1 BLACKHEATH, LONDON

This immensely popular annual display (020 8314 6000/lewisham.gov.uk) has been lighting up this corner of South-East London since the 17th century. An estimated 100,000 flock to watch the half-hour fireworks extravaganza set to music, a spectacle that will have you ooh-ing and aah-ing over your mulled wine.

One Six Two (020 8465 5444/onesixtwo.co.uk) offers doubles from £79 per night (two sharing), B&B.

2 LEWES, EAST SUSSEX

The traditional Bonfire Night procession (01273 484 141/lewes.gov.uk) through the centre of the county town of East Sussex has an unmistakeable whiff of the pagan about it. The sight of hundreds of burning crosses and towering effigies of public figures being hoisted aloft by a crowd variously dressed as Elizabethans, Native Americans and Roman warriors (and that's just the start) will likely send shivers down your spine.

The Legacy White Hart Hotel (0844 411 9474/legacy-hotels.co.uk) offers doubles from £65 per night (two sharing), B&B.

3 CAERPHILLY CASTLE, BRECON

Pink Catherine wheels and golden Roman candles exploding above this medieval castle in the Brecon Beacons are a breathtaking sight. The annual event (01874 622 485/ visitsouthwales.com) features stalls selling candyfloss, hog roast, mulled wine and chestnuts and there are usually a few fairground rides, too.

Maes Manor House (01495 220011/ maesmanor.com) offers doubles from £75 per night (two sharing), B&B.

4 BEAULIEU, NEW FOREST

The Twilight Zone is the theme for the fireworks at Beaulieu (01590 612 345/ beaulieu.co.uk) with people encouraged to dress up as vampires, angels and other Twilight-esque things. Arrive early and you can wander around the James Bond exhibition at the car museum and enjoy the big wheel and other classic fairground rides. October 29. Tickets £5.

The Montagu Arms (01590 612 324/ montaguarmshotel.co.uk) offers doubles from £198 per night (two sharing), B&B.

5 CARLISLE, CUMBRIA

This spectacular display in Carlisle's Bitts Park (01228 625 600/carlisle.gov.uk) has attracted enormous crowds since it started in the Eighties. There's a 40ft bonfire and a ravishing array of pyrotechnic effects including rockets that burst into giant illuminated flowers.

Crosby Lodge (01228 573 618/crosbylodge.co.uk) offers doubles from £170 per night (two sharing), B&B.

6 BATTLE, EAST SUSSEX

Guy Fawkes's effigy has been burnt here for more than 300 years and the procession along the town high street (battelbonfire.co.uk) is something to behold: a raggle-taggle of pirates, Vikings, Saxons, mermaids, Egyptians and the odd Genghis Khan. Once the procession reaches the Battle field it's time to light the gigantic bonfire and crack open the fireworks.

The Powder Mills (01424 775 511/ powdermillshotel.com) offers doubles from £110 per night (two sharing), B&B.

7 SHEFFIELD, SOUTH YORKSHIRE

This massive bonfire and fireworks display in the Don Valley Grass Bowl next to Sheffield Arena (yellowbusevents.co.uk/after_dark.php) attracts up to 20,000 people a year.
It is everything a bonfire night should be, with funfair, candyfloss stalls, a huge bonfire, music and an extravagant fireworks display. Tickets £10 adults, £5 children.

The Leopold Hotel (0845 078 0067/ leopoldhotel.co.uk) offers doubles from £62 per night (two sharing), B&B.

8 WINCHESTER, HAMPSHIRE

A torchlit procession through the centre of the city kicks off the 53rd annual bonfire night celebrations in Winchester (01962 840 500/ winchesterfireworks.co.uk). This year the display is interactive (you'll be able to text "flash", "bang" or "scream" to a special number and influence how the display is choreographed), with all the money raised going to charity.

Hotel Du Vin (0845 365 4438/hotelduvin.com) offers doubles from £165 per night (two sharing), B&B.

9 BLISTS HILL VICTORIAN TOWN, IRONBRIDGE, SHROPSHIRE

All the shops and cottages along Canal Street in this historic village in the Ironbridge Gorge (01952 884 391/ironbridge.org.uk) will be open for visitors to explore, manned by resident "Victorians" who will chat about life in the 1800s as you stock up on old-fashioned sweets or treat yourself to traditional fish and chips. The fireworks display over the gorge can be watched from the village green, while burning braziers line the canal. Tickets: £9 adults, £6 children.

Telford Hotel & Golf Resort (0845 241 9783/qhotels.co.uk) offers doubles from £95 per night (two sharing), B&B.

10 OTTERY ST MARY, DEVON

It is with indefatigable enthusiasm that every year since 1605 villagers have gathered to lug flaming barrels of tar through the streets of this customarily sedate Devon village (01404 813 964/ otterytarbarrels.co.uk). The fun starts in the afternoon as young boys and women tackle the smaller barrels, then the real men get stuck into the "gert big unz" with rosy-cheeked West Country gusto. When darkness falls, fireworks are set off and a magnificent bonfire is lit on St Saviours Meadow. Minimum donation £1.

Tumbling Weir Hotel (01404 812 752/ tumblingweirhotel.com) offers doubles from £95 per night (two sharing), B&B.

All events are on November 5 and free to attend unless otherwise stated.