The best places to catch fireworks displays in London for 2023.
Time to don your cosiest jumper and listen out for the familiar sounds of crackle, pop, boom!
Yep, bonfire night is on the horizon. And of course, London has so many events to choose from.
Are you willing to travel across the city for the perfect show? Or do you just go to your usual spot? If you’re like us, that hog roast will be just as important as the display itself.
With all this to consider, you must be wondering where to see firework displays in London this year. Read on for our 2023 guide.
Best London Fireworks for 2023
Alexandra Palace Fireworks Festival
Friday 3rd + Saturday 4th
Not just fireworks but a full-blown festival. This event at Alexandra Palace is set to be one of the best bonfire nights in London.
As a thrilling fireworks display lights up the London skyline, you can also expect a bonfire, A German beer hall, light shows and DJ sets.
Their bonfire is also a pretty spectacular affair. The put flame to a giant wooden structure that’s reminiscent of The Wicker Man but without any of the creepy pagan rituals. It goes off, and it might be the biggest bonfire in the city, the biggest we’ve seen at least.
With so much to do you’ll wanna book ahead
Battersea Park Fireworks 2023
Saturday 4th + Sunday 5th
Regularly the go-to event in the Bonfire Night calendar, this one’s a guaranteed good time.
Saturday night kicks off at 7.30pm with a bonfire, a good bit of warming comfort-food and the fireworks starting at 8pm.
There’s an afterparty for the adults at Evolution London.
Expect a live band, a German beer hall (noticing a theme here?).
Sunday night is for the families, with the fireworks display starting an hour earlier at 7pm.
And while the adults put away the mulled wine, the kids will be indulging themselves in a veritable river of sugar and Sweetieland.
Being such a hit, you’ll need to grab your ticket asap
Musical Fireworks Displays at Wimbledon and Morden Parks
Saturday 4th + Sunday 5th
This one splits the action between two locations: Wimbledon Park on Saturday and Morden park on Sunday.
They combine a good bit of the whole vibe of Guy Fawkes: fireworks, music, good outdoor eating, and festive vibes.
There are two shows per day. The 5:15pm show is aimed at families, with a good bit of feel-good and pop.
The next show, a one-hit-wonders-themed jamboree, kicks off at 7:15 and leans more toward the adult crowd (read: overindulgence in mulled wine expected)
Musical Fireworks Displays tickets are on sale here
Fireworks Extravaganza at Chiswick Park
Thursday 2nd November
The Chiswick Park celebration takes place on the 2nd November from 5:30pm. This is one of the few places you’ll find free fireworks in London, though you still need to book a ticket.
The event at Chiswick Park also promises a live band and fire performers, and the fireworks display is always a banger (literally and metaphorically).
Those tickets get booked out quick though so you want to get in there fast if you want to attend.
Barnes Bonfire Night
Saturday 4th
Get down to Barnes Sports Club and there’ll be a mega fireworks display and a toasty bonfire to gather around, glass of mulled wine in one hand, hot dog in the other.
In addition to fireworks, there will be a ‘Best Guy’ competition where you can be judged for your effort in making a Guy Fawkes effigy to burn. The winner gets to put the first flame to the bonfire.
As usual, grab that ticket in advance
Beckenham Fireworks
Saturday 4th
Beckenham Fireworks has been running since 1946. Understandably it’s something of a time-honoured tradition. Just imagine the mountain of candy floss that must have been consumed over the years….
It’s held at Croydon Road Recreation Ground. The food stalls and funfair open at 5pm. As the fireworks go, there are quieter ‘small bangs’ at 6pm for younger children and the main display will kick off at 7.45pm.
Harrow Fireworks Display
Saturday 4th
Harrow Fireworks is celebrating its twelve-year anniversary this year. They throw the event at Byron Recreation Ground and always put on an impressive display, meaning it’s always a popular one.
The event opens at 12pm and is free up until 3pm, tickets are required thereafter. Fireworks start at around 7:30pm with a bit of a pre-show before but get there a bit early and sample the food stands – they get a very eclectic mix of cuisines in and wandering about trying to decide what to eat might take up more time than you planned for.
Book tickets here should you not want to get there early
Dulwich Firework Display
Saturday 4th
Dulwich Firework Display is always a great shout for a family-friendly bonfire night in London. It’s held at Dulwich Sports Club and kids’ tickets are only a quid.
The food is also great. Expect mulled wine, real ale, BBQ, pizza, Indian and a delectable array of other food and beverage stalls.
Fireworks will start at 7pm.
No tickets on the day, folks. Grab ‘em in advance
Danson Park Fireworks
Saturday 4th
Known for its musical edge, 2023 marks the 61st anniversary of Danson Parks’ Guy Fawkes night extravaganza. They lay it on big time, getting musical acts for entertainment and putting on a fireworks display that’s choreographed to music.
