Concrete barriers will block traffic from crowds in central London on New Year's Eve to prevent a potential lorry attack.
Extra security measures are in place ahead of tonight's celebrations after a Christmas market in Berlin became a terror target earlier this month.
A record number of concrete bollards will be placed at junctions to keep vehicles out of central London.
More than 100,000 are expected to line the banks of the River Thames for the capital's sold-out firework display.
The countdown to midnight, ushering in 2017, will also last longer than usual with an extra so-called "leap second" added to compensate for a slowdown in the Earth's rotation.
Armed police will be deployed on London Underground trains for the first time on New Year's Eve following a security review.
The armed officers and other additional patrols have been brought in to bolster the 3,000 officers who will police the capital's streets.
British Transport Police said officers would work extended hours on New Year's Eve for the second year in a row.
And forces across the country are on alert. West Midlands Police said: "While the security status remains at severe we have further resources in place should they be needed."
In Scotland, some 80,000 people are expected to pack into Edinburgh city centre to celebrate Hogmanay.
Police Scotland said it had "reviewed" safety plans following the recent truck attack on a Christmas market in Berlin.
Chief Superintendent Kenny MacDonald said: "We are absolutely confident that the plans that we have in place are proportionate and appropriate, and we will make sure that we deliver a safe event."
The celebrations in Hull will focus on New Year's Day when the city kicks off its tenure as City of Culture with a huge fireworks display it says will rival London's New Year's Eve party.
UK authorities say they are not responding to any specific intelligence of a threat, but are taking precautions after recent events in Europe.
In July, Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel killed 86 people when he drove a 19-tonne lorry into crowds on Nice's seafront promenade.
Earlier this month, Anis Amri killed 12 people when he drove a hijacked lorry into a Berlin Christmas market.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed security plans for the capital's New Year's Eve celebrations had been "adjusted" in the last few days.
Superintendent Phil Langworthy, from the force, said: "Clearly we have been looking at what has happened around the world in terms of Berlin, Nice etc ... and have adjusted our plans and continue to adjust our plans."
He added that there were "both overt and covert" measures in place for security.
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