By James Whitmore, Editor-in-Chief
Last updated: 7 October 2026
Bonfire Night in London is one of the few nights of the year when the city's big night out starts outdoors. You stand in a cold park, watch thousands of pounds of fireworks go up, and then the question is what to do with the rest of the evening. This guide plans the whole night: which display suits a night out, how to time the gap between the last rocket and the club doors, what to wear for both, and where to go afterwards.
The short version for 2026: Bonfire Night itself falls on a Thursday, but most of the big displays run on the weekend after it, so the real party night is Saturday 7 November.
When Bonfire Night Falls in 2026
Bonfire Night is Thursday 5 November 2026. A handful of displays run on the night itself, but the large ticketed shows have moved to the weekend: according to Time Out's guide to this year's displays, Alexandra Palace and Battersea Park both run on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November, and Blackheath runs on Saturday 7 November only.
That gives you two very different nights to choose from:
| Night | What is on | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 5 November | Smaller and free local displays, including Coram's Fields | A midweek night out in the West End |
| Saturday 7 November | Alexandra Palace, Battersea Park, Blackheath | The full fireworks-then-club night |
| Sunday 8 November | Family-focused sessions at Alexandra Palace and Battersea Park | A calmer evening, or a Sunday club night |
If the club matters as much as the fireworks, plan around the Saturday. It has the biggest displays, the latest trains and the most clubs open.
Pick the Display That Suits the Night Out
The best display for a night out is not always the biggest one. It is the one that gets you to a good club without a ninety-minute journey in between. Here is how the main options line up, with details as of October 2026.
Alexandra Palace, North London
The Alexandra Palace Fireworks Festival runs on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November. On the Saturday the fireworks start at 8pm, the night is headlined by Eats Everything with a drone show alongside, and tickets start from £18, according to Time Out's report on the 2026 festival. That DJ headliner makes the Saturday the most night-out friendly display in London: the party has already started before you leave the park.
The nearest stations are Alexandra Palace on the overground rail line and Wood Green on the Piccadilly line. The Piccadilly line runs straight into the West End, which makes a Mayfair or Soho finish easy.
Battersea Park, South-West London
Battersea Park runs on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November, with the Saturday as the main fireworks and bonfire night and the Sunday aimed at families. It is one of the largest displays in the capital, so expect a crowd. Battersea Park station and the Northern line at Battersea Power Station are the main exits, and both connect quickly to the West End.
Blackheath, South-East London
Blackheath runs on Saturday 7 November only, with adult tickets at £16 as of October 2026, per Time Out. It has a festival feel, with music and entertainment on site. Getting back into central London means a train from Blackheath station, so allow extra time for queues after the display finishes.
Coram's Fields, Bloomsbury
If you want to mark the actual date, Coram's Fields in Bloomsbury runs a free display on Thursday 5 November, with the fireworks at 6pm. It is the most central display on the list: from Bloomsbury you are a short taxi or tube ride from Soho and Mayfair, so it works as an early start before dinner and a midweek club night.
Timing the Gap Between Fireworks and Club
The main Saturday displays finish well before any club opens. Fireworks go up at around 8pm and most of London's central clubs open their doors at 11pm, which leaves roughly three hours to fill.
Use that window well:
- Leave the park without rushing. Tens of thousands of people leave the big displays at the same moment, and stations near the park can operate queues. Waiting twenty minutes for the crowd to thin often gets you into town faster than joining the crush.
- Eat properly. A long cold evening outdoors followed by a late club night is a recipe for flagging by 1am. Book dinner near the club rather than near the park, so the last leg of the journey is done before you sit down.
- Arrive at the club early. On a busy weekend the doors are calmest between 11pm and midnight. Groups that arrive late on a peak night are the ones who wait outside.
If you are planning the evening around a film or a show rather than fireworks, the same structure applies: our guide to turning a film into a night out works through the timing in detail.
Dress for a Cold Park and a Smart Door
This is the part most groups get wrong. A fireworks display means standing on wet grass in November, and a Mayfair club means a smart dress code at the door. The two do not naturally overlap.
A few rules that solve it:
- Layer over the club outfit. Wear what you plan to wear in the club and put a warm coat over it, rather than dressing for the park and hoping the door will be lenient.
- Think about shoes. Muddy trainers will not get past a strict Mayfair door. Clean, smart shoes that you can stand in for an hour are the safest choice, or carry a pair to change into.
- Travel light. A big coat goes into the cloakroom, but bags of spare clothes are awkward on a packed train and inside a busy club.
Where to Go After: Saturday 7 November
Saturday is when almost every central London club is open, so the choice is wide. Based on the opening nights each venue lists as of October 2026, these are open on the Saturday, all from around 11pm:
- Cirque Le Soir in Soho, the circus-themed club, for a high-energy finish with performers in the room.
- Tape on Hanover Square, for hip hop, RnB and a famously busy Saturday.
- Maddox Club in Mayfair, a dependable Saturday choice for groups.
- Scotch of St James in Mason's Yard, with its music-history pedigree and a slightly older crowd.
- Dear Darling in St James's and Selene in Fitzrovia, both open on Saturdays.
Coming from Battersea or Blackheath and want to stay south of the river? Ministry of Sound in Elephant & Castle is the big-room alternative to a Mayfair table: check what is programmed that weekend before you go. From Alexandra Palace, Camden and KOKO are closer than Mayfair if you would rather keep the journey short.
Thursday 5 November: Bonfire Night Itself
For the date itself, pair the free Coram's Fields display with a midweek West End night. Fewer clubs open on a Thursday, but as of October 2026 Maddox Club, Scotch of St James and Dear Darling all list Thursday as an opening night. A Thursday is also a quieter door than a Saturday, which suits smaller groups and anyone who would rather not queue.
Booking a Table on a Fireworks Weekend
Bonfire weekend is a busy Saturday in a busy month, with Halloween the weekend before and the festive season about to start. Tables at the best-known clubs go early, particularly for larger groups. If you know where you want to finish, book before the weekend rather than on the night, and give the venue your real arrival time so the table is held.
Our table booking service covers the clubs above. Tell us the date, the size of the group, which display you are going to and roughly when you expect to arrive, and we will match you with a club that suits the route home as well as the mood.
The best fireworks night out in London is planned in two halves: a display that is easy to leave, and a club that is easy to reach. Get those two right and the hours in between take care of themselves. To have the second half arranged before the first rocket goes up, message us on WhatsApp and we will handle the club.