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#4 in Best Fireworks Displays in the UK for Bonfire Night 2026
Best free displayWATTB82/100

Preston City CouncilPreston Fireworks, Avenham & Miller Park

Our verdict · A large, free riverside display that is one of the North West's best nights out for families on a budget.

Visit if

Free entry with no booking required

Skip it if

Very busy with limited facilities and no reserved viewing

Plan your visit

Preston Fireworks, Avenham & Miller Park

WATTB Score

82/ 100

Our research-based editorial assessment.

How we score →

Free entry

Indicative price at the time of review.

Preston City Council's fireworks in the adjoining Avenham and Miller parks are among the largest free displays in the North West, drawing big local crowds to the natural amphitheatre above the River Ribble. There is no ticket and no booking, which makes it an easy, low-cost choice for families, and the sloping parkland gives good sightlines from a distance if you would rather keep back from the crush. Facilities are limited and the parks fill quickly, so arrive early, wear sturdy footwear for the grass and paths, and plan your route out in advance as the surrounding streets get busy. It is a straightforward, generous free display rather than a full festival, so bring your own snacks and layers rather than relying on stalls.

The good & the bad

Pros

  • Free entry with no booking required
  • Attractive riverside parkland with good sightlines from the slopes
  • Close to Preston city centre and the railway station

Cons

  • Very busy with limited facilities and no reserved viewing
  • Grass and paths can be muddy and dark away from the main paths

How it compares

PickWATTB ScorePriceBest for
1.Alexandra Palace Fireworks Festival94/100From ~£16pp (indicative)overall
2.Leeds Castle Fireworks Spectacular92/100From ~£20pp (indicative)a grand setting
3.Victoria Park Fireworks86/100From ~£8pp advance (indicative)value big-city display
4.Preston Fireworks, Avenham & Miller ParkThis pick82/100Free entry (indicative)free display
5.Lewes Bonfire88/100Free to watch; fire-site tickets extra (indicative)tradition and spectacle
Swipe to compare

Good to know

4.7Google · 2,287 reviews
Address
S Meadow Ln, Preston PR1 8JP
Nearest station
Preston (approx. 10-minute walk)
Phone
+44 1772 906471
Price
Free entry (indicative)
Location
Avenham & Miller Park, Preston
When
Bonfire Night period, early November 2026
Setting
Sloping Victorian parkland above the River Ribble

Opening hours

Monday
Open 24 hours
Tuesday
Open 24 hours
Wednesday
Open 24 hours
Thursday
Open 24 hours
Friday
Open 24 hours
Saturday
Open 24 hours
Sunday
Open 24 hours

Address, hours & rating verified via Google · Aug 2026

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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