The best places to spend Bonfire night in London

Temperatures drop as November rolls in, but it’s not all cold and bleak! With bonfire night around the corner, fireworks displays and fairs will pop up all across London. Not only that, but New Years’ Eve isn’t far away, either.

If you want to enjoy some of the best of what the UK capital has to offer, here are some of our favourite places to see fireworks this November!

Victoria Embankment

One of the best views of fireworks displays you can get is from Victoria Embankment. With hundreds of thousands flooding the capital on bonfire night and New Years’ Eve, you’ll want to get a good spot with an amazing view, and Victoria Embankment offers just that.

If you’re here for New Years’ Eve, you’ll be close enough to Big Ben to hear it chime at midnight, creating an incredible atmosphere to see in the New Year!

A Sky Bar

It stands to reason that you’ll have a better view of fireworks from a higher spot – so one of London’s many sky bars have got to be up there for consideration. There are a number to choose from, including The Duck and Waffle, Oxo Tower Restaurant, Babylon at The Roof Gardens, The Shard, The London Sky Bar, and more.

Most bars and restaurants put on a spectacular party with incredible food, as well as the breath-taking view of fireworks over the city. You can go all out and book The Shard – Europe’s tallest building – for something truly spectacular. You’ll definitely need to book in advance.

Tattershall Castle

For something a bit different, try Tatttershall Castle, a pub on the River Thames, right opposite the London Eye. The views here every day are incredible, but on fireworks night, the atmosphere comes to life! With food, drinks, live band and a DJ, it is one of the best and busiest places to be on fireworks night, and even more so on New Years’ Eve!

With champagne, private access, and the chance to enjoy an evening on a boat, it’s one of the most unique ways to enjoy the evening!

Primrose Hill

You can’t talk about fireworks in London without mentioning Primrose Hill. It’s an iconic location, certainly one of the most romantic, and is one of the best spots in the city to watch nearby fireworks. Although it doesn’t have a dedicated display, you can see several others from the hilltop throughout the night.

It’s one of the busiest locations on New Years’ Eve, too, so arrive at the park early if you want to claim a good viewing spot. Be aware – the hill is 256 feet high, so it’s a bit of a walk!

Crystal Palace

One of the largest and longest running displays in London, Crystal Palace Fireworks is great for all the family. There are two separate shows – one for children, and the main event for adults – plus plenty of food and drink, so it’s definitely one of the best venues in London for family entertainment!

Due to its heritage, it is a ticketed event, and we recommend you book early to avoid disappointment.

Alexandra Palace

Considered by many to be one of the best spots to enjoy bonfire night, Alexandra Palace Fireworks Festival offers a large display at the back of the venue, and you can also see displays in the distance! There’s a bonfire, parade, German bier festival, and ice skating – the fireworks display even has a laser show to accompany it!

There is also a family area, street food, craft beer, and a selection of other bars and food. What more could you want for an amazing evening out?

Waterloo Bridge

Another fantastic, though busy, venue is Waterloo Bridge. Blackfriars Bridge is another good option, as both locations provide superb views of a number of displays from across the Thames. Both bridges offer excellent views of the London Eye, which means you’ll be able to see some incredible fireworks, too!

These are ticketed areas, though, so be prepared to bring photo ID and for these bridges and surrounding areas to be quite crowded on both bonfire night and New Years’ Eve.

Blackheath Common

Another popular venue, particularly for families, is Blackheath Common. You can make a day of it, with the funfair open from midday, and food/bar stalls open from 5pm. The main fireworks display kicks off in the evening, and it can get very busy.

Despite the size of the display, it is free to enter. It’s also lovely to explore the village through the day and evening as you can join in the celebrations here, too!

Battersea Park

A great choice for all the family, especially as children under ten get in free, Battersea Park Fireworks boasts pre-show entertainment, food stalls, bonfire, and an award-winning fireworks display! The display is set to last for a full twenty-two minutes set to music inspired by the theme, “Power.”

The park has a capacity of 50,000, so book your tickets in advance, but the show is well worth it!

Southwark

With over 30,000 people slated to attend Southwark Fireworks Extravaganza, it’s one of the largest free displays found on the south bank of the river. The display has been going for fourteen years, and always attracts a huge crowd of spectators.

With free tickets, food, drink, and entertainment, you’ll want to arrive in plenty of time to beat the crowds!