Sussex takes Bonfire Night seriously. Torchlit processions, giant bonfires, fireworks choreographed to music: the county has been at it for centuries, and from late October through to the second weekend of November there are plenty of displays to see. We've picked six worth planning a trip around, from the famously intense to the family-friendly.
Midhurst also has an odd link to the whole tradition. Guy Fawkes briefly worked as a footman at Cowdray House, and The Spread Eagle adds its own legend. Fawkes reputedly stayed with us, and local lore says he met other conspirators here. We can't prove the plot was hatched in front of the inglenook fireplace, but we won't rule it out.
Dates and prices below were checked against each organiser's own page in early October 2026. Things move, so check before you travel.
Lewes Bonfire Night
Lewes isn't one display. It's six societies, each with its own costumes, routes and fire site, all moving through the same narrow streets at once. Expect burning crosses, marching bands, effigies and a lot of smoke. It's loud, crowded and unlike anything else in England.
It marks the Gunpowder Plot, but it also remembers the 17 Protestant martyrs burned in the High Street between 1555 and 1557, which is why you'll see burning crosses carried through the streets.
Be aware that the organisers ask people who don't live in Lewes not to come. Road closures begin at 4:45pm, while trains stop calling from 5pm until services resume the following morning.
Date & Time: Thursday 5 November 2026. Processions start around 5pm and run until about 1am, with the big combined procession around 9pm.
Venue: Lewes town centre, with separate fire sites run by each of the town's six bonfire societies.
Cost/Tickets: Watching the processions from the street is free. Entry to the fire sites is ticketed and sold in advance by the individual societies, so prices vary.
Cuckfield Park Bonfire & Fireworks
Cuckfield has an older bonfire tradition, but the present event dates to 1987. The mayor of Cuckfield lights a very large fire, and a professional display follows, choreographed to music.
Local schoolchildren build guys beforehand, and they're judged on the night. The money raised goes to local schools and charities. It's also within a short walk of one of our hotels, Ockenden Manor, which matters more than you'd think. The car parks tend to fill up, and long traffic jams can build outside the village.
Date & Time: Saturday 7 November 2026. Gates open at 5.30pm, the bonfire is lit at 6.45pm and the fireworks to music start at 7.30pm.
Venue: Cuckfield Park, South Street, Cuckfield, RH17 5AB.
Cost/Tickets: Tickets are £12 for adults, £5 for children (under-5s free) and £30 for a family. Parking is available at the gates or can be booked in advance at Warden Park School.
Littlehampton Bonfire Society
This is the nearest bonfire to Bailiffscourt, a short drive along the coast. It's the society's 74th year, and the organisers say it's set to be the biggest yet, with 50 entries in the procession: carnival floats, marching bands and visiting bonfire societies from across Sussex.
The fireworks only last around ten minutes, so the procession is the main event. Expect lots of lit torches.
Date & Time: Saturday 24 October 2026. The war memorial service is at 6pm and the Grand Torchlight Procession leaves at about 7.30pm. The bonfire is lit around 9pm, and the fireworks and short return procession follow.
Venue: Littlehampton town centre and seafront. The fireworks are fired from the Promenade by Banjo Road.
Cost/Tickets: Free entry (donations encouraged via street collections or buying an official programme).
Heyshott Bonfire
A small village bonfire that has run since 1953, a few miles south of The Spread Eagle in Midhurst. A torchlit procession winds from Hoyle Lane to the green, the children get a Punch and Judy show, and the pub and food stalls stay busy. It's gentler than Lewes and much smaller than Ardingly.
Date & Time: Saturday 14 November 2026, from 7pm
Venue: Heyshott Village Green, opposite the Unicorn Inn, Heyshott, near Midhurst, GU29 0DL.
Cost/Tickets: Entry runs on donations. Last year was called off for unforeseen circumstances, so check before you set off.
Sussex Cricket Fireworks Night, Hove
Fireworks over a county cricket ground, with the pre-show handled by Elton John and Dua Lipa tribute acts. The first 200 children under 16 through the gates get a free goody bag, and the Sixes Social Cricket bar stays open if you fancy a pre-show net.
You can bring snacks and water but not alcohol, hot food or picnics. Proceeds support the Sussex Cricket Foundation.
Date & Time: Saturday 7 November 2026. Gates open at 5pm, pre-show music starts at 5.15pm, and the fireworks begin at around 7pm.
Venue: The 1st Central County Ground, Eaton Road, Hove, BN3 3AN.
Cost/Tickets: Standing tickets are £10 for adults and £7.50 for under-16s. Under-3s are free but need a ticket. Early bird pricing ends on 8 October.
South of England Showground Fireworks, Ardingly
The biggest production of the six. Illusion Fireworks fires a pyromusical display, meaning it's choreographed to a soundtrack on a stadium-sized sound system, and DJ Swifty hosts the evening.
At 7.30pm thousands of glowsticks and lights come on at once, just before the main show, which ends with a fireball finale. Around it there's a funfair with 30+ rides, monster truck passenger rides, street food and licensed bars. The early low-noise show is a great option for small children.
Date & Time: Saturday 24 October 2026. Car parks open at 3pm and gates at 4pm. A quieter children's display starts at 6.30pm and the main show at 7.40pm. Everything finishes at 9pm.
Venue: South of England Showground, Selsfield Road, Ardingly, RH17 6TL.
Cost/Tickets: General release is £15 for adults, £12.50 for children aged 3 to 15, and £50 for a family of four. Under-3s are free. Parking is booked by arrival slot. Dogs aren't allowed.
Tips for Attending
Most of these sell out or close roads by mid-afternoon. At Ardingly, the organisers want you there by 5.30pm, and the cheaper parking slots go to early arrivals. Lewes is best reached on foot or by train. If you're staying with us, ask the team about the quickest route and the best time to leave.
Late October and early November evenings in Sussex are cold, and a field or cricket ground holds the damp. Bring boots, a hat, gloves and a waterproof. Small umbrellas are allowed at Hove, but they have to come down once the display starts.
Displays can change with the weather. Check the organiser's website or social media on the day. Also look at what you're allowed to bring, as events may vary.
Making a Weekend of It
Cuckfield's bonfire is a few minutes from Ockenden Manor, the Elizabethan house on the edge of the village, so you can watch the display and walk back to a log fire and a hot dinner.
Ardingly and Lewes are both within a short drive, which makes Ockenden Manor a handy base if you want to see more than one. Take a look at the current offers before you book.
If you'd rather build a longer trip around the season, Bailiffscourt in Climping is a short drive from Littlehampton's torchlit procession, so you can watch it and be back inside afterwards.
The Spread Eagle in Midhurst, a coaching inn dating back to 1430, is a few miles from Heyshott's village green and puts you in the South Downs for a November walk.
