Host Your Own
Fireworks Night

In England, Scotland and Wales you can set off fireworks until 11pm most nights, midnight on Bonfire Night, and 1am on New Year's Eve and Diwali. You must be 18+ to buy and use fireworks. Full law guide →

Give neighbours at least 48 hours notice — especially if they have babies, young children, anxious pets or PTSD. A quick knock or text goes a long way and avoids complaints.

Only buy CE-marked fireworks from a licensed retailer. Find your nearest authorised seller on FireworkFinder → Avoid online marketplaces or unbranded products.

Clear a large flat area away from buildings, fences, trees and overhead cables. Mark a safety perimeter. Have a bucket of water and a garden hose ready. Store unused fireworks in a closed metal tin.

Read all instructions before you start. Plan your sequence — build from small to big, save your best for last. Lay fireworks out in order so you're not fumbling in the dark.

Use a taper or long firework lighter. Light at arm's length, retire immediately, and keep spectators at the distances stated on each firework. Never return to a lit firework — wait 5 minutes, then soak in water.

Soak all spent fireworks in water before binning. Don't leave debris on the ground — it's a hazard for children and animals the next day. Dispose of cold, wet fireworks in a sealed bag in your general waste bin.