A party on New Year's Eve? We'd all much rather be in bed by 10.38pm

People take part in a torchlight procession through Edinburgh as part of the pre Hogmanay celebrations (PA)

Fireworks displays will entertain millions of people across the country tomorrow night but fewer than one in five Britons will take part in public New Year's Eve parties because they are exhausted and short of cash.

A quarter of a million people are due to watch fireworks from the banks of the River Thames in London, while Manchester's display is back on this year after the city council cancelled the 2011 event, saying it could not afford the £20,000 bill. A fairground owner, Gary Gore, has stepped in to cover tonight's costs. Yet about 40 per cent of the population will not even bother to stay awake until midnight to to see in the new year – 10 per cent more than last year. The poll of 2,000 people, commissioned by Travelodge hotels, found that the average time that respondents would be in bed and asleep was 10.38pm.

According to another poll, for Morrisons supermarkets, 83 per cent of us plan to stay at home watching television instead of attending public fireworks displays or parties.

About one fifth of those not going out say they cannot afford it after a financially challenging year.

A similar number say they refuse to pay "extortionate" and "inflated" ticket prices for events, while others blame exhaustion after Christmas celebrations. People in York are most likely to get an early night tonight, followed by those in Cardiff and Cambridge.

Mercifully, for those who do venture out, wet weather is predicted only in London and the the South-east of England tonight following heavy downpours across Britain today. A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: "If you cannot get in [to London] early enough, the River Thames fireworks are broadcast live on the TV, so do consider watching them from home."

The traditional Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh will begin tonight with 7,000 torchbearers walking through the city centre.

Up to 80,000 people are expected to visit the Scottish capital for the annual street party.

Hourly one-minute firework displays will count down to 2013 from 9pm while five live music stages will feature bands including Simple Minds and The Maccabees.