Bonfire Night 2019: Family Friendly Fireworks in London + Weekend Scoop

Remember, remember, the 5th of November is next week and London will be lit through this weekend and beyond. Here’s our annual list of family friendly fireworks in London. Clissold Park fireworks is SOLD OUT and Bishop’s Park fireworks are cancelled this year. But there are plenty of other spots to get your sparkle on!

*UPDATE: The Lord Mayor’s Fireworks show has been cancelled to be replaced by two family-friendly events instead. Please take a look at our Weekend Scoop for November 7-10, 2019 for the full details.*

Scroll further down for the Weekend Scoop of 12 other cool things to do with kids (if you don’t fancy going out with a bang).

Family Friendly Fireworks in London: Bonfire Night London 2019

Fri: Corams Fields Fireworks 93 Guilford St, WC1N 1DN (Russell Square tube)
One of the best free fireworks events, with an especially gentle display for babies and toddlers. Fairground rides, food and refreshments and community stalls. All welcome. Doors from 3.30pm, fireworks from 6pm, FREE (donations welcome) (Nov 1)

Fri-Sat: Alexandra Palace Fireworks Festival, Alexandra Palace Way, N22 7AY (Wood Green tube then W3 bus to the park, Gate 6 recommended entry)
The big papa of family friendly fireworks in London features spectacular sparks, German Bier fest, funfair, giant bonfire, ice skating, The Luna cinema, DJs, parade and more. Gates open for 4pm, bonfire 7.30pm (Fri) & 6.30pm (Sat), fireworks 9pm (Fri) & 8pm (Sat); adult from £9.50/child from £7.50/ages 10 and under £1.50 but require registration with adult ticket purchase (separate charges apply for Bier Festival and ice skating). Advance booking essential. (Nov 1-2)

Sat: Battersea Park Fireworks, Albert Bridge, SW11 (Sloane Square tube/Battersea Park rail)
Head to Battersea Parks to see Jubilee Fireworks work their magic. Enjoy the blaze with your kids, plus refreshments and fun on hand. New this year is an after party for adults (18+) featuring Rudimental and Norman Jay! Gates 6pm, bonfire 7.30pm, fireworks 8pm (arrive by 7.30pm); gate fee £10/afterparty £20/under 10s FREE but tickets needed. No admittance after 8pm. (Nov 2)

Sat: Blackheath Common Fireworks, SE3 0RW (Lewisham DLR/Blackheath rail)
The sparks will fly from 8pm but the funfair rides are open from noon at Blackheath Common. Probably the biggest family friendly fireworks in London, regularly pulling up to 100k viewers! Look out for pop-up performances from Broadway Theatre and South London Samba. All ages. Funfair from 12pm-10pm, food stalls and bar from 5pm-9.45pm, fireworks at 8pm. Entrance FREE, no ticket required (Nov 2)

Sat: Crystal Palace Park Fireworks Spectacular, Thicket Rd entrance, SE19 2BA (Crystal Palace rail/overground)
Bonfire Night at Crystal Palace goes back 151 years and is a massively popular event. The fireworks and light show are set to be larger than ever this year. Plus Lords of Lightning show, entertainment tent (until 10.30pm), fairground, bars and street food. 5pm gates open, bonfire from 6.30pm, Lords of Lightning show from 7pm-8pm, fireworks 8.30pm; adult £11/child 11-15 £9/family from £24/child 10 and under £2.50; no tickets at gate, must buy online! (Nov 2)

Sat: Ravenscourt Park Fireworks, W6 0TY (Hammersmith tube)
If you’re searching for family friendly fireworks in London, look no further than Ravenscourt Park. Since the Bishop’s Park display is closed for 2019, expect big crowds. There’ll be hot food, bars and funfair rides too. Gates 4pm, kids show 6.30pm, main show 8.30pm; adult £8.30 advance (recommended) or limited tickets £8.30 at gate/under 5s free (Nov 2)

Sat-Sun: Guy Fawkes Festival and Fireworks at Royal Gunpowder Mills, Waltham Abbey, Essex, EN9 1JY (Waltham rail)
Do Guy Fawkes Night in style at a real gunpowder factory. There are funfair rides in abundance, plus musket firing, archery display, slime making and mad science lab with Professor Nitrate. Top pick for family friendly fireworks in London. Pre-book online to guarantee entry! Gates 2pm, last entry 6.15pm, fireworks 7pm; adult £10.50/child 3-15 £8.50/family £34.20 (2 adults, 2 kids — single parent family, and family of 5 tickets also available) (Nov 2-3)

Sun: Richmond Family Fireworks, Richmond Athletic Ground, Kew Foot Rd, TW9 2SS (Richmond tube/overground)
The annual Richmond Family Fireworks display happens again on Sunday before Bonfire Night. Enjoy big sparks, mulled wine, candy floss, popcorn and a popping after-party. 4.30pm gates, 7pm fireworks (last entry 6.45pm); adult from £9 (adv)-£13 (gate)/child from £6/family from £25/under 5s FREE; advanced online tickets only! (Nov 3)

