Costumes, Beers and Cheers: How Darts Became London’s Rowdiest Winter Party

In the almost complete absence of sunshine during the short, gray days of December and January in England, there are, it can be said, some sources of light. A cozy fire in a pub. Christmas trees in warmly lit living rooms. Strings of lights along shop-lined streets all over the country.

And on a hill in north London, there are men throwing darts.

The annual World Darts Championship, which started on Dec. 15 and concludes on Friday, has become a staple of Christmas and New Year’s in the British capital. Played on a brightly lit stage in front of thousands of spectators — many in costumes — it is also perhaps the rowdiest, hardest-to-get-into party in London during the festive period.

Millions of people across Europe and beyond watch live on TV, and nearly 100,000 fans have attended the 2024-25 edition at Alexandra Palace, a sprawling, Victorian-era venue known as “Ally Pally.”

Craig Bernard for The New York Times

Inside, most of the crowd is male, and many of them wear costumes, part of a tradition at the event to show support for the players through a bit of humor. There is no discernible theme. Look around and you’ll see Willy Wonka and his Oompa Loompas; nuns; popes; a Jamaican bobsled team; bananas; traffic cones; super heroes; soccer players; and much more.

Most fans bought their tickets as far back as July. They traveled from other countries. They left their children with their spouse or a babysitter. They’re ready for a beer or two (or four, or eight).