Edenbridge Bonfire

What to expect

The torchlit procession sets off along the High Street at 6.30pm, led by the society's own effigies of Guy Fawkes, General Wolfe and Anne Boleyn, with hundreds of marchers from local groups. It ends at the Recreation Ground on Lingfield Road, where there are fairground rides, food and drink stalls and a DJ. The fireworks start at 8.30pm, and during the display two 11-metre effigies, Guy Fawkes and the Celebrity Guy, are destroyed with gunpowder and flame.

The story behind it

Edenbridge has marked bonfire night for close to a century, but the celebrity effigy began in the mid-1990s after the society could no longer light a huge bonfire on the recreation ground. It turned to giant figures instead, and has been poking fun at the famous and the infamous ever since. Past targets include Boris Johnson, Donald Trump, Liz Truss with a lettuce, Sadiq Khan and Anne Robinson. In 2024 it was Ticketmaster over the Oasis ticket row, and in 2025 an 11-metre Keir Starmer, who grew up in nearby Oxted.

Getting there and home

Edenbridge has two stations: Edenbridge Town, on the Southern line from London Bridge and East Croydon to Uckfield, and Edenbridge, on the Redhill to Tonbridge line. Edenbridge Town is the closer of the two to the High Street. The High Street closes from 6pm to 10pm. Parking is limited, so arrive early or come by train, and check for engineering works before travelling.

Watching, taking part and tips

The procession is made up of local organisations; visitors watch from the High Street pavements for free. The fireworks and effigy burning take place in the Recreation Ground, which needs a ticket. The society says tickets go on sale in local shops from early October and can also be bought on the night. It is a family-friendly night, but the bangs are big, so ear defenders help with younger children. Wear warm layers and sensible shoes for the field.

Where to watch

Here's a handy detail from the organisers' FAQ: the procession turns in the Waitrose car park and comes back up the High Street, so you get a second look before it finishes by Station Approach. That's worth knowing when you pick your spot, as there's no need to chase the same group along the pavement after it first goes by. Check the procession map for the current route, and follow the stewards if an area needs keeping clear.

Getting to the fireworks is a separate step. The FAQ lists entrances at Coomb Field off Lingfield Road and opposite Waitrose on Mont St Aignan Way; check the instructions with your field ticket before deciding which to use. A good roadside spot won't necessarily be near the easiest entrance for your group. The organisers aim for an approximate fireworks start, depending on everyone reaching the field safely, so give yourself time for the changeover rather than taking the end of the parade as a signal to rush.

Eating and drinking

Food and soft drinks are on sale on the fireworks field, says the society's FAQ. The alcohol rule couldn't be clearer: alcohol is banned on the bonfire field, and the organisers say security will confiscate it and ask whoever was carrying it to leave. Bear that in mind when you pack, before you get to the gate; a restaurant booking or a drink bought elsewhere doesn't change the rule.

If you need a particular dietary option, ask the society what the field traders can offer, rather than assuming every stall has an alternative. We'd suggest deciding in advance whether the field food is a snack or your evening meal. If you're heading out to Chiddingstone during the day, the National Trust points to both Chiddingstone Café and the Castle Inn, with the café serving breakfast, lunch and cakes. Check each one's own opening times before building it into a bonfire-night plan.

Make a day of it nearby

Chiddingstone is close by and shows you a very different side of the area before the torches come out. The National Trust looks after this Tudor one-street village, with buildings going back to the fifteenth century, and points out the large sandstone Chiding Stone as a local landmark. Take your time over the buildings rather than treating it as just another place to park. The Trust warns of narrow pavements, cobbles, uneven surfaces and steps into the shop and inn, so think about whether it suits everyone in your party.

On a longer stay, Hever Castle and Gardens is another possibility: Anne Boleyn's childhood home, set in 125 acres of grounds. Check the castle's opening calendar for the day you have in mind. The programme we saw listed autumn events ending on 1 November and Christmas starting on 20 November, which leaves ordinary admission on bonfire Saturday an open question. Treat Hever as one to confirm, rather than a fixed stop on 7 November.

Taking part

If you'd like to do more than watch, get in touch with the society before the event. Its FAQ directs walking parties, floats and bands to the society's main email, and has a separate volunteer contact and form. Marching and volunteering are organised roles, and a fireworks ticket doesn't sign you up for either. Explain what you'd like to contribute, then wait for the team's instructions on preparation, assembly and what's expected of you.

Then there's the celebrity effigy, whose identity is a separate matter altogether. The FAQ says the big reveal comes nearer the date, through the society's announcements. Enjoy the guessing game, but don't treat last year's photographs as a clue to who'll go up in flames this time. The town council's September 2026 papers confirm the society's event on 7 November. For programme changes, ticket conditions or a last-minute question, go back to the society's current information rather than a write-up of an earlier year.

Questions people ask

Where it is

Map pin shows the approximate area where the event happens. Open in OpenStreetMap ↗

Go straight to the source

Independent research. The organiser’s own information always wins — we have not visited or tested the journeys.

• Edenbridge Bonfire Society ↗
• Visit Edenbridge: Edenbridge Bonfire ↗
• Cene Magazine: 2025 effigy announced ↗
• Edenbridge Bonfire Society: official FAQ, opened directly 23 October 2026 ↗
• Edenbridge Town Council: September 2026 papers confirming bonfire date ↗
• National Trust: Chiddingstone village, visitor information and access ↗
• Hever Castle and Gardens: official visitor information and current events ↗