The most photographed Bonfire Night displays in the UK

Words by Georgina Groom-Rietschy

Bonfire Night sees communities flock to their local parks and commons to watch skies light up with firework displays on or around 5 November. The annual event – also known as Guy Fawkes Night – marks the anniversary of the failed 17th-century Gunpowder Plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Today, celebrations include street food stalls, funfairs, live music and plenty of sparklers.

To uncover the UK’s most photographed displays, our data science team analysed photo activity around Bonfire Night. Comparing the top ten with our 2024 rankings, Bridgwater in Somerset jumps two places to take the top spot – helped by its historic carnival procession. London’s Battersea Park and Alexandra Palace round out the top three, while the Home Counties put in a strong showing, with Surrey, Kent and Berkshire all making the cut.

Curious how we calculated the photo index scores? Read the full methodology at the end of this article.

1. Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival, Bridgwater, Somerset

Photo index score: 100

Bridgwater’s Bonfire Night culminates in the centuries-old tradition of squibbing: more than 150 locals line the high street, each holding a firework on a pole to create a tunnel of sparks and flame as they process through the town. The main event takes place on 7 November, with food trucks and a funfair at St Matthew’s Field. Make a weekend of it and stay in Bruton, where 12-key boutique hotel Number One Bruton features exposed beams, upholstered headboards and whimsical wallpaper. The town is home to Michelin-starred Osip and the gallerists Hauser & Wirth, whose ever-changing exhibitions offer cultural diversion.

2. Battersea Park Fireworks, Battersea, London

Photo index score: 60

Battersea Park’s fireworks have become one of London’s most popular social events, with riverside fireworks accompanied by live music, brass bands, funfair rides and street food in chalet-style cabins. The two-day event takes place on 7 and 8 November, with Saturday the grown-up affair – expect a live DJ set from Rudimental and a happy hour with £5 drinks. Sunday is the family-friendly showcase, with a Taylor Swift tribute and an earlier 7pm start. The fireworks offer a striking display over the Thames, framed by Albert Bridge and the park’s burnt-orange autumn foliage. Better still, you’re a short stroll from Battersea Power Station, where you can enjoy some pre-show bites from the likes of Dishoom, El Pastor and Bread Street Kitchen.

3. Alexandra Palace Fireworks & Drone Festival, Alexandra Palace, London

Photo index score: 37

North London’s most impressive vantage point comes into its own on Bonfire Night, with fireworks and choreographed drones lighting up the sky above Alexandra Palace. The two-day event splits between a party night on 7 November, with an 8pm display, and a family-friendly event on 8 November, with an earlier 6pm show. The celebration takes over both park and palace, with an old-school funfair, marshmallow fire pits, bonfires, an ice rink, a street food village and DJ stage – plus a German Bier Festival tent inside the palace, where you can groove to a Queen tribute before the display. For extra thrills, join a ghostly theatre walking tour before the fireworks to learn hair-raising tales about the Victorian theatre and its superstitions.

4. Lewes Bonfire Night, Lewes, East Sussex

Photo index score: 35

Lewes Bonfire Night is one of the UK’s most spectacular celebrations, with torchlit processions, flaming tar barrels and giant effigies paraded through the medieval streets before being burned in fields outside the town. Seven local societies each produce an effigy, typically reflecting the year’s current affairs – recent years have seen former prime ministers Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson. Expect marchers in striped smugglers’ jumpers and historical costumes, carrying flaming torches through the packed streets before bonfires and fireworks at around 9pm. The dramatic displays make for brilliant photographs, but it’s worth noting that trains are suspended and roads are closed on the night to manage the crowds down the narrow streets.

5. Fireworks at Sea, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset

Photo index score: 35

For a fireworks display with a dramatic coastal backdrop, head to Weston-super-Mare to see the skies burst into colour above the Bristol Channel and the town’s historic Grand Pier. This year’s event takes place on 14 November, starting at 7.30pm. Join locals watching free from the wide promenade, Knightstone Island or Weston Woods, or opt for a Grand Pier ticket to enjoy rides, traditional fish and chips and uninterrupted views. Elevate the experience with a booking at Tiffany’s Restaurant, where you can enjoy a multi-course meal – think bangers and mash and roast beef – with sea views and access to a private balcony overlooking the display.

