Bonfire Night will soon be filling the skies of London with light and colour, and you can have your pick of the best shows in town. Remember, remember the 5th of November…Here’s a list of where you can find some fireworks in London this year… it’s gonna be a big’un! Heck, there’s even one where you can win a prize to light the bonfire.
1) Alexandra Palace, November 3 & 4
Entry: Friday 6pm – 11pm, Saturday 4pm – 11pm
Firework Display start: Friday 9pm, Saturday 8pm.
‘The Glastonbury of Fireworks’ is back baby! This November 3-4, Alexandra Palace’s grounds will be completely taken over by a night-time, fair-time, fireworks-watching, food-scoffing, beat-blasting, ice-skating, movie-watching, beer-swilling, festival of epic proportions. They’re properly living up to their Glastonbury comparisons with outdoor live music, DJs, and street food spread around the grounds. There’s also a full on funfair to keep the kids entertained and even an Oktoberfest-themed beer hall!
If that wasn’t enough, there’s also a drag takeover by LGBTQ+ institution The Glory on the Friday night, with live bands blasting out the anthems the following day. Plus, UK Garage legend DJ Spoony will be providing the tunes on the Saturday evening, as he provides the perfect atmosphere for those tucking into the grub available from 35 vendors in the StrEATlife Festival Village; and Fat Tony will be doing the very same on the opening night. Heck there’s even an ice rink here! Phew. Grab your tickets here.
2) Harrow Fireworks, November 4
Entry: 12pm – 11pm (free until 3pm)
Firework Display start: Pre-show 7.30pm, with fireworks straight after (approx. 7.45pm for 20 minutes).
While standard tickets (£10 for adults and £8 for kids) are pretty affordable, their VIP tickets (starting at £39.95) include fast track entry, a free ride token, a meal from a food outlet in Byron Park, access to the VIP area, a glow toy and a front row viewing area. We know which one we’d go for… Either way, it’s a worthwhile purchase for eleven hours of fireworks and fun! Grab your tickets here.
3) Beckenham Fireworks At Croydon Recreation Ground, November 4 & 5
Entry: 5pm
Fireworks: Quieter display for younger children at 6pm, followed by a main display at 7:45pm
A community-led event that has taken place for the best part of 70 years, the fireworks at Beckenham are a sight to behold. Promising fun for the entire family, with two displays, the event at Croydon Recreation Ground boasts tasty food stalls, face-paints and a funfair. Plus, all proceeds from the event go towards local charities. Grab your tickets on the gate, and find more information here.
4) Battersea Park Fireworks, November 5-6
Entry: Saturday 6pm, Sunday 5pm.
Firework Display start: 8pm (Saturday), 7.10pm (Sunday)
Back with a bang (and an extra bloody day at that!) is the lively Battersea Park fireworks in Battersea (duh). Usually a one-day affair, they doubled their time in November 2021 to incorporate the first Family Sunday, and they’re continuing that rhythm into last year and this year too. Sunday starts earlier (5pm entry; 7.10pm fireworks) and includes loads of fun stuff for the kids.
Prior to this, however, is the usual Saturday night shenanigans; with fireworks from Titanium Pyrotechnics who also happen to be the creative minds behind the Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve celebrations and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay. Plus, last year saw the site transformed into a German “Bierkeller”, boasting a live band, steins and bumper cars – we’re waiting with baited breath to see what’s on the agenda for 2023. Get your tickets to the firework display here.
5-6) Morden Park and Wimbledon Park, November 4-5
Entry: 5.15pm – 7.15pm
Firework Display start: 5:15pm gates open for first entry time; 6:45pm fireworks (first show); 7.15pm gates open for second entry time; 8:30pm fireworks (second show)
Merton Borough Council are bringing back the big guns this year, with four firework displays across two locations. Steady on, Merton! Morden Park will play host first, before Wimbledon Park takes the stage a day later on actual Bonfire Night. Each event has two displays, one at 6:45pm and one at 8:30pm. Though the 5.15pm show is intended for children, the theme is ‘magic’ (AKA spellbinding songs with magical themes) – which we can all agree is also great for adults right? The later show’s musical theme is a ‘one hit wonders’ musical theme (AKA big tunes from past decades), so best bring your dancing shoes to this one! Get your tickets here.
