It’s almost that time of year where we light the touch paper and retire a safe distance…or, alternatively, stand around and watch someone else do it.
Guy Fawkes’ legacy has many London links across the ages. On 5 November 1605, Londoners were encouraged to celebrate King James I’s escape from assassination at the hands of Fawkes and his twelve cohorts; over four hundred years later, his inspiration is apparent on the faces of many an Occupy London protester.
After a summer blighted by a night of rioting, Enfield Town will be seeing a second fiery conflagration with next Saturday’s event being held by the local scouts. Kudos goes to Tower Hamlets who will be holding three separate displays across the borough, all of them free. On the other hand, you may want to keep your powder dry for a week and wait for the official Lord Mayor’s Fireworks Display on 12 November.
The harsh economic climate has made its mark again: as per last year, there will be no fireworks over Streatham Common and Alexandra Palace but there will be a display at Brockwell Park to mark the bicentenary of Brockwell Hall.
Please be careful out there: with Bonfire Night falling on a Saturday for the first time in five years, firefighters are expecting it to be busier than usual. If you want to see the fireworks from an even safer distance than most people, or you want to enjoy a panoply of pyrotechnics, there are plenty of vantage points around the capital with good views including Primrose Hill, Greenwich Park and Parliament Hill. Whatever you do, wrap up warm as the BBC are predicting showers and “rather windy conditions”.
All displays are on Saturday 5 November except those marked * (Friday 4 November) and ** (Sunday 6 November).
North London
Enfield Town – £6 adults, £4 children, online discounts available
* Totteridge – £7 adults, £5 children, £20 family
Walker Ground, Southgate – £5 adults, £3 children, £14 family
South London
Battersea Park – £6 adv, £10, under-10s go free
Beckenham – £5, £3 concessions and under-16s, free to under-5s
Brockwell Park, Lambeth - FREE
Blackheath – FREE, donations appreciated
Chislehurst – £6 adults, £3 children (£5/£2.50 adv)
Crystal Palace – £5 adults, £3 children 5-13, free to under-5s
Morden Park, Merton – £7 adults, £5 children 4-16, free to under-4s, £20 family ticket
* Norman Park, Bromley - £5 adults, £3 children 5-16, free to under 5s
* Wimbledon Park, Merton - £7 adults, £5 children 4-16, free to under-4s, £20 family ticket
East London
Barking Park – £5 adults, £1 under-16s
* Barkingside – £4 adults, £2 children, £10 family ticket
Waltham Forest – £4 adults, £3 children
West London
Barnes Sports Club - £10 adults, £5 children, £20 family ticket
Ealing Cricket Club – £6 adults, £4 under-14s
* Kingston – £6 adults, £4 children, fre to under-5s (£4/£3 adv)
Ravenscourt Park – £6, adv £4, free to under-5s
** Richmond – £10 adults, £5 children, £30 family ticket (£8/£5/£25 adv)
Photo (c) Ray Wise from our Flickr pool.
