to listen to Dame Kiri at a concert on a warm beach in Gisborne.
At least 38 per cent of the British population expects to shun high-profile millennium events in favour of home comforts, the study found.
It says 24 per cent of people will go to a private party, 9 per cent will be in a pub or club, 6 per cent are going to an organised event and 2 per cent are travelling abroad.
And it is not just older people who plan to stay in for the night. In the 16-to-24 age group, 16 per cent do not expect to go out. Among the 55-and-overs, the number rises to 47 per cent.
More than 1.5 million partygoers are expected to pour through Trafalgar Square on December 31. Some will watch the cannon and artillery fire on the Thames in a salute which begins in New Zealand and spreads around the world as midnight is reached.
Only the rich will be able to afford parties costing up to sterling 7590 ($24,626) in London's top hotels and clubs.
The major problem for London revellers is transport. Police have warned motorists not to take their cars on any of the roads leading into London.
The underground train system will be operating on a restricted service, with many of its stations closed.
And London's traditional black taxis will be charging double the normal fare from 8 pm until 6 am.
