Watch the Fireworks

Over two nights, approximately one hundred thousand people attend the British Firework Championships in Plymouth. Planning ahead of your visit is essential to find the best viewing spots.

Consider the following questions: Do you want to keep the kids entertained? Do you prefer to park close by without having to walk a long distance? Are nearby restroom facilities important to you? Would you rather watch the fireworks away from large crowds? All these questions and more should be taken into account. Below are some of the main areas for viewing the fireworks.

Home to the main stage and the fun fair, Plymouth Hoe is the main area where people congregate to enjoy the entertainment and watch the fireworks.

Pros for Plymouth Hoe

• Main stage entertainment & official BFC show
• Funfair & all the buzz of the event
• There is a good view of the fireworks

Cons for Plymouth Hoe

• Very crowded & can get rowdy near the funfair
• Chemical Port-A-Loos with long queues

Wrapping around the front of Plymouth Hoe, Hoe Road is closed off from traffic and has great views of the fireworks. There are ice cream vans and other vendors selling food and novelties. You’re close by to the main event happening on Plymouth Hoe.

Pros for Hoe Road

• Good view of fireworks
• Food vans nearby

Cons for Hoe Road

• Gets very busy
• Long queues for Public Toilets

Running from Plymouth Hoe in front of The Royal Citadel and down to The Barbican. The road is closed off to traffic and has the best free views of the fireworks. The grassy slopes up to the Citadel walls fill with photographers from early in the day. The Corinthian’s VIP event sits below Maderia Road and is the best-paid place to watch the fireworks in the city.

Pros for Maderia Road

• Best views of the fireworks
• You’ll get a more knowledgeable crowd (much of the fireworks industry watches from here)

Cons for Maderia Road

• The slopes to the Citadel and best viewing spots fill up early in the day
• It gets busy when the fireworks fire
• There are no toilet facilities at all

Plymouth’s historic Barbican is full of pubs, restaurants and shops. There is a good view of the fireworks near the Mayflower Steps and in front of the National Aquarium.

Pros for The Barbican

• Easy access from city centre car parks and no uphill walk to the Hoe
• Lots of other stuff to see and do in the area

Cons for The Barbican

• There is no information about what is going on with the fireworks
• It gets busy and can get rowdy with all the pubs around
• Long queues at the public toilets
• The pedestrian harbour swing bridge causes severe congestion at times due to all the boat traffic

On the East side (River Plym Side) of Sutton Harbour is the Queen Anne’s Battery. A large pontoon extends out around the boats that is open to the public.

Pros for Queen Anne’s Battery

• Fantastic view of the fireworks
• Great if you’re coming from the East side of Plymouth

Cons for Queen Anne’s Battery

• Gets very busy and there is only one entrance/exit so you may well get stuck in place.
• No facilities
• Limited parking and access

Over on the east side of Plymouth Sound, the large open cliff-top areas are filled with people sitting on chairs or rugs having a party-in-the-park style experience watching the fireworks. Technically you’re watching the back of the fireworks displays fired from Mount Batten breakwater so you may miss some of the forward-facing effects aimed at the Plymouth Hoe viewing audience.

If you are travelling from outside Plymouth it is worth checking if the local football club are doing charity parking otherwise there are limited parking options.

There is a long walk from the parking to the viewing spots and back in darkness so a torch and sturdy footwear is vital.

Pros for Jennycliff

• More relaxed party-in-the-park style experience
• Mainly families and tends to be less rowdy

Cons for Jennycliff

• Difficult to drive to and park
• There are rough tracks and muddy fields in the dark to get to and from the viewing areas.
• Limited facilities and long queues at the public toilets near car parks
• Technically watching the back of the fireworks displays

Plymouth Sound is a natural amphitheatre and the fireworks can be seen from almost anywhere to varying degrees.

A popular place is the Mount Batten area, where you are too close to enjoy the artistry of the fireworks, it’s a more visceral experience of loud bangs!

Another popular place is Mount Edgcumbe Park on the Cornwall side of the Sound. Here you are probably too far away from the fireworks. However, this is another party-in-the-park style experience in beautiful parkland.

Watch each night’s fireworks displays on Visit Plymouth’s YouTube channel the show starts at 9 pm and continues around the displays at 9.30 pm, 10.50 pm and 10.10 pm.