Lewes Bonfire Night named among UK’s most photographed displays
Lewes Bonfire Night has been named the UK’s fourth most photographed Bonfire Night display in a new study.
The findings, released by photo book and memory app Popsa, place Lewes among the country’s leading Bonfire Night destinations, behind Bridgwater in Somerset and London’s Battersea Park and Alexandra Palace.
Lewes recorded a photo index score of 35, putting it level with Weston-super-Mare’s Fireworks at Sea and highlighting the appeal of the town’s long-established traditions.
Unlike many modern fireworks events, Lewes Bonfire Night is known for its torchlit processions through the town’s historic streets, flaming tar barrels and large effigies, which are carried through the crowds before being burned at bonfire sites outside the town centre.
Seven local bonfire societies take part in the celebrations, producing effigies that often reflect current affairs and prominent figures. Participants also wear distinctive historical costumes, including striped smugglers’ jumpers, as thousands of spectators gather to watch the processions.
The combination of fire, costumes and packed medieval streets provides a striking backdrop for photographers, helping Lewes secure its position in the national rankings.
Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival in Somerset was named the UK’s most photographed Bonfire Night celebration, rising two places from its 2024 position to claim the top spot.
Its centuries-old squibbing tradition, in which more than 150 people carry fireworks on poles to create a tunnel of sparks along the high street, was highlighted as a distinctive feature of the event.
London’s Battersea Park Fireworks came second, followed by Alexandra Palace Fireworks and Drone Festival in third place.
Other events in the top 10 included Brockham Bonfire in Surrey, Leeds Castle Fireworks Spectacular in Kent, Ascot Fireworks Spectacular in Berkshire, and the Guildford Lions Firework Festival.
Popsa’s data science team analysed anonymised, aggregated metadata from millions of photographs taken during autumn 2024 and 2025.
The team compared photo activity at each location during the Bonfire Night period with its typical activity during autumn to identify places experiencing the biggest increases in photography.
Each location was then assigned a score on an index running from zero to 100, with the highest-ranked display receiving a score of 100.