Bonfire Night: What is it and Where to Celebrate?

The best viewing spots for firework shows!

As a fresher and a history student, discovering Bonfire Night was definitely one of the most memorable experiences of my first year here. There’s nothing I love more than picking up a new tradition that comes with centuries of history attached, and Bonfire Night has more backstory than most...

What is Bonfire Night?

Bonfire Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Night, is an annual holiday, which, as in the name, is celebrated with a spectacular fireworks show. It takes place on November 5 across the UK, and is meant to commemorate Guy Fawkes' failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

Guy Fawkes, an English Catholic, attempted to BLOW UP (yes, you read that correctly!) the Houses of Parliament and kill Protestant King James I, hoping to restore a Catholic monarch to the throne and end the persecution of English Catholics. Using his military experience as an explosives expert, he planned to create the explosion, but was caught a day earlier after an anonymous whistleblower sent a letter exposing the plot.

Fawkes was arrested and tortured in the Tower of London, and died shortly after. Bonfire Night has been celebrated ever since to mark the failure of the plot and the king’s survival, with bonfires and fireworks symbolising the explosion that never happened. 

Where to celebrate?

Coram's Fields 

Just a short walk from LSE is Coram's Fields, where you can find a free general entry event. You expect more of a central setting rather than a skyline view, but the student atmosphere will make the experience unforgettable. There are live stage performances as well as food stalls where you can get snacks for the 18-minute firework show. This will happen Thursday 5 November 2026, with fireworks starting at 6pm.

Battersea Park 

On Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th of November, Battersea Park will host a Bonfire Night event. General admission tickets run from £16.70, but are advance-only, so make sure to book ahead. This event will offer a firework display right along the Thames, plus food and drink stalls to keep you warm beforehand. 

Alexandra Palace 

At Alexandra Palace, tickets are from £11.50, rising to around £18–£19.50 depending on when you book. You can expect a full fireworks and drone show, a huge bonfire, a funfair, street food stalls, and even a bier festival running alongside it this year. As it sits on a hill, you will get sweeping views over the whole of London as the fireworks go off... the best skyline backdrop of any display on this list!

Whether you’re after spectacular fireworks, a huge bonfire or simply an excuse to spend a chilly November evening outside, London has no shortage of ways to celebrate Bonfire Night. So wrap up warm, grab your friends and get ready to watch the sky light up.