Lewes Bonfire Night: How to Get There and Where to Stay

“The Lewes Bonfire Night is one of the most popular events in the small town of Lewes and brings together thousands of visitors. The event is a combination of politics and religion, complete with bonfires, fireworks and other fire-themed displays.

If you’re planning to attend Lewes Bonfire Night, here’s all you need to know.

What is the Lewes Bonfire Night?
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On November 5th, or the 4th if the 5th falls on a Sunday, Lewes in East Sussex stages the elaborate Lewes Bonfire, which is a celebration of the Guy Fawkes Gunpowder Plot. The Gunpowder Plot was an assassination attempt on King James the I by a group of English Catholics, who planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament in an act of revolt.

The event commemorates the failed assassination of King James the I, as well as the deaths of martyrs in the town who died defending their faith and country.

The town has six Bonfire Societies that put together processions to parade through the town, all with themes like Tudors, pioneers, buccaneers and Vikings. Each society makes several processions before coming together for the grand procession. After the processions, each society has a fire site for a bonfire and fireworks display.

The processions also have floats, or tableaus, that depict a villainous person from the recent year in a comical caricature. There are also burning crosses, fireworks and flaming effigies.

Fire Site Tickets and Programmes
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The town has multiple fire sites and events, so it’s important to plan your time to ensure you see what you want to see. You can get tickets and programmes to the events from local pubs or the Lewes tourist information centre. If you don’t have a ticket to an event, you won’t be allowed to enter.

All of the Lewes Bonfire Societies fireworks displays are spectacular, but you’ll likely need to choose an event to attend. The Cliffe has a traditional display with aerials, a bonfire, clergy and topical tableaus. The Southover Bonfire Society has aerials and extravagant displays, so it’s less than ideal for families with children.

Both the South Street Bonfire Society and Waterloo Bonfire Society are suitable for families with children, as well as first-time attendees. People with mobility issues and adaptive equipment may wish to watch the displays from an off-site location.

The Cliffe Bridge has an excellent view of the different processions and displays. Southover High Street has a lively atmosphere with fewer crowds, but you’ll only see the Southover Bonfire Society procession. If you want the full experience of the crowds and festivities, you can stay near the Lewes Cliff Bridge or the Lewes War Memorial.

How to Get to Lewes Bonfire Night
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The Lewes Bonfire Night is a hotly anticipated event that draws a lot of crowds, so you should plan your attendance in advance.

Trains won’t travel to Falmer, Glynde, Cooksbridge, Lewes, London Road and Moulsecoomb from midday until the end of the service on November 4th, due to public safety. You can take a bus between London Road, Brighton, Falmer and Moulsecoomb, but the buses are expected to be busy.

There are several road closures, so buses won’t service stops between Hope-in-the-Valley and Barn Rise. During this time, eastbound services will divert via the A27 and Cuilfail Tunnel. The buses then head right and serve the stop in Malling Hill before resuming the normal route.

Westbound services are unable to service stops in Barn Rise and Phoenix Causeway to Hope-in-the-Valley. During this time, the services will use the A26 and the bus stops in Malling Hill to reach Brighton, and will then operate via the Cuilfail Tunnel to Kingstonridge.

Most attendees take public transport, but if you choose to drive to the bonfire sites, you may have trouble parking. Once the road closures begin, you won’t be able to travel with your car until after 2 a.m.

Tips for Attending the Lewes Bonfire Night
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The Lewes Bonfire Night is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but it’s also a crowded atmosphere with fire and other hazards. It’s important to be respectful of the event participants and avoid getting in the way of a procession.

It can cold at night as well, so be sure to wear plenty of warm layers, waterproof clothing and socks. You may even want to bring a backpack with additional socks, gloves, scarves or clothing in case you get cold. It’s also advised to bring ear and eye protection for you safety.

If you’re planning to attend the Lewes Bonfire Night, Expedia can help. Take a look at Lewes hotels to get a great deal on your accommodation and prepare for your fun bonfire night!”