Autumn was built for bonfires so grab your flannel and find your way to Great Britain for Bonfire Night 2023.
This national celebration—also called Guy Fawkes Night (but never Guy Fox Night!)—commemorates the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605 when the eponymous man failed to blow up Parliament and the King.
If visions of V for Vendetta come to mind, you’re not too far off.
Take a trip across the pond for the 5th of November powder keg of fun and celebrate Guy Fawkes Night in the UK.
Image Credit: Getty Images, oversnap. Image Location: Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, London
Guy Fox or Guy Fawkes?
A common misspelling for us Americans, who would pronounce the two spellings more or less the same. The name of the celebration on November 5th is Guy Fawkes Night.
Get to know Guy Fawkes: namesake of Guy Fawkes Day aka Bonfire Night
What did Guy Fawkes do?
It’s not so much what Guy Fawkes did, but what he tried to do. By the 17th century, it was pretty much illegal to be a Catholic in Protestant England under King James I. Fawkes and a group of other Catholics planned to blow up Parliament, assassinate James I, and pray that the king’s daughter would marry a Catholic when she took the throne. The plan is known as the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 and was foiled when an anonymous tip led to Fawkes’ discovery and capture before he could light the barrels of gunpowder beneath the House of Lords.
What is Bonfire Night in Britain?
Bonfire Night is celebrated on the 5th of November in Britain. It’s also known as Guy Fawkes Day and commemorates the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605 in which Guy Fawkes and his Catholic co-conspirators attempted to assassinate the Protestant King and his ministers in Parliament. It’s celebrated with bonfires and fireworks displays.
Why is Guy Fawkes Day celebrated?
Despite the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 failing, it’s still celebrated annually on the 5th of November. The commemoration began on the first anniversary of the plot, with Brits celebrating Fawkes’ failure by lighting fireworks, effigies, and bonfires.
Is Bonfire Night celebrated in all of the UK?
No, Guy Fawkes Day is only celebrated in England, Scotland, and Wales. So all of Great Britain celebrates Guy Fawkes Day, but Northern Ireland (which completes the territory of the UK) doesn’t celebrate it. Northern Ireland celebrates an unrelated “bonfire night” in July.
Is V for Vendetta movie based on Guy Fawkes?
Yes, the 2005 film V for Vendetta was inspired by the story of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. However, there’s a lot of fiction compared to fact. The writers of the graphic novel pulled inspiration from numerous historical accounts, including totalitarian regimes around the world. While Guy Fawkes mask symbolizes the real figure from history, you should watch or read V For Vendetta as a fun piece of fantasy, not historical fiction.
Where are the best Bonfire Night fireworks displays in London 2023?
You can see the best Bonfire Night fireworks displays in 2023 throughout London. Battersea Park and Chiswick Park are popular spots, as are Wimbledon Park, Alexandra Palace, and Crystal Palace Park.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Andrea Pucci. Image Location: Hammersmith Bridge, London
Finding the best fireworks displays in London on Bonfire Night 2023
Looking for where to celebrate Guy Fawkes Night 2023 in London? Here are a few Bonfire Night fireworks displays you don’t want to miss in 2023.
Battersea Park
Closest station: Battersea Park | Battersea Power Station
With the new Battersea Power Station shopping center just opened last year, Battersea Park is a great place to check out a hip new shopping experience in London and see one of the larger Guy Fawkes Night firework shows.
Wimbledon Park
Closest station: Wimbledon Park
Wimbledon may have passed this year but you should certainly pay a visit to Wimbledon Park for their music-focused event, fireworks and light show to give an alternative presentation to the traditional bonfire display.
Alexandra Palace
Closest station: Alexandra Palace
A little out of the way unless you’re a Tottenham Hotspurs fan (or visiting when the NFL comes to London), the Bonfire Night at Alexandra Palace is worth the train ride. For your extra minutes spent, you’ll be rewarded with a two-day laser, fireworks, and drone show, beer, bonfires, and views of London’s skyline.
Prefer to celebrate Bonfire Night in Britain beyond London? We can help. Download the Trainline app and buy a cheap train ticket to hundreds of destinations around Great Britain.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Franckreporter. Image Location: Tower Bridge, London