Bonfire Night 2026 London: Halloween barely has time to clear away the plastic pumpkins before London starts smelling of gunpowder. Bonfire Night falls on Thursday 5 November in 2026, which is awkward for a school night, so most of the city’s big displays have shifted to the weekend of Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November. A few start even earlier, on the last weekend of October.
If you live in a flat with no garden, the organised display is really the only way to do Bonfire Night properly, and honestly it is the better option anyway. You get a professional show, hot food and nobody’s uncle trying to light a rocket in a wine bottle. Here are the displays worth booking, what they cost and a few city-specific tips for getting there and back in one piece.
Why 5 November still matters
The tradition goes back to 5 November 1605, when Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators were caught trying to blow up the Houses of Parliament in the Gunpowder Plot. Londoners lit bonfires to celebrate the King’s survival, and the habit stuck for more than four centuries. These days it is less about history and more about wrapping up warm, eating something from a van and watching the sky light up for twenty minutes. That is no bad thing.
The big London fireworks displays for 2026
Ticket prices below are for adults unless stated, and most events sell advance tickets online only. Visit London’s Bonfire Night guide has the full list with links to each organiser, and it is worth checking there before you set off, because times and line-ups can change.
Alexandra Palace Fireworks and Drone Festival
Ally Pally is the one with the view. The display runs on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November, with the main show at 8pm on Saturday and 6pm on Sunday, and a drone show alongside the fireworks. Gates open from 4pm, so there is time for the funfair and food stalls first. Tickets are GBP 19.50 for adults, GBP 15 for 11 to 15 year olds and GBP 6.50 for children aged 10 and under. The Sunday slot is the smart choice for families with younger kids.
Battersea Park Fireworks
Battersea is probably the most central of the big shows, and it leans into a party atmosphere. The display is at 8pm on Saturday 7 November and 7pm on Sunday 8 November, with Rudimental playing a DJ set on the Saturday. Adult tickets are GBP 18 and tickets for 5 to 15 year olds are GBP 11.50.
Blackheath Fireworks
Blackheath is a south-east London favourite. It takes place on Saturday 7 November, with gates opening at 5pm and the fireworks at 8pm. Adult tickets are GBP 16, and the food village has more than 60 vendors, which makes it a good evening out even before the show starts.
Stow Firework Spectacular
Walthamstow’s display is one of the few that runs on Bonfire Night itself. It takes place over three nights, from Thursday 5 to Saturday 7 November, with doors from 4pm, an earlier twilight display for younger children and the main show at 8pm. Adult tickets are GBP 11, and it is advance booking only, so do not just turn up.
Dulwich Fireworks
Dulwich’s community display is on Saturday 7 November, with the fireworks at 7pm. Adult tickets are GBP 14.49, and children under 12 are just GBP 1.66, which makes it one of the more family-friendly prices on the list.
Coram’s Fields, Bloomsbury
Here is the free one. Coram’s Fields holds an 18-minute display on Thursday 5 November for around 6,000 people. The catch is that it is a children’s park, so adults can only attend with a child. If you have kids and live centrally, this is hard to beat.
Earlier and smaller displays
Not everything waits until November. Herne Hill Velodrome and Enfield Town Park both have displays on Saturday 31 October, and Richmond’s is on Sunday 1 November. On 7 November there are also displays in Beckenham and a charity show in Chiswick, while Harrow’s event in Byron Park opens from midday with free entry until 3pm. In Merton, the council’s Fireworks in the Park runs across Wimbledon Park and Morden Park on 5 and 7 November. Listings disagree on which park hosts which night, so check the council’s page before you go.
Getting there and back
The display usually lasts around twenty minutes, and the moment it ends thousands of people head for the same station. A few things make that easier:
- Plan your route home before you leave. Stations near the big parks get crowded and may switch to exit-only or queue systems after the show.
- Consider walking ten or fifteen minutes to the next station rather than queuing at the nearest one.
- Charge your phone and keep your e-ticket offline, because signal can drop in big crowds.
- Leave the car at home. Parking near most displays is limited or non-existent.
Dress for standing still outdoors for several hours, not for the walk there. Gloves, a hat and waterproof shoes make the difference between a fun night and a miserable one, especially at muddier venues like Blackheath.
If you live in a flat
City living adds a few complications. The law in England and Wales says you must not set off fireworks, sparklers included, in the street or other public places, so a communal courtyard or the pavement outside your block is not a substitute for a garden. Check your tenancy or building rules too, as many blocks ban fireworks on the premises entirely.
Timing matters as well. Fireworks are banned between 11pm and 7am, but on Bonfire Night the cut-off is extended to midnight. Expect bangs on and off for the whole week, peaking on the 5th and the following weekend. If you have a dog or cat, keep them indoors with curtains closed and a radio or TV on, and make sure they are walked well before dark. If you have just come through a busy Halloween in your building, our guide to apartment trick-or-treating has more ideas on getting along with neighbours during the noisy season.
Sparklers look harmless but burn extremely hot, so if you are using them at a private garden party, give children gloves, keep a bucket of water nearby for spent sticks and never hand a lit one to a toddler.
Our pick
For pure spectacle, Alexandra Palace wins, simply because the hilltop setting and the drones give it something the others lack. For value, Stow and Dulwich are hard to argue with. And if you have children and live anywhere near Bloomsbury, the free Coram’s Fields show on the night itself is the one to put in the diary.
FAQ
When is Bonfire Night 2026?
Bonfire Night is on Thursday 5 November 2026. Many London displays are held on the weekend of 7 and 8 November instead.
Are there free fireworks displays in London?
Yes. Coram’s Fields in Bloomsbury holds a free display on 5 November, but adults must attend with a child. Harrow’s Byron Park event also offers free entry until 3pm on 7 November.
How much are London fireworks tickets?
Adult tickets for the big displays range from about GBP 11 at Stow to GBP 19.50 at Alexandra Palace, with cheaper child tickets.
What time do fireworks have to stop?
In England and Wales, fireworks are not allowed between 11pm and 7am, except on Bonfire Night, when the cut-off is midnight.