Just to top things off, they also have a funfair which means Danson Park pretty much offer a full package of bonfire night fun.
Book your tickets here. You can also pick them up at shops in the local area.
Richmond Family Fireworks Night
Sunday 5th
Richmond Athletics Ground hosts one that should be on your radar. They get in an award-winning fireworks display choreographer, Phoenix Fireworks, to put on the show and it has never failed to impress us.
This year the theme of the display is monarchy so the fireworks will be accompanied by the music of royalty and themes reminiscent of kings, queens, princes and princesses.
Of course there are all the usual delights too. Good ol’ fairground grub, candy floss, live music and fairground rides. Oh, and an afterparty in the member’s bar.
Your tickets can be purchased right here
Stow Firework Spectacular
Saturday 4th + Sunday 5th
Another one with the younguns in mind. Walthamstow Cricket Tennis and Squash Club’s event does two shows. It seems to get bigger and bigger every year and this year is no different.
In fact they’re getting so big they’ve had to add another night to the festivities and so will be running on both the 4th and the 5th for 2023. Their fireworks displays come in two parts.
The first, at 6pm is for the little ones – less bang and more fizzle.
Then at 8pm is the main show – more bang, and more booze.
It’s not just focused on stuff going pop in the sky. There’ll be fire breathers as well as other ground-level entertainment at both shows. And obviously, all the fairground viands.
Eton Manor Fireworks 2023
Sunday 5th
East Londoners may want to hit up Eton Manor RFC for your bonfire night celebrations. Their annual display never fails to light up the skies (and strike fear into the poor dogs of the east end).
The gates here open at 4pm for a full spread of hearty food, mulled wine and entertainment, with the full display starting at 7pm.
Halloween Fireworks and Bonfire Night at London’s Herne Hill Velodrome
Saturday 28th of October
For those of you who really can’t wait till bonfire night, Herne Hill Velodrome throws a fireworks display on October 28th.
Why? We’re not sure, but we like it.
It’s got everything we love about a good Guy Fawkes celebration. The greasy burgers, the copious drinks stands. But best of all the velodrome’s tiered seating means you’re never battling for a good view of the action.
And being so early in the calendar, you can always squeeze in a second bonfire night on the 5th. Win win.
Bromley High School Fireworks Display
Saturday 4th
With big displays, killer rides, a roaring bonfire and the Cockpit bar serving up a spread of real ales, cider, prosecco and mulled wine, Bromley High School’s fireworks display regularly pulls in the punters.
Because of that the tickets sell out pretty quickly. You’ll want to get in there early to secure yourself a place. If you do, you won’t regret it.
The Best of British Fireworks Display at Ealing Cricket Club
Saturday 4th
Always a great option for anyone in after the best fireworks west London has to offer, Ealing Cricket Club lay on an annual Guy Fawkes event that’s never anything less than impressive.
They like to pick a theme and run with it. This year that theme is the best of British. That theme looks like it’s going to lean hard into the nation’s number-one secret agent, 007. We’re hoping that means the Bond theme will play you into the crescendo of the display…
They’ve got in the pros from Fuse Fireworks to put together the show so you know it won’t be disappointing. There are also BBQs, pizza and curry on hand to fill you up. Though be warned, the stands here only take card, no cash.
More information and tickets can be found here
Kempton Park Racecourse Fireworks Display
Saturday 4th
Another great west London option for fireworks displays can be found at Kempton Park Racecourse. Outside of Bonfire Night, this place is the scene of high-octane horse racing, but come the 5th of November (or in the case of this year, the 4th) they light up the skies with a pretty spectacular fireworks display.
To up the atmosphere they also lay on some tunes. This year they’ve got a DJ in from radio station Heart FM. Toby Anstis is his name and he’ll be laying on bangers that are pretty much guaranteed to make you wanna shake a leg.
Of course, there are all the usual food stands to be found, and a few options for drinks should you need a bit of dutch courage to get out on that dancefloor and bust your moves.
Fireworks Displays in London: Practical Tips
- We suggest you do your best to book tickets to these fireworks displays as early in advance as you can. The big events like Ally Pally, Battersea Park and Chiswick Park will sell out early.
- If you’re going with kids you might want to choose one of the shows that has an earlier, smaller fireworks display. Beckenham Fireworks does this well for anyone in south London and so does Stow for anyone in the north of the city.
- You don’t have to go to a dedicated location to enjoy bonfire night. Many people prefer to just head somewhere with a good view, maybe bring a bottle of something, and watch from there. One of our favourite spots is the top of Primrose Hill. Then again you could pick a nice rooftop bar…
