Seasonal
London Fireworks: Where to Watch
From the Thames at midnight to a drone-laced bonfire on a north London hilltop, this is where the sky actually catches fire.
In short: our top picks are Mayor of London's New Year's Eve Fireworks, Alexandra Palace Fireworks & Drone Festival and Battersea Park Fireworks. 5 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
London does fireworks in two registers: the one enormous Thames show on New Year’s Eve, and the wave of borough displays that crowd the first week of November. The Thames spectacle is the famous one, but the Bonfire Night displays at Alexandra Palace, Battersea and Blackheath are often the better night out, with funfairs, food and proper crowds. Most of the good ones now charge and sell out, so treating them as free walk-ups is how you end up stuck behind a fence. We have kept the dedicated New Year and Bonfire Night guides for the deep detail; this is the year-round map of where the sky reliably lights up.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Mayor of London's New Year's Eve Fireworks | South Bank | |
| Alexandra Palace Fireworks & Drone Festival | Muswell Hill | £££ |
| Battersea Park Fireworks | Battersea | £££ |
| Blackheath Fireworks | Blackheath | £££ |
| Fireworks in the Park (Wimbledon Park & Morden Park) | Wimbledon & Morden, SW19 |
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Editor’s choice
Mayor of London's New Year's Eve Fireworks
Why we pick itMore than 12,000 fireworks fire from the London Eye and barges in a midnight show watched by tens of thousands of ticket-holders along the riverbanks.
Thames New Year display
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Alexandra Palace Fireworks & Drone Festival
Why we pick itA two-night hilltop festival pairing fireworks with choreographed drones, a bonfire, funfair and ice rink, named the UK's number one display by the Telegraph.
bonfire and drone festival
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Battersea Park Fireworks
Why we pick itWandsworth's advance-ticket spectacle fills Battersea Park with a music-set display, fairground rides and food, and sells out fast every year.
riverside bonfire display
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Blackheath Fireworks
Why we pick itRevived after a six-year break, this large display set to music draws around 30,000 people across Blackheath with DJs, live music and street food.
open-heath display
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Fireworks in the Park (Wimbledon Park & Morden Park)
Why we pick itMerton's twin shows draw thousands to Wimbledon Park and Morden Park, each running a child-friendly set then a louder soundtracked finale.
twin musical displays
Before you book
For the New Year’s Eve Thames show, tickets go on sale through Ticketmaster in late summer and vanish within days, so set a reminder. The big November displays at Battersea, Blackheath and the Merton parks are advance-ticket only and routinely sell out, so book before late October rather than turning up on the night. Public transport is the only sane way in; expect packed stations and queue-only exits straight after each finale.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
Mayor of London's New Year's Eve Fireworks is our editor's choice: More than 12,000 fireworks fire from the London Eye and barges in a midnight show watched by tens of thousands of ticket-holders along the riverbanks. Mayor of London's New Year's Eve Fireworks, Alexandra Palace Fireworks & Drone Festival and Battersea Park Fireworks lead the guide, with 5 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
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