Where fireworks are photographed most often in Britain
A ranking of the places in the UK where fireworks are photographed most often on Bonfire Night, from Bridgwater to London, plus photography tips.
Popsa compiled a Bonfire Night ranking based on spikes in photographic activity. The Guy Fawkes Carnival in Bridgwater leads the list, followed by Battersea Park and Alexandra Palace.
Where fireworks are photographed most often in the UK
In the US, fireworks are primarily associated with Independence Day on 4 July, while in the UK they are linked to the evening of 5 November, known as Guy Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night. The celebration marks the anniversary of a failed 17th-century plot whose conspirators intended to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Guy Fawkes became widely recognisable thanks to the film V for Vendetta.
The week around Bonfire Night is a good time to practise photographing fireworks. To find out which celebrations across the country attract the most photographers, Popsa, a photo-printing app developer, analysed camera activity during this period.
How the ranking was compiled
Popsa’s data specialists processed anonymised, aggregated metadata from millions of photos taken in autumn 2024 and 2025. For each location, activity during Bonfire Night was compared with the usual level of photography in autumn. This revealed the places where the number of photos increased most noticeably.
Each event was assigned an index from 0 to 100, based on the scale of the activity spike. The highest result was set at 100, and the other scores were calculated relative to it. According to Popsa, the ranking shows not only where people travelled, but also which events they were especially keen to capture.
- Guy Fawkes Carnival in Bridgwater, Somerset
Photography index: 100
The celebrations in Bridgwater end with the age-old tradition of squibbing. More than 150 local residents line the main street, holding fireworks on poles. As they walk through the town, a corridor of sparks and flames forms between them.
The main event takes place on 7 November. Food trucks and fairground rides are set up at St Matthew’s Field.
- Fireworks at Battersea Park, Battersea, London
Photography index: 60
The celebration at Battersea Park has become one of London’s most popular public events. Fireworks are launched by the river, alongside live music, brass bands, fairground rides and street food served in chalet-style stalls.
The two-day event takes place on 7 and 8 November. The fireworks over the Thames are framed by Albert Bridge and the park’s autumn foliage, already turned rich shades of russet and brown.
- Fireworks and Drone Festival at Alexandra Palace, London
Photography index: 37
Alexandra Palace, set at one of north London’s best viewpoints, becomes the venue for a festive show, with fireworks and choreographed drone displays appearing overhead at the same time.
The event runs for two days. The evening of 7 November features a festive programme with fireworks at 20:00, while 8 November is a family day with an earlier show starting at 18:00.
- Bonfire Night in Lewes, East Sussex
Photography index: 35
Lewes’s celebrations are among the most spectacular in the UK. Torchlit processions wind through medieval streets, carrying flaming tar barrels and huge effigies that are later burned in fields outside the town.
Seven local societies each create an effigy every year. They usually depict figures connected to events of the year: in recent years, those portrayed have included former prime ministers Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson.
Procession participants wear striped smugglers’ jumpers and historical costumes, carrying torches through crowded streets. Bonfires and fireworks begin at around 21:00. It is a striking sight for photographers, but train services are suspended and roads are closed on the evening of the celebration to manage the crowds in the narrow streets.
- Fireworks at Sea, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset
Photography index: 35
In Weston-super-Mare, fireworks are launched over the Bristol Channel, near the historic Grand Pier. The coastal scenery provides a striking backdrop for the display. The schedule lists the event for 14 November, starting at 19:30.
- Bonfire and Fireworks in Brockham, Surrey
Photography index: 30
The village of Brockham lies at the foot of the North Downs, near Box Hill. The celebration features a torchlit procession and a large bonfire, culminating in one of the UK’s biggest fireworks displays.
More than four tonnes of pyrotechnics are used in the 12-minute show. The evening begins with torchbearers processing through Brockham, led by the Red Devil and Guy.
The tradition dates back more than a century, to 1888. After the fireworks, a historic roast-pork auction is held, with cuts of meat put up for sale. Torches, the bonfire and fireworks illuminate the surrounding Surrey countryside.
- Fireworks at Leeds Castle, Maidstone, Kent
Photography index: 27
Leeds Castle provides the setting for one of the biggest Bonfire Night celebrations in south-east England. This year’s event is themed “Time”. The programme combines fireworks, music, projections and laser effects across the castle grounds.
- Family Raceday with Fireworks at Ascot, Berkshire
Photography index: 25
On 31 October, Ascot Racecourse combines horse racing with a fireworks display. It is one of the biggest fireworks shows in Berkshire.
- Bonfire and Fireworks Evening at Weston Park, Shropshire
Photography index: 24
The celebration takes place against the backdrop of Weston Park mansion and its 1,000-acre historic estate. Two fireworks displays, a large bonfire and a traditional fair are held here in a single evening.
- Guildford Lions Fireworks Festival, Stoke Park, Guildford
Photography index: 23
The annual festival takes place on 7 November at Stoke Park. Guildford is about half an hour by train from London Waterloo. The event gates open at 17:00.
The programme includes a children’s entertainment area and a light show featuring LED effects. The evening ends with a 20-minute fireworks display featuring specially designed sequences and high-altitude shells.
Photography tips
Popsa has also prepared a guide by photographer Dan Mold on how to photograph fireworks. It covers the basic techniques for capturing festive displays.
