Bonfire Night 2026
The Best Fireworks Displays in the UK for Bonfire Night 2026
Looking for the best fireworks displays in the UK for 2026? Bonfire Night falls on Thursday 5 November 2026, and because that is a weekday the biggest organised displays cluster around the first full weekend of the month. We have ranked five of the UK's most reliable large-scale events, weighing the quality of the display against how well each one works for families, how easy it is to reach and what you actually get for your money. Whether you want a full festival, a castle backdrop or a free riverside show, there is a UK fireworks display here worth travelling for. Prices are indicative and change year to year, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the official page before you book.
Our top picks
Alexandra Palace Fireworks Festival
Leeds Castle Fireworks Spectacular
Victoria Park Fireworks
Researched by WATTB
- Published
- 31 August 2026
- Updated
- 31 August 2026
- Last verified
- 31 August 2026
We research and rank options from public data, official information and published reviews. How we research →
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The top 5 Fireworks Displays in the UK for Bonfire Night 2026
- Rank 1Alexandra Palace Fireworks FestivalWATTB Pick— Best overallWATTB94/100From ~£16pp (indicative)
- Rank 2Leeds Castle Fireworks Spectacular— Best for a grand settingWATTB92/100From ~£20pp (indicative)
- Rank 3Victoria Park Fireworks— Best value big-city displayWATTB86/100From ~£8pp advance (indicative)
- Rank 4Preston Fireworks, Avenham & Miller Park— Best free displayWATTB82/100Free entry (indicative)
- Rank 5Lewes Bonfire— Best for tradition and spectacleWATTB88/100Free to watch; fire-site tickets extra (indicative)
The WATTB Score is our own research-based editorial assessment out of 100 — not a customer-review average.
The picks in depth
Alexandra Palace Fireworks Festival
Why it won
A polished two-night festival that pairs a headline fireworks display with a drone show, funfair and food, and it is the safest all-round bet for families.
Consistently rated among the UK's best displays, with a drone show as well as fireworks
A full evening out with funfair, food, bonfire and live music included
Elevated site with panoramic London views and strong public-transport access
Trade-off: Ticketed and popular, so it sells out and gets very busy
Leeds Castle Fireworks Spectacular
Why we recommend it
Fireworks choreographed to music with the floodlit castle as a backdrop make this one of the most cinematic displays in the South East.
Spectacular castle-and-lake backdrop with lasers and projections
Music-synchronised choreography across two separate nights
Room to spread out, with food and drink on site
Trade-off: Rural location means longer travel and slow car park exits afterwards
Victoria Park Fireworks
Why we recommend it
One of London's largest displays at a low advance-ticket price, with a funfair and food that make it an easy family night.
One of London's largest displays at a low advance-ticket price
Funfair and street food on site, and a family-friendly atmosphere
Well served by the Overground and Central line
Trade-off: Large crowds and timed entry queues
Preston Fireworks, Avenham & Miller Park
Why we recommend it
A large, free riverside display that is one of the North West's best nights out for families on a budget.
Free entry with no booking required
Attractive riverside parkland with good sightlines from the slopes
Close to Preston city centre and the railway station
Trade-off: Very busy with limited facilities and no reserved viewing
Lewes Bonfire
Why we recommend it
One of the most extraordinary Bonfire Night events in the country, but its scale and crowds make it unsuitable for young families.
A genuinely unique, historic spectacle with six societies and torchlit processions
Free to watch the processions in the town
An atmosphere and scale that is rare anywhere else in the UK
Trade-off: Extremely crowded, with road closures and heavily restricted rail access on the night
Map of United Kingdom
How we ranked this list
We assessed each event on the scale and quality of the pyrotechnics, family suitability, ease of access by public transport, safety and crowd management, and value for money, drawing on official event information and each display's established track record; ratings reflect the overall experience for families rather than the fireworks alone, which is why an iconic but demanding event such as Lewes ranks lower here than its spectacle might otherwise earn.
Read our full ranking methodWhy you can trust WATTB
Independent & unbiased
We rank on merit. Commercial links never change which picks make a guide or where they rank.
In-depth research
Official information, specifications and aggregated expert and user reviews — compared, not guessed.
Clear pros & cons
Every pick gets its real advantages and at least one honest trade-off, so you can weigh it.
Transparent sourcing
We show how we rank and the sources behind each guide, and re-check them as things change.
Frequently asked questions
When is Bonfire Night 2026?
Bonfire Night, or Guy Fawkes Night, falls on Thursday 5 November 2026. Because that is a weekday, many of the largest organised displays run on the surrounding weekend instead. Leeds Castle, for example, runs on the surrounding weekend, while Lewes holds its celebration on 5 November itself; confirm this year's dates on each event's official site.
What is the best fireworks display in the UK for 2026?
For an all-round family experience we rank the Alexandra Palace Fireworks Festival first, and it is regularly named the UK's best by publications including Time Out and The Telegraph. That said, the right choice depends on what you want: Leeds Castle offers the most dramatic setting, Lewes an extraordinary tradition, and Preston a large free display.
Are fireworks displays suitable for toddlers and young children?
Most are. Alexandra Palace, Leeds Castle, Victoria Park and Preston all cater well to families, with funfairs, food and space to settle in early; ear defenders are worth bringing for little ones. The exception is Lewes, whose crowds, road closures and burning tar barrels make it unsuitable for young children or pushchairs.
Do you need to book fireworks tickets in advance?
For the ticketed events, yes. Alexandra Palace, Leeds Castle and Victoria Park all sell in advance and can sell out or raise prices closer to the date. Preston is free with no booking, and Lewes is free to watch, though fire-site tickets are sold separately. Whichever you choose, arrive early, as parking and public transport get extremely busy. All prices quoted here are indicative, so check the official page before you travel.
What time do fireworks displays start and how long do they last?
Most large organised displays light up between about 6.30pm and 8pm once it is fully dark, with the headline fireworks running roughly 15 to 25 minutes; grounds and funfairs usually open a couple of hours earlier so you can settle in. Leeds Castle and Alexandra Palace run across two nights, while Lewes builds through the evening with processions before the fire-site displays. Always check the specific timings on the official page, as they are confirmed closer to the date.
Can I bring my dog to a fireworks display?
It is best not to. Organisers of large displays like these generally discourage bringing dogs because the noise, crowds and open flames are stressful and can be dangerous for pets, and some sites do not admit them at all. Most vets recommend leaving dogs at home in a quiet, familiar room with background noise. If you do need to bring a dog, check the individual event's policy first.
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