London

Impressive displays are the norm these days and part of the pleasure of the occasion is joining the throng of locals heading for the park beforehand. When the event is over, a brisk exit is advised: once the families have departed, London’s open spaces revert back to being the kind of places you’d be daft to linger in after dark. For information on using fireworks safely, visit the DTI’s website, www.dti.gov.uk/fireworks.

Friday
Bishops Park
Fulham celebrates Guy Fawkes’ Night in traditional style with a funfair and food stalls to accompany the fireworks. The event has a no-alcohol policy and is popular with families with small children. Best place to go if you want to avoid the huge crowds seen at other firework displays in London.
Gates open 6.30pm, children’s show 7.15pm, main show starts 8pm.
Bishops Park, Stevenage Rd, SW6 (020 7736 3854). Parsons Green or Putney Bridge tube. In adv £4, on the day £5, under-5s free.

Brockwell Park
There’s lots of firework fun to be had south of the river with three displays laid on courtesy of Lambeth Council. Join the Herne Hill and Brixton locals for explosive fun and soak up the city-wide views.
Fireworks 7.25pm.
Brockwell Park, Dulwich Rd, SE24 (020 7926 6207). Brixton tube or Herne Hill rail. Free.
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Clapham
This is one of the biggest displays in south London, with some 100,000 visitors. Expect some impressive showers and sparkles – the fireworks are provided by Festival Fireworks, who are winners of the Italian Pyrotechnical Association World Championships.
Fireworks 7.25pm.
Clapham Common, Windmill Drive, SW4 (020 7926 6207). Clapham South tube. Free.

Kingston
It’s a pyromaniac’s delight down in Kingston at this annual community shindig. Gaze in wonder as rockets of all shapes and sizes light up the night sky and bop to the beats provided by local station Radio Jackie. And if that’s not enough to make you go ‘ooh’ there’s also a funfair. Gates open 6.30pm with children’s funfair and competitions, fireworks 8pm.
Kingsmeadow Athletics Ground, 422a Kingston Rd, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 (020 8547 5016). Kingston rail. In adv £4, children (age 5-11) £3; on the day £6/£4.

Streatham
Another south side freebie to celebrate the fact that it’s 402 long years since ol’ Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament with the King inside.
Fireworks 7.25pm.
Streatham Common, Streatham High Rd, SW16 (020 7926 6207). Streatham or Streatham Common rail. Adm free.

Wimbledon Park
Oh and ahh to the beat at this council-funded display where a carefully-selected soundtrack adds to the wintry excitement.
Gates open 5.15pm, fireworks 6.30pm and 8.15pm. Funfair and refreshments. Enter via Home Park Road.
Wimbledon Park, Revelstoke Rd, SW19 (020 8545 3235). Wimbledon Park tube. £7, children £4, under-4s free, family
(2 adults and 2 children) £20.

Saturday
Alexandra Palace
Ally Pally’s annual gunpowder spectacular is back to illuminate the London skyline with some of the finest pyrotechnics in town. A fixture on the fireworks scene for over 100 years, it gets bigger and better each year with ground-level attractions including an indoor funfair, ice rink and an inflatable ‘kiddies kingdom’ plus a beer festival for big kids.
Open 4.30-11pm, fireworks 7.30pm. Enter via the south of the park.
Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, N22 (020 8365 2121). Wood Green tube. 7.30pm. Adm free.

Barking Park
Barking’s annual firework display is a fully local affair. The family-friendly fun includes a concert from 6pm to showcase local talent. First stop Barking Fireworks, next stop X-Factor?
Gates (Longbridge Road Main and Middle Gates only) open at 5.30pm, concert stage from 6pm, fireworks 8pm.
Barking Park, Longbridge Rd, Barking, IG11 (020 8215 3006). Barking tube. £5, under-16s with paying adult £1.

Battersea Park
This is a biggie. 50,000 revellers are expected to crane their necks while Wandsworth’s council’s annual display lights up the night sky. All the traditional trimmings are there with toffee apples, roasted chestnuts, mulled wine and, erm, a Mediterranean barbeque. There’s a huge bonfire to warm fingers and toes and a tasteful (hopefully) musical score
Gates open 6.30pm, bonfire lit 7.30pm, fireworks 8pm. Hot toddies and food available.
Battersea Park, Albert Bridge Rd, SW11 (020 8871 7534). Battersea Park rail. £5, under 10s £1.

