Plymouth Fireworks: Everything you Need to Know

Each year, Plymouth is home to the spectacular British Firework Championships, an awesome event when six professional firework display companies come together to battle it out for the title of Fireworks Champion.

Since 1997, every summer Plymouth’s promenade has taken in an astounding view of the biggest and best in the industry for the national fireworks championships. If you’re planning on getting a good seat this year then read on, we’ve got all the essential information right here.

The Important Details

The Plymouth fireworks competition takes place over two days, across the 17th and 18th of August, with three contestants firing on each day.

Find out all the details of the British Firework Championships on the official website including a history of how the championship started out almost 25 years ago.

British Firework Championships Day One: 2021

Starting Times

The first fireworks in Plymouth are launched off Mount Batten Pier at 9:30 on both days, ending at around 10:10. Each team will put on a display of approximately 10 minutes with a 10-minute break in between each.

Entertainment on the Hoe begins at 2 pm each day, where visitors can enjoy a funfair, live music, and catering stalls.

Buying Tickets

The event is free to attend.

How to Get There

The fireworks are viewed from the Hoe, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2LR.

Visitors should be aware that the city will be particularly busy on both days of the Plymouth fireworks championship and there could be congestion in and out of the area on the roads. Because of this, it may be easier to park outside of the city and take public transport to the Hoe. There are also usually road closures around the viewing area.

If you’re too far north to make watch the Plymouth Firework Championships in person, consider planing a trip to the Blackpool Firework Championships for a similar calibre firework show closer to home.

By Car

People coming by car are advised to park in the Theatre Royal and make their way down Lockyer Street on foot, or the Western Approach car park.

Blue permit holders can find spaces available on Plymouth Hoe Promenade via the Elliott Street entrance from 5 pm to 11 pm but these are on a first come first served basis so it’s important to arrive with lots of time to get a space.

By Taxi

Hoe Road is usually closed off for the event but visitors can be dropped off by taxis on the North side of Hoe Park. Parking outside of the city and getting a taxi in could save you on the cost of parking and sitting in queues of traffic.

By Train

There are regular GWR trains running along the Tamar Valley Line. The Last train to Gunnislake is at 10:38 pm. Cross Country also operates an additional late service which departs at 10:45 pm from Plymouth to Totnes and Newton Abbot where a connection can be made to Exeter.

Plymouth Train Station is well-connected with a taxi rank, bicycle hire hub, and buses. The Hoe promenade is a 15-20 minute walk but visitors can also take a number of buses from the railway station bus stop on Pennycomequick Hill.

By Bus

The bus is the recommended method of travel to and from the event, particularly a bus to Royal Parade from which the Hoe promenade is only a ten-minute walk south from there.

Buses run every ten minutes from three park and ride locations from 6 pm, dropping passengers off at Royal Parade. The last park and ride buses to the city are:

• 8:45 pm: George Junction
• 8:58 pm: Milehouse
• 8:45 pm Coypool

Return journeys on park and ride start at 10:30 pm and finish at 11:50 pm.

What to Expect