Hello!
It is my first Guy Fawkes night celebration in the UK, I did some research and it looked like Alexandra Palace fireworks should be spectacular, but I did not like it at all. Can you suggest some better places/shows for the next year?
Don’t want to disappoint those who liked the show. For me it was quite mediocre for several reasons:
1. “The best viewing point” was more like viewing from outside of the park. Photo 1 is taken from the “best spot”, near the palace’s terrace, while photo 2 is from the Bonfire spot, almost under the fireworks. Difference is huge
2. Laser show would rather be turned off. I have been on the laser show festivals couple of times in my life. The show at Alexandra Palace was more of a “disco ball party lights” thing. They just made spots and lines circling on the building
3. The fireworks show was itself unimpressive. It had no connection to the theme/context of the celebration. Just fireworks under the random classic/Frozen/Star Wars music (I am not joking on the list of music). Density of the show was relatively low: you have 4 minutes of warm-up “WAIT FOR IT” fireworks, then 1 minute of impressive, loud, colourful fireworks. And then it repeats 4 times.
Summing up, looks like the main show was a bit undirected. However, the event itself was cool – nice DJs, fun people, lovely food and beer.
P.S. If anyone was there too, post a photo from your viewing point and share your thoughts. Cheers!
by rosya_choco
8 comments
It started half an hour early and lasted ten minutes less than it was meant to. I’m glad you said there was music because I couldn’t hear any, and not because of the fireworks which were mostly very quiet.
It was my first time at the Ally Pally fireworks, and whilst I’m glad I went, I thought it was massively overpriced, over subscribed and underwhelming.
Was my girlfriends and I’d first time this year too and we were disappointed after hearing so much about it.
For the price etc, I’ve seen many better shows. I felt a bit let down as has been looking forward to it all week
I also felt like it ended sooner than I expected. Last year, Battersea’s show was at least 30 mins. Looking at the clock when Ally Pally ended last night and it was after only 18 mins. The Lion King song is only where it picked up…and then they turned the lights on. For £18 I felt like it was quite pricey.
It was SO disappointing this year. Thank god it wasn’t just me!
Awful. Borderline impossible to grab a drink or a snack because there were so few tents and staff, fireworks were 15 minutes of movie themes from the 90s and Disney tunes (shockingly naff). Ground was completely churned up and sodden and it was basically pitch black due to a lack of lighting in the grounds so it was unpleasant getting around.
Rather run more gas vehicles and get somewhere than burn fireworks for no reason.
It was really disappointing, £18 we paid for that nonsense, seen better free displays at local parks in the countryside.
I was there on the Friday. Overpriced rides and food aside, the fireworks… eh, not a good show. The best displays tell a ‘story’ as a show progresses through different colours, types and effects but the display we got was all very bang-through samey. No change of mood, no ‘light and shade’. The music choices were also odd considering it was supposed to be a family show – the screamy, hedonistic drug-influened lyrics of *Born Slippy* felt weirdly out of place.
Won’t be going next year and will be watching it from outside the grounds. It’s on a huge hill in north London ffs – there are plenty of viewing areas. Nothing to be gained by actually attending.