Bonfire Night in London: The best firework displays

The Alexandra Palace Fireworks and Drone Festival (as it’s now called) is easily one of the biggest, baddest displays in town. It sends hundreds of drones and fireworks into the air over north London, making it a spectacular place to ring in Bonfire Night. But it’s not just what’s going on in the sky that’s the attraction here (although, with Ally Pally’s panoramic view of London, it is a fairly big pull). There’s also plenty more to see and do besides watching the fireworks and drones. This year, the fun is split across two dates: an adult-centric party night on Saturday, and then a family day on Sunday where under-10s go free. There’s a music line-up headlined by special guests Eats Everything, plus a roaring bonfire, ice skating, and funfair rides on offer.

Head to Wandsworth's beautiful Battersea Park and you'll find two massive displays to enjoy by the banks of the Thames: Saturday November 7 is the regular fireworks and bonfire event, while Sunday November 8 is more family-friendly, with activities for kids and fewer nerve-jangling explosions. This is one of the city's biggest fireworks extravaganzas, with the capacity for 50,000 spectators a night, but even so, tickets shift fast. Book early to make sure you're there.  

Hip hip hooray, Blackheath's annual fireworks display is back for a second time, after a big relaunch last year. Slammin Events (the company behind Ally Pally's massive annual display) have brought this new, ticketed fireworks events to southeast London, and this year it's going to be even larger, with a capacity of 40,000 (up from 30,000 last year), more food stalls, and a bigger line-up of entertainment. 

As well as a full fireworks display, there's an array of bells and whistles included in the £16 ticket price. Garage stars DJ Luck and MC Neat will be in the Big Top tent alongside club legend Brandon Block. Massaoke (that’s mass karaoke) is back for a second year, as is the electrifying Lords of Lightning illuminations. There’ll also be a lineup of comedians bringing the laughs inside the Big Belly Comedy Club. And new for 2026, the event is launching the ‘People’s Stage’, which will host performances from local talent. 

Joining the festival atmosphere are independent food and drink stalls serving up refreshments. And there's a fairground with dodgems, hooplas and other exhilarating ways to fritter away your cash.

Find more fireworks displays in London

This small, family-focused fireworks event in Camden’s Coram Fields proves its kid-friendly credentials by taking place a lot earlier than your average display, starting at 3.30pm with performances from local youth groups alongside fun fair rides and food stalls, with around 20 minutes of banks and sparks lifting off at 6pm. As always, adults need to be accompanying a child for access to the venue, and as one of the few free entry fireworks displays in the city it gets busy from early on, so visitors are advised to get down early. Donations are very much encouraged if you can spare the cash for a good cause. 

If you want to head down to Dulwich Sports Club’s fireworks fiesta, you’ve got to be organised – tickets won’t be available on the night the event regularly sells out. Once you’ve snapped up your ticket, you’re in for a treat – expect live music to accompany the main event, plus plenty of food and drink offerings. The night goes on rain or shine, so come prepared for all weather. Expect a wide variety of food and beverage stalls offering mulled wine, real ale, BBQ food, burgers, Indian food and pizza, as well as live music headlined by London Philharmonic Orchestra conductor Matthew Lynch, and featuring a mixture of crowd-pleasing hits and kids’ songs.

Morden Park’s firework display is so good it happens twice – in one night! Organised by Merton Council, the first display kicks off nice and early at about 6:45pm and is more suitable for young kids, while the second begins at 8:30pm and is more adult-friendly. The event also boasts a funfair to keep little and big kids occupied when the night sky isn’t being lit up in multiple hues and patterns. Both are likely to sell out well in advance, so grab your tickets asap.

The heat isn’t just up in the air at the Stow Firework Spectacular – it’s also coming out of people’s mouths. The three night bonanza at Walthamstow Cricket, Tennis & Squash Club has four rounds of fire performers for you to marvel at on each evening. In between, you’ll get what you came for, too, with two fireworks displays – one twilight show designed for kids and those with sensory needs, at 6pm, and another ‘full effect’ display at 8pm. Elsewhere, there’s a funfair, games, street food and a licensed bar.

Like Morden Park’s fireworks event, Wimbledon Park’s weekend firework bonanza boasts two displays – an earlier kid-friendly showing and a later affair. Also run by Merton council, the ‘musical fireworks’ event sets the illuminations to tunes – last year’s theme was one-hit wonders. Once you’re done oohing and ahhing, get yourself to the funfair to make the most of the rides.