November is famous for Bonfire Night, a British tradition on the 5th that celebrates the fact that Guy Fawkes was prevented from blowing up the Houses of Parliament. In Britain, we celebrate this by grabbing a warm drink and watching fireworks and bonfires with friends and family. Some places do this better than others and so I thought I would put together a local guide to the top bonfire nights in Oxfordshire that you could go this year to make it a memorable evening.
Henley Spooktacular Bonfire and Fireworks
Head on down to our local town of Henley on the 28th of October for a fusion of both Halloween and Bonfire Night. Adults cost £14.00 per person whereas children cost £8.00 (family passes of £35.00 are available too). This is one of the more expensive listings, however, Henley is so beautiful that we think it is worth it.
Abingdon Airfield Fireworks
On the 11th November at 19:00, head on down to Abingdon, one of the nicest and oldest towns in Oxfordshire. Alike Henley, the atmosphere is guaranteed to be lovely, but the pricing is slightly cheaper as adults cost £12.00 and children cost £6.00. Family tickets also cost £28.00, which means that you could save almost a third if you came here instead of Henley. It depends where you live though as, obviously, petrol isn’t exactly cheap at the moment!
South Park, Oxford
Perhaps the biggest display on the list, the Round Table at Oxford put on a spectacular display each year which rivals any other in the country. This takes place on the 4th of November. Tickets are also relatively cheap too, with general admission for an adult being £10, but you can choose to increase this to £14 if you include Park and Ride. Children are only £5. My only recommendation is that you buy tickets (and quickly) and arrive early (gates open at 16:30) to avoid the inevitable long queue.
Wallingford
Easily the best value for money as this display on the 4th of November is free. Yes, you read that right and, as a person who has visited before, I can genuinely say that it does not feel like a free display; it is great. Donations to the local charity 1155 are recommended as a lot of the fireworks here are from a local award-winning company. Overall, a fantastic option where all money goes to a good cause or, if you want a free night out for the family, this one is for you – and who doesn’t love freebies!
Witney Lakes, Witney
Witney brings back its annual display on the 3rd of November and, again, compared to Henley it is cheap. Adults are charged £12.50, whereas children are only charged £5 (family comes in at £30.00). This is a great option for those readers who are slightly more towards the Cotswolds and, whilst not as cheap as Wallingford, Witney provides an excellent option for those who are looking to save a bit of cash at the moment.
Thame Fireworks Display, Chinnor RFC
This year, three primary schools around Thame have come together to bring you a terrific firework display and Bonfire night on the 5th of November. Adults cost £6.50, whereas children cost £3.50. Being one of the cheapest on the list, this is perfect for those who are towards the Watlington / Thame area, as well as those slightly further afield who simply want great fireworks and to support a good cause.
Deddington
Another top bonfire night in Oxfordshire has to go to Deddington, a small parish in the county. A ticket at the gate costs £6.00 per person (infants free), with a family ticket coming in at £16.00. This takes place on the 4th again at 19:00 and promises spectacular fireworks, bonfires and glow sticks (!). There is even a fire engine for that ironic twist.
Didcot
Last on the list is Didcot, a now reasonably-large town just outside of Wallingford. The display takes place on the 3rd and they have gone for a family theme, where tickets are £10.00 a head and £5 for children. As well as the usual fireworks and bonfires, there also promises to be a fairground for extra fun whilst you are out and about.
Oxfordshire has some great displays and these are the main ones. There are also some excellent ones out in Buckinghamshire and Berkshire if you are more over in that direction. For now though, I hope that you found this useful and that you have a fantastic evening filled with awe and mulled wine!
Until the next time,
Love Victoria x
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Other posts that may help you:
- What to do in Henley-on-Thames
- Days Out in Southern England
- Going Local | Exploring Midsomer
- Autumn around Oxfordshire
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