Fireworks in Britain: the law, times, age and fines 2026

Ahead of Bonfire Night (5 November) it helps to know the GOV.UK rules: fireworks law in the UK is strict, and breaking it hits your wallet. Here is who can do what, and when.

How old must you be to buy?

"Adult" fireworks (categories F2 and F3) are sold only to people aged 18 and over. F2 is for small open areas such as a garden; F3 is for large open spaces. The most powerful professional category F4 fireworks are for licensed professionals only and cannot be sold to or used by the public.

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When can you set them off?

As a general rule fireworks may be set off between 7am and 11pm. There are date exceptions: on Bonfire Night until midnight, and on New Year, Diwali and Chinese New Year until 1am. Outside those windows it breaks the law.

Where can you buy, and where can't you use them?

Registered sellers supply fireworks to the public in set periods: 15 October to 10 November, 26–31 December, and three days before Diwali and Chinese New Year. At other times you can only buy from licensed shops. It is illegal to set fireworks off in the street or a public place (Explosives Act 1875), or within 50 feet (about 15m) of a highway (Highways Act 1980).

What are the penalties?

Police can issue an on-the-spot fine of £90. Selling or using fireworks illegally can bring an unlimited fine and up to 6 months in prison. Setting them off in a public place or near a road is a separate offence.

What about neighbours and animals?

Loud fireworks frighten pets and farm animals, and local councils set their own rules on noise, so it is worth checking in advance. If you plan your own display, keep to the legal times, warn neighbours and keep the safe distance for the category (F2 from 5m, F3 from 25m).

What about sparklers and safety?

Sparklers and party poppers are category F1 — you can buy them from age 16, but a sparkler still burns at several hundred degrees, so children should only use them under adult supervision. Councils and safety services advise: keep fireworks in a closed box, light them one at a time, never lean over a firework, and never return to one that has not gone off. Because of animals and elderly neighbours, warn those around you in advance — many local councils run their own rules on noise and bonfires.

The safest option is an organised display — these run in London and other cities in early November. If you set them off yourself, stick strictly to the times and age limit, or the celebration turns into a fine.