9 of the best Bonfire Night events for 2022

Every November, for over 150 years, the skies above Alexandra Palace in north London have come to life with one of the city's most impressive firework displays. This year's Fireworks Festival takes place across two days with a host of supporting attractions, including a German bier festival, an ice skating rink and some of the best street food from kitchens across London.

Probably the most famous of all bonfire night events in England, the Lewes Bonfire Night has an electric atmosphere (perhaps even borderline pagan), notable for its burning of religious and cultural effigies.

Previous years’ bonfires have included effigies of Luftwaffe bombers and Viking longboats, as well as a number of politicians and popes. There is also the striking image of the 17 burning crosses to represent the burning of martyrs of Lewes back in the 16th Century.

While the Lewes Bonfire Celebrations provide plenty of entertainment for the whole family, the event regularly attracts thousands of visitors and can get extremely busy, so please make sure you book accommodation and check travel arrangements well in advance. 

For the ultimate family fireworks treat, head to Legoland in November for a show you'll never forget!

Hosted across three days, the Legoland Fireworks Spectacular brings the theme park to life after the sun has gone to sleep. Don't just expect any ordinary fireworks display either - this event will have firworks exploding into LEGO bricks thanks to some very special glasses!

Book a stay in the Legoland Resort, and you can turn a night of celebrations into a full weekend break!

Every November, Leeds Castle comes alive for two days with lights, sounds and colour. This year's display (which is said to be the biggest pyrotechnic display in the whole of South East England), combines fireworks and projected moving images to create an audio-visual treat unlike anything else, and will have you singing and dancing the night away.

Featuring a huge centerpiece made up of themed wooden structures (past events have featured towering gothic castles and traditional ships), Skinningrove Bonfire definitely lives up to its "Bonfire With A Difference" billing. Once the bonfire is burning bright, it is accompanied by a stunning fireworks display which lights up the dark Yorkshire night. Wrap up warm and enjoy a traditional spectacle this November.

Found just off the banks of the River Tyne, Segedunum marks the remains of a Roman fort that dominated the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall. Nowadays, the site plays host to a spectacular fireworks display every November, with free entry to the museum and a variety of family activities on offer to those arriving before the 6:30pm start time.

For something completely different, head to Ottery St Mary in Devon (about 10 miles east of Exeter) for the annual Tar Barrels event. This tradition pre-dates Guy Fawkes Night and sees local pubs and breweries offering up a barrel, which is covered in tar, set alight and carried through the streets by brave locals. It's one of England's most unique spectacles, to say the least.

In the heart of the Peak District National Park, Chatsworth House is famous for its diverse art collection and picturesque landscapes. But on the last weekend of October (a week prior to the 5th November), this country pile is putting on a special bonfire bash to celebrate Guy Fawkes Night. Wrap up warm and enjoy a range of live entertainment, including the blazing bonfire and not one, but two dazzling firework displays (there’s an earlier one for the kids). There’s a selection of food on offer too, from hog roasts to churros, and mulled cider galore – the ultimate winter warmer.

You can even splurge on a pre-fireworks meal at Chatsworth’s Cavendish Restaurant, which includes a 2-course dinner and Champagne cocktail. Fancy!

Kenilworth Castle has a past dotted with royal connections, strategic fortifications and religious links. It's now a top attraction for history buffs, but every November it also hosts one of the biggest Bonfire Night celebrations in the Midlands. Run by the Kenilworth Round Table, the Kenilworth Fireworks Spectacular is a key date on the town's calendar and sees visitors surrounding the castle for an amazing aerial display of colour. Plus, all the money raised goes to good local causes - added bonus!