6. Brockham Bonfire, Brockham, Surrey

Photo index score: 30

At the foot of the North Downs and near Box Hill, this picturesque Surrey village comes alive with a torchlight procession, roaring bonfire and one of the UK’s largest firework displays. More than four tonnes of fireworks are packed into the 12-minute display, while the evening kicks off with torchbearers processing through Brockham, led by the Red Devil and the Guy. The celebrations date back to 1888 and still include the historic roast-pig auction, where joints of pork are sold after the fireworks. It’s a photogenic spectacle, with flaming torches, a bonfire and fireworks lighting up the Surrey countryside. For a weekend escape, explore nearby Denbies Wine Estate – England’s largest vineyard – or book a room at Beaverbrook, the grand country-house hotel set in 470 acres of greenery.

7. Leeds Castle Fireworks Spectacular, Maidstone, Kent

Photo index score: 27

Leeds Castle provides a fairytale setting for one of the south-east’s biggest Bonfire Night spectacles, with this year’s theme, Time, bringing fireworks, music, projections and lasers together across the castle grounds. On 7 November, the castle facade is transformed by colourful projections and beams of light while fireworks burst overhead. Arrive early to wander the castle’s gardens and enjoy live music, fairground rides and street food. Don’t miss the Christmas Lights display here too (20 November to 3 January 2027), where light tunnels, installations and illuminations pair with festive food and drink.

8. Ascot Fireworks Spectacular Family Raceday, Ascot, Berkshire

Photo index score: 25

Ascot combines horse racing with fireworks on 31 October, when the Royal racecourse hosts one of Berkshire’s biggest fireworks displays. The family-friendly event features live entertainment, fairground rides, food stalls and plenty of seasonal fun before fireworks light up the skies above the grandstand in a spectacular finale. Arrive early and explore nearby Windsor Great Park and the Long Walk, where sweeping views of Windsor Castle and free-roaming deer provide prime photo opportunities. Then, explore the high street to admire the castle up close and snap a picture of the Crooked House – the oldest teahouse in England, known for its wonky timbered facade and delightful teas.

9. Bonfire Fireworks Night, Weston Park, Shropshire

Photo index score: 24

Set against the stately backdrop of Weston Park and its 1,000 acres of historic parkland, this big-hitting Midlands Bonfire Night packs two firework displays into one evening, alongside a roaring bonfire and traditional funfair. On 8 November, the first display bursts into the sky at 6pm, followed by a second music-to-sky spectacular at 7.30pm – ideal for catching fireworks from different vantage points across the open parkland. Between the shows, warm up around the bonfire or take a spin on the waltzers before refuelling at street-food stalls serving everything from loaded fries and fish and chips to freshly cooked doughnuts.

10. Guildford Lions Firework Festival, Stoke Park, Guildford

Photo index score: 23

Just half an hour by train from London Waterloo, Guildford’s Stoke Park hosts its annual fireworks festival on 7 November, with gates opening at 5pm and live music – including a set from The Hired Guns – from 6.30pm. Alongside a children’s entertainment area and LED show, the evening culminates in a 20-minute firework display featuring custom-designed sequences and high-altitude shells. The real highlight, though, is the diverse food and drink lineup, spanning Spanish plates, Thai dishes and spice-packed Indian fare. Flit between decadent hot chocolates, brownies, German sausages and gourmet grilled dishes, or get into the festive spirit with a mug of mulled wine.

Methodology

To determine the most photographed Bonfire Night displays in the UK, Popsa’s data science team analysed anonymised, aggregated metadata from millions of photos across autumn 2024 and 2025. By comparing each location’s photo activity during the Bonfire Night period against its typical autumn activity, the team identified the areas with the biggest spikes.

Each display was then given an index score from 0 to 100 based on the size of its spike, with the top-ranked display scoring 100 and the rest scaled relative to it. The result reflects real behaviour: not just where people went, but where they were most moved to capture the moment.