Sun: Victoria Park Fireworks, Victoria Park, eastern side, off Grove Road, Bow, E3 5TB (Mile End/Bethnal Green tube)
One of the last remaining free family friendly fireworks in London, this year’s theme is A Giant Leap, inspired by the Apollo 11 moon landing’s 50th anniversary. There’s no funfair but expect dazzling displays, rousing soundtrack, special effects and storytelling by Walk the Plank. Food and drink on site. 5.30pm gates, display at 7pm; FREE entry (Nov 3)

Tue: Fortismere School Fireworks at Fortismere School Playing Fields, Twyford Avenue entrance, N10 1NE (East Finchley tube)
Expect another sizzling night out at Fortismere School Fireworks, with display by Titanium Fireworks (Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve and Edinburgh Castle Hogmanay). Hot food and drinks, sparkler den for kids and vintage rides by Carters Steam Fair. Doors 6pm, fireworks 7.30pm, £5 adv tickets/£7 gate/under 5s FREE (Nov 5)

Next Weekend

Sat Nov 9: Highgate School Fireworks Festival, Highgate Junior School, Cholmeley House, 3 Bishopswood Road, N6 4PL (Archway/Highgate tube)
Bonfire Night will be a thing of the past, but you can still find fireworks fun at Highgate School the following weekend. There’s an early show for little ones, along with food stalls and school band. Early show 4pm-6.30pm, late show 7pm-9.30pm; adult £15/child £10/under 3s FREE (Nov 9)

Sat Nov 9: King Alfred School Fireworks at The King Alfred School, Manor Wood, 149 North End Road, NW11 7HY (Golders Green tube)
Yummy street food, glow show, live acts, DJ tunes and North London’s snazziest fireworks. It’s an annual tradition for the Big Apple Hot Dogs/Babes about Town crew. Gates 4pm, fireworks 6.45pm-7pm; adult/child £12, Old Alfredian £7, child under 5 FREE (Nov 9)

Weekend Scoop: 12 Cool Things to Do with Kids in London

Thu: King’s Cross Halloween Parade and Party at Granary Square, King’s Cross, N1C 4BH (King’s Cross St Pancras tube/rail)
Watch Skeleton Squad dancers perform an illuminated Dance of the Dead (6.30pm & 7.30pm). Hang around for giant skeleton puppets, free face painting, costume prizes and more. Free dance workshops from 5.30pm to join in the Skeleton Squad performances! Venues around Granary Square, Coal Drops Yard and King’s Cross will be selling Halloween-themed delicacies throughout. All ages welcome. From 5.30pm; FREE (Oct 31)

Find more freaky fun in our LONDON KIDS HALLOWEEN GUIDE

Thu-Sun: Day of the Dead Festival, Camden Market, Camden High St (junction with Buck St), NW1 8NJ (Camden Town tube/Camden Rd overground)
Join the Mexican Embassy and Camden Market’s colourful festival marking the Day of the Dead. The big day is Saturday (Nov 2), the actual Dia de Los Muertos, with Cafe Chula and West Yard taken over by live music, face painting, food and DJs until the early hours. Throughout the four-day fiesta, kids workshops, Mestizo food market, talks & screenings in Gabeto, and a floating market (next to Cafe Chula) dressed in bright colours and flowers. 11am until late; FREE entry (Oct 31-Nov 3)

Thu-Sun: The Dong with a Luminous Nose, Little Angel Puppet Theatre, 14 Dagmar Passage, N1 2DN (Angel tube)
Explore the journey from childhood to young man with Edward, a shy and troubled boy whose world gets turned upside down by ‘the Jumblies’. A colourful cast of puppets brings Edward Lear’s nonsense rhyme to life. For ages 7+. 1pm (Thu), 5pm (Fri – Friday Fiver £5 tickets for all), 2.15pm (Sat) & 2.30pm (Sun); adult £14/child £12/babies under 1 FREE (until Nov 10)

Thu-Sun: Lucian Freud: The Self-Portraits at Royal Academy, The Sackler Wing, Burlington House, Piccadilly, W1J 0BD (Piccadilly Circus tube)
Spanning nearly seven decades, this groundbreaking show shows one of Britain’s finest painters in close-up. Discover portraits from his earliest in 1939 to his final one painted 64 years later. It’s a fascinating look at one man and his self-image that also reveals his development as an artist and our universal concern with ageing. Kids welcome but parental discretion advised for potentially graphic content. 10am-6pm daily, 10am-10pm (Fri), 10am-8pm (Sat, apart from Nov 23); adult £16 (£18 with donation); child under 16 FREE (Oct 27-Jan 26, 2020)

