Things To Do On Bonfire Night in London 2024
Date post added: 22nd October 2024
Why is Bonfire Night celebrated in London?
“Remember, remember the fifth of November, gunpowder, treason and plot!”
There’s nowhere better to celebrate Bonfire Night than London, the place where the gunpowder plot originated.
On the 5th November 1605, Guy Fawkes hid 33 barrels of gunpowder in a cellar at the Palace of Westminster in a bid to blow up King James I and the Houses of Parliament. Discovered red handed, Guy Fawkes was taken to the Tower of London where the names of his co-conspirators were extracted under torture. Over 400 years later, Bonfire Night celebrations (aka Guy Fawkes’ Night or Fireworks Night) remain a key event in the British social calendar. Fireworks, bonfires and effigies of Guy Fawkes, we’ve got it all in our guide of the best fireworks events in London on Bonfire Night 2024.
What seasonal foods are served during Bonfire night?
November is cold in England, and your whole body feels it when you’re standing outside oohing and aahing over pretty fireworks. So Bonfire Night foods tend to be warm, autumnal fare. Think sausages (bangers), jacket potatoes cooked on a fire and hot soup. But these days, it’s more eclectic and you’ll find anything from street food to bbq, hot dogs to jerk chicken, all washed down with a warm mulled wine or a tepid beer. And don’t forget the achingly sweet stuff. Toffee apples have long been associated with Bonfire Night. That’s probably because apples are harvested in autumn, and covering them in sickly sugar is a way of preserving them a lot longer. It’s a shame the same can’t be said for your teeth after eating them. Hot on the heels of Halloween sweet treats, it’s the season for dental work and diabetes.
What are the top Bonfire Night events in London this year?
1. Ally Pally’s Fireworks Festival
Probably London’s biggest and most popular Bonfire Night fireworks display takes place at Ally Pally Park in North London. It’s one of the highest vantage points in London. Not only will you get a spectacular view across the city, but the Alexandra Palace Fireworks Festival has many other delights too. Like last year, there’s a German Bier Festival, funfair, street food and the memorable Ice Disco! Fireworks will start at 9pm on Friday 1st November and 8pm on Saturday 2nd.
2. Battersea Park Fireworks
South London’s biggest fireworks display, the annual event at Battersea Park, on the south bank of the River Thames, takes place over 2 nights. This 200 acre park boasts both a huge bonfire and a spectacular firework show. The pyrotechnics display is devised by the expert team behind both London and Edinburgh’s New Year’s Eve spectaculars.
On the Saturday night, there are various food stalls, live entertainment and funfair rides. DJs and a Massaoke singalong session will keep the party going after the last firework has dwindled in the night sky. The Sunday event starts earlier and has a more family-friendly display.
3. Wimbledon Park Fireworks
The annual fireworks extravaganza at Wimbledon Park, and its sister show at Morden Park, are always well organised and incredibly impressive. The fireworks are set to music (last year the theme was ‘one hit wonders’). There are also funfair rides to add to the general excitement and light fest.
4. Dulwich Fireworks
Staying in South London, Dulwich Sports Club hosts an excellent family Bonfire Night event. This year it’ll be on Saturday 2 November. Gates open at 5pm with live music from 5.30pm, and the fireworks going off with a bang at 7pm. Adult ticket prices are £12.50, but kids get in for a mere £1. It looks like tickets have sold out already – it’s a popular place to be.
5. Barnes Fireworks
This West London Bonfire Night event is a real community and family-friendly event. Many displays will be on Saturday 2 November, but this is the following weekend (Saturday 9 November) at Barnes Sports Club. There’s a ‘Best Guy’ competition, along with hot dogs, mulled wine and live music.
6. Beckenham Road Fireworks
“Fireworks (5)” by aigarius
A true community event, the 5th Beckenham South Scout Group is behind this Guy Fawkes Night event that’s been running for over 70 years. Taking place at Croydon Road Recreation Ground, the Beckenham Fireworks feature two dazzling displays. There’s one for younger children at 6pm with the main display at 7.15pm on Saturday 2 November.
Just down the road in Crystal Palace, James Dixon Primary School run a fundraising event too.
7. Stow Firework Spectacular
Sparklers at the ready for the Stow Firework Spectacular in Walthamstow. Fire isn’t restricted to the bonfire and bangers, there are fire performers to marvel at as well. The organisers have thoughtfully designed a display aimed at kids at those with sensory needs, and another ‘full effect’ show. It’s held a Walthamstow Cricket Club with gates opening at 4pm on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 November. Tickets for the Saturday display have sold out, so you can either join the waiting list or go on the Friday.
8. Harrow Fireworks
On Saturday 9th November 2024, Harrow Fireworks at Byron Park will be back. More than a Bonfire Night event, it’s a proper family-friendly festival with free entry to the pre-party between noon and 3pm. There will be entertainers, face painting, glitter tattoos, Indian henna art and a full on funfair. World street food is on offer and, if previous years are to go by, there’ll be a celebration of Diwali too.
9. Richmond Fireworks
The annual Richmond Fireworks event is held at Richmond Athletic Ground and starts at 4.30pm on Sunday 3rd. With a theme of ‘colours’, the choreographed fireworks display is set to ‘iconic tunes.’ There’s a funfair, the obligatory mulled wine stall, hot food, and an after party for those who can’t get enough of those bangers. Advance tickets only.
10. Southgate Fireworks
Walker Ground hosts the local Bonfire Night entertainment in the North London neighbourhood of Southgate. The crowd will be whipped into a pre-fireworks frenzy with funfair rides and inflatables. Then, fuelled with a mix of jerk chicken, hot dogs, candy floss and toffee apples, they can stand back and enjoy the fireworks. The organisers say that over 7,000 spectators watched the display last year.
Don’t forget, London will do it all again on New Year’s Eve with even more fireworks displays to see out 2024. And we don’t just mean the big one in Central London.
David Tucker
David – the Seigneur of this favoured realm – broods over words, breeds enthusiasms and is “unmanageable.”* He’s a balterer, literary historian, university lecturer, journalist, logophile and lifelong thanatophobe. For good measure, he’s the doyen of London guides.
Pippa Jackson
Pippa is a word nerd and content aficionado with a background of working in TV on both sides of the globe. She loves to discover and share the diverse and wonderful stories of her much-loved London. When she’s not writing blogs and articles, you’ll find her walking beside the Thames or even paddleboarding on it (in the finest of conditions only!) or enjoying a coffee in the sunshine with a good book.