7) Dulwich Firework Display, November 4
Entry: 5pm
Firework Display start: 7pm
This family-orientated firework display is based in the grounds of Dulwich Sports Ground, and the fireworks will start poppin’ off around 7pm. There are also a whole host of different food and drink options here, including mulled wine, real ale, BBQ grub, burgers, Indian street food, pizza and more. Full price tickets are £11.50, with children under 16 costing just a quid. Plus there’s live music here from around 5.30pm – what more could you ask for?! Get a hold of your tickets here.
8) Barnes Sports Club, November 5
Entry: 5.30pm
Celebrate with the traditional Bonfire, hot mulled wine, a large bar, and a BBQ selling burgers and hot dogs. Listen to music from Barnes Sports Club’s favourite DJ – and don’t forget to dress for your chance to win the best Guy Fawkes lookalike competition! The winner will get to do the honours and light the bonfire, so it’s a pretty hot ticket. Get more information here.
9. Coram’s Fields Fireworks, November 3
Entry: 3.30pm
Firework Display start: 6pm
Rounding off our list of the best places to watch fireworks in London is this free event in Coram’s Fields – a seven acre urban spot right in the heart of Kings Cross St. Pancras near Bloomsbury which dates all the way back to 1739. This year there will be performances from local schools and young people, so arrive from 3.30pm if you don’t want to miss out on these! Tickets are free, though we’d recommend buying a ticket for their premium viewing zone, which means that you can arrive when you want, avoid the crowds, and still have the best view in the whole park. Tickets cost just £12.50, and all proceeds go to the Coram’s Fields charity. Get a hold of your tickets here.
10. Waltham Forest Light Show Spectacular, November 3-5
Entry: 3.30pm and 7pm
Firework Display start: 5.30pm and 9pm
Set against the backdrop of the lovely Waltham Forest Town Hall, the Waltham Forest Light Show Spectacular promises a little something for everyone this coming Bonfire Night – from awe-inspiring light displays to street food and plenty of winter tipples liked mulled wine and warm mugs of cider. Offering a more ‘environmentally conscious‘ event in lieu of the more traditional fireworks and bonfires, guests will be able to watch projections and fire effects backed by an original musical performance, paired with ‘mesmerising sound and visual storytelling‘. There’ll also be an eclectic lineup of talented artists such as international street performers Fool’s Paradise, East London’s Drum Works, 7ft tall elevated Ice People, stilt-walking Lightwalkers, ballet dancers, and even fire jugglers. Phew! Get a hold of your tickets here.
11. Free Fireworks Extravaganza at Grand Union, November 9
As the evenings start to draw in and weekend strolls are accompanied by Pumkin Spice Lattes and hot chocolates, Grand Union in Alperton, developed by St George, will be lighting up the skies with a spectacular fireworks display on Thursday November 9, 2023.
The seven-minute show will be taking place at 6pm from the Grand Union piazza on Beresford Avenue, HA0 1NW, and is completely free and open to Grand Union residents, locals and visitors to enjoy. On the night itself, the Grand Union’s anchored narrowboat PAVO will be open for business as a crêperie and coffee pop up, welcoming the first 100 attendees with free hot drinks and crepes – perfect for keeping warm whilst taking in the phenomenal show. Delicious hot food will also be available to purchase from Gully, one of the UK’s leading Indian street food Caterers. What’s not to love, right?! Find out more here.
And now for something completely different…
12. Fire in the Sky at Studio 388, November 4
Always ones to push boundaries and offer all new experiences, Greenwich’s legendary nightclub Studio 338 is to host the return of their annual Fire In The Sky show, a unique night of fireworks with breathtaking pyrotechnics set to make for an unmissable occasion on Saturday November 4. Of course, the soundtrack from hosts Sankeys will be just as explosive, with Anek, Tomi & Kesh, Andrew Kay, Riley and Reece Hussain all stepping up throughout the night until the wee hours (well 6am actually). Word is there will also be an exciting new structural addition to Studio 338 which will once again change the game for all year round mini-festivals, pop-ups and corporate work events too. Sounds like a real winner to us! Get a hold of your tickets here.
So there you have it – a roundup of the best places in London to watch fireworks this bonfire night. So if you’re looking for a bit of brightness in your life this November, then you now know where to head!