Ask Elton John about his favourite firework, and he’ll tell you he’s a rocket man.
But if you’re also partial to the odd Roman Candle, Catherine Wheel, and whatever those crackly yellow ones are called, you’ll want to carve out some time for the dazzling displays going on for Bonfire Night in London next month.
In fact, you should remember, remember at least eight nights in November, because the festivities are stretching on for several days, including a vast festival lighting up the city’s best panoramic view; a dazzling display of pyrotechnics over the river Thames; drone shows; fairgrounds; bonfires; and performers who, quite literally, live and breathe fire.
London’s fireworks shows are so popular that these days you can’t just turn up on the door – you need to book tickets in advance. So have a peruse of what’s on, and grab them while you can…
Whichever you go to, you’re guaranteed to have a blast.
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Alexandra Palace Fireworks Festival | 1st & 2nd November
Every bonfire night, Ally Pally embellishes its already impressive view over the city with a festival’s worth of fireworks, rockets, drones and laser beams shooting across the night sky, all coordinated to music. Then, just for a laugh, they throw in a tent full of cabaret performances, a street food village, an old-school fairground, an ice rink disco, headline acts like Artful Dodger and Abba Revival, and a full-scale German beer festival too.
Details: 1st & 2nd November | £19+ | Book tickets
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Battersea Park Fireworks Night | 2nd & 3rd November
Battersea Park‘s annual fireworks night is back for a typically bombastic extravaganza, with dazzling displays, fire performers, classic fairground rides including dodgems and a Ferris wheel, and an entire market of street food stalls to peruse. And this year, they’re keeping the festivities going till 11.30pm, with live music and DJ sets accompanied by luminous visuals.
NOTE: JOIA is reopening its rooftop for one night only during the winter for the ultimate viewing party of the Battersea fireworks – £50 will net you a couple of tokens to spend on winter warmer cocktails or a chunky sandwich, plus DJs late into the night. Book JOIA tickets here.
Details: 2nd & 3rd November | £13.10 | Book tickets
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Fireworks at the Gunpowder Mills | 2nd November
And the prize for most appropriate venue for a fireworks night celebration goes to… the Royal Gunpowder Mills. Sure, the Epping Forest location isn’t going to be ideal for everyone, but if you’re vaguely in the neighbourhood it’s worth going down for the show-stopping firework display; the live music; the hog roast and pop-up bars; and a full spectrum of entertainment from fire breathers to Morris dancers.
Details: 2nd November | £13.31+ | Book tickets
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Wimbledon & Morden Park Fireworks | 2nd & 5th November
The fireworks display so good, they run it twice: this south London borough organises shows in both Wimbledon Park and Morden Park across the bonfire weekend, with two shows each night. The later one is geared more towards the adults, and you can stick around till 10pm doing grown-up things like enjoying the pop-up bar, going on the waltzer three times in a row and eating toffee apples until you throw up.
Details: 2nd & 5th November | £13.78+ | Book tickets
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Dulwich Fireworks Display | 2nd November
A proper locals’ night, with ticket proceeds going towards Dulwich Sports Club’s fundraising activities and a family-friendly vibe thanks to the £1 kids’ tickets. Which is all well and good, but you’re there for the live music, mulled wine, street food and the club’s bombastic fireworks display.
Details: 2nd November | £13.96 | Book tickets
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Barnes Bonfire Night | 9th November
See all your hard work go up in flames at the Barnes Bonfire Night… if you bring along the ‘Best Guy’ and win the honour of lighting the bonfire. Aside from the ritual effigy burning there’ll also be live music from The Connection, DJs, mulled wine, BBQs, sparklers, glowsticks, and a truly stunning firework display over the Thames.
Details: 9th November | £16.50 | Book tickets
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Coram’s Fields Fireworks | 5th November
The impressive 18-minute fireworks display at Coram’s Fields is, amazingly, free – as long as you BYOB (bring your own baby). Yep, it’s families only – but with food stalls and funfair rides thrown in on top, it’s worth offering to babysit for literally anyone you know to get in.
Details: 5th November | Free
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Richmond Athletic Ground Fireworks | 3rd November
Richmond’s making a strong pitch for their annual fireworks extravaganza. They’ll be squeezing a ton of food traders, mulled wine stands, live entertainment and funfair rides into the rugby grounds, before the show itself kicks off at 7pm.
Details: 3rd November | £12.50 | Book tickets
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Bonfire Night with Campfire Club | 8th November
Every night is bonfire night for the Campfire Club, who stage al fresco gigs in secretive, leafy settings around the glow of a crackling fire. So it’s fitting that they’re putting on some official bonfire night celebrations this year, which won’t feature fireworks but will feature some beautiful live music and storytelling in a highly unique hidden garden…
Details: 8th November | £15-20 | Book tickets
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Midnight Apothecary Bonfire Night Special | 1st & 2nd November
Another collective who know a thing or two about starting a fire – head on up to the Midnight Apothecary‘s secluded rooftop garden on bonfire night and you’ll get to toast their final weekend of the year with an array of excellent cocktails, warming hot toddies, sparklers, and s’mores kits to toast around the garden’s many fire pits.
Details: 1st & 2nd November | £8+ | Book tickets
And if you can’t make it to the fireworks…
…bring the fire to you at one of London’s growing number of flame-fuelled restaurants. Enjoy oysters cooked with a medieval contraption called a flambadou at Ekstedt at The Yard; or bop your head to the vinyl soundtrack at Caia. Embrace the great outdoors (with rugs, fake furs and heaters) at ACME Fire Cult and Brat x Climpson’s Arch, or go real fancy with the Michelin starred offerings at HUMO.
Fancy watching the fireworks from a different angle? Head up to one of these London viewpoints