Thu-Sun: Kew Gardens: Autumn Antics, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AE (Kew Gardens tube/Kew Bridge rail, overground)
Discover the gods, goddesses, explorers and other legends behind plant names. Learn fungi facts, cross the treetop walkway and play in the new Children’s Garden. All ages welcome. 10.30am-3.30pm; School of Comedy workshops 45 mins/storytelling 25 mins; adult from £16.50 online/£18 gate, child from £4.50 online/£6 gate, family from £40 online/£42 gate, child under 4 FREE (until Nov 3)

Thu-Sun: Moving to Mars, Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High St, Kensington, W8 6AG (High St Kensington tube)
We can’t wait to check out this immersive, blockbuster exhibition that takes you right into the heart of the red planet. See 200 objects on display with contributions from NASA, fashion designer Christopher Raeburn, the European Space agency and more. 10am-last entry 5pm; adult £16 weekday/£18 Sat & Sun; child £8 weekday/£9 Sat & Sun; family of 1 adult + 3 kids £24 weekday/£29.30 Sat & Sun; family of 2 adults + 3 kids £36/£41 Sat & Sun (until Feb 23, 2020)

Thu-Sun: Zoo Nation: Some Like it Hip Hop at Peacock Theatre, Holborn Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street,Holborn, WC2A 2HT (Holborn tube)
Zoo Nation’s Some Like it Hip Hop brings a fresh, funky twist to classic movie Some Like it Hot and Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. You and your kids ages 7+ will be grooving in your seats! 7.30pm (Tue-Sat), 2.30pm (Wed & Sat – apart from Nov 6), 2pm & 6pm (Sun); £18-£55/discounts for under 16s (until Nov 9)

Fri-Sun: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Concert at Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP (South Kensington/High St Kensington tube)
It’s probably our favourite film in the series and you can still nab tickets for this epic screening with live music from the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. See Harry fight dragons, swim with merpeople and battle in the Triwizard Tournament. 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 6.30pm, 7.30pm; from £18-£86 (Nov 1-3)

Sat: Family Day: Bauhaus Baby Ballroom, Whitechapel Gallery, 77-82 Whitechapel High St, E1 7QX (Aldgate East tube; Liverpool St tube/rail; Tower Gateway & Shoreditch High St overground)
Mark 100 years of Bauhaus at this family disco meets arts extravaganza. Make geometrical mobiles, Bauhaus badges, abstract costumes and architectural collage. Music, dancing and Bauhaus cocktails on offer. For little people and their grown ups. 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm; FREE but booking required (Nov 2)

Sat: Family Tours at the Houses of Parliament, Westminster SW1A 0AA (Westminster tube)
Here’s an idea for Guy Fawkes Night. Visit the House of Lords and House of Commons chambers, St Stephen’s Hall and Westminster Hall where Guy Fawkes stood trial for attempting to blow the whole shizzle up. Also why not treat yourselves to Afternoon Tea at the Houses of Parliament? All ages welcome, tours are best for ages 7-12. NB: Dates sell out fast, so hurry to book ahead! 10.40am, 1.30pm & 3pm (Sats); adult £19.50/child under 15 FREE (every Sat until Mar 28, 2020; Dec 20, 23, 27 & 30, 2019; Jan 2 & 3, 2020)

Sat: Theatre of Light at East Village, 20 Victory Parade, East Village, London E15 2ER (Stratford tube/rail/overground/DLR)
Get your glow on as the Theatre of Light returns to East Village for an immersive experience of movement, sound and light. The streets and parks of E20 will become an enchanted village, with LED performers, stilt walkers and dazzling illuminations. Hot food and drinks, UV face painting artists on offer. All ages welcome, under 18s must be accompanied by a grown up. 6.30pm-8pm, FREE (Nov 2)

Sun: Diwali in London, Trafalgar Square, WC2 (Charing Cross tube/rail)
Happy Diwali! Celebrate the festival of light at this huge, free party in Trafalgar Square. Enjoy Indian street food, Bollywood dancing, puppet workshops and more family fun for all ages. 1pm-7pm, FREE (Nov 3)

London Kids Cinema

Perfect for Day of the Dead coming up, the fab animated movie Coco is showing at Picturehouse Cinema’s Kids Club screenings at various locations around London.

Find full listings + other pocket-friendly Kids Club listings (films for under £5) on our LONDON FAMILY CINEMA page.

Booking Ahead

Skate at Somerset House (Nov 13-Jan 12)
John Agard: Roll over Atlantic at Little Angel Theatre (Nov 13 & 14)
Jazz for Kids: East Coast Jazz at Royal Albert Hall (Nov 16)
A Christmas Carol at Old Vic Theatre (from Nov 23)
The Ocean at the End of the Lane for ages 12+ at National Theatre (Dec 3-Jan 25)

**NB: Please note that all event timings and prices are subject to change/cancellation at short notice, so always check ahead with the venue before making a trip!**