Blackheath
Penny for the guy? Not here in Blackheath, where entry to this family-friendly display is free. Other attractions at Shooters Hill include food stalls and children’s rides.
Fireworks 8pm.
Blackheath, Shooters Hill Rd, SE3 (020 8314 7730). Greenwich DLR or Blackheath rail. Free.

Brentwood
This huge display will be set to pop and classical music and features a hot air balloon display as well as some impressive fireworks. Thrills and spills galore with the funfair.
Gates open 4.30pm, fireworks 8pm. Funfair, arts and crafts, hot-air balloons and free parking.
Brentwood Centre Leisure Complex, Doddinghurst Rd, Brentwood, CM15 (01277 226 624). Brentwood rail. £6, children £4
(accompanied children free before 6pm).

Leeds Castle
Jousting, sword-fighting and fire-eating with a fireworks finale.
Sat & Sun 1-7pm.
Leeds Castle, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 (0870 600 8880). Bearsted rail. £15, children £10, under-4s free.

Lord Mayor's Show Fireworks
Sat Nov 10: Fireworks 5pm. If you can't make it to any of the Guy Fawkes events there's no need to miss out. This display from a barge moored in the Thames accompanies the annual Lord Mayor's Show procession. Watch from the banks or grab a prime position on one of the bridges.
Nov 3-10, Between Waterloo and Blackfriars bridges. Free

Morden Park
An interesting one this. Not content with the usual sparklers and bangers, the organisers have given it a suitably suburban theme – ‘Celebrating Scouting’s Centenary’. Uniforms are not required.
Gates open 5.15 pm, bonfires lit 6.45pm and 8.15pm, fireworks 7.15pm and 8.30pm. Funfair open until 10pm.
Morden Park, London Rd, SM4 (020 8545 3956). Morden. £7, children £4, under-4s free.

Moss Hall School Fireworks
Gates open 5.30pm and close 6.45pm, fireworks 7pm. Refreshments and licensed bar.
Moss Hall School, Nether St, N3 1NR (020 8445 7965). £4.

Ravenscourt Park
West London's Bonfire Night revellers flock to this display set in the 32-acre Ravenscourt Park. A million pounds’ worth of fireworks will go off with a bang, lighting up the west London sky in spectacular fashion. Like Bishops Park, this is a booze-free event and has a funfair.
Gates open 6.30pm, children’s fireworks 7.15pm, main fireworks 8pm.
Ravenscourt Park, Ravenscourt Rd, W6 (020 8753 2164). Ravenscourt Park tube. £5, concs for adv tickets, under-5s free.

Sanderstead Recreation Ground
Known locally as The Rec, the Sanderstead parkland once again lights up for the area’s annual firework display.
Gates open 5pm, bonfire lit 7.30pm.
Sanderstead Recreation Ground, Limpsfield Road, Croydon, CR2 (020 8686 4433). 403, 412 bus. £4, under-4s free.

Victoria Park
Pyrotechnic maestros Walk the Plank will be setting the oohs and ahhs to music in east London’s most impressive park. There are also fire sculptures and 100ft-high dazzling special effects. Funfair and food stalls of all varieties.
Fireworks 7.30-8pm. Disabled parking only. Entry via Grove Road and Old Ford Road only.
Victoria Park, Old Ford Rd, E3 (020 7364 7907/www.towerhamletsarts.org.uk). Bethnal Green tube. Free.

Sunday
Leeds Castle
Jousting, sword-fighting and fire-eating with a fireworks finale .
Sat & Sun 1-7pm.
Leeds Castle, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 (0870 600 8880). Bearsted rail. £15, children £10, under-4s free.

Richmond Athletic Ground
A dazzling display with a grown-up twist. There’s a popular soundtrack, a bar and a whole hog roast to feast on.
Gates open 5pm, fireworks 6.15pm. Music, hog roast and refreshments.
Richmond Athletic Ground, Kew Foot Rd, Richmond, TW9 (020 8940 0397). Richmond tube. £8, family ticket £25.

Monday
Roundwood Park
One of the few firework displays to take place actually on November 5. There's fairground fun and reggae sounds courtesy of the legendary Channel One Sound System.
Roundwood Park, Harlesden Rd, NW10 (020 8937 5619). Dollis Hill tube. Free.