Lewes Bonfire Night 2026: Road Closures, Trains and Where to Park
Your practical guide to parking for Lewes Bonfire Night on Thursday 5 November 2026.
Where to Park for Lewes Bonfire Night 2026
Lewes Bonfire Night is the biggest night of the year in the "Bonfire Capital of the World", and the one night when you can't simply turn up and park. Roads into the town close from 4.45pm, on-street parking restrictions start at noon, and no trains stop at Lewes after 5pm.
If you're heading in by car, the only plan that works is a space booked in advance and a car parked well before the closures begin.
Book Lewes Bonfire Night Parking
Book Lewes Bonfire Night parking in advance and know exactly where you're parking before the roads close.
Arrive before 4pm so you're parked up and on foot before the 4.45pm closures come into force.
Book a long enough session, as roads in Lewes don't reopen until around 2am.
Choose a private driveway rather than relying on the street, where parking restrictions apply from midday.
Extend your booking in the app if the celebrations run late and the roads take longer to reopen.
Lewes Bonfire Night 2026: Key Details
Lewes Bonfire isn't one single event. It's a night of torch-lit processions, burning tar barrels, tableaux and fireworks run by the town's seven bonfire societies: Cliffe, Commercial Square, Lewes Borough, Southover, South Street, Waterloo and Nevill Juvenile. The celebrations mark the 1605 Gunpowder Plot and remember the 17 Protestant martyrs burned in Lewes between 1555 and 1557.
Date: Thursday 5 November 2026. Lewes always celebrates on the Fifth itself, whichever day of the week it falls on.
Location: Lewes town centre, East Sussex.
Processions: usually begin from around 5pm and continue late into the night, with the grand procession, when several societies join together, expected at around 9pm.
Tickets: watching the processions from the street is free, but entry to a society's fire site is by ticket only. Tickets must be bought in advance from the relevant society or the Lewes Tourist Information Centre.
Programme: each year's official programme lists routes, timings and fire-site details, and sales support the societies.
Lewes Bonfire 2026 Road Closures
Road closures are legally enforced and cover the main routes into Lewes. Here's what applies on Thursday 5 November 2026:
From 4.45pm, roads close at: the A27 junction with the A277 Brighton Road (Ashcombe Roundabout), the A275 Offham Road with the B2116 Plumpton Road, the C7 Kingston Road with the C324 Wellgreen Lane, the A26 with the A2029 Malling Street, and the A26 Church Lane with Church Mayhew Way.
From noon: parking restrictions begin across the town, so don't leave a car on the street.
Brooks Industrial Estate: parking isn't permitted here on 5 November.
Reopening: roads in Lewes reopen at around 2am, or once Sussex Police deem it safe and the clean-up is complete.
Lewes residents: are advised to get vehicles home before 4pm.
Getting to Lewes on Bonfire Night
From Brighton and the west: the A27 is the main route in, with the Ashcombe Roundabout closed to Lewes traffic from 4.45pm.
From Eastbourne and the east: approach on the A27, but plan to be parked before the closures start.
From the north and Uckfield: the A26 and A275 both have closure points at the edge of town from 4.45pm.
By train: trains won't call at Lewes, Falmer, Cooksbridge, Glynde or Southease from 5pm on Thursday 5 November until the start of service on Friday 6 November. The last train from Lewes to Brighton is expected at 4.44pm and the last to London Victoria at 4.55pm.
By bus: services will be diverted on 5 November, so check with the operator before you travel.
Where to Park Near Lewes for Bonfire Night
With public streets restricted from midday, a private space you've already booked is the most reliable option. Just remember that once roads close at 4.45pm, you won't be able to drive out of the town until they reopen at around 2am.
Book parking in Lewes on private driveways across the town, then walk to the processions. Arrive before 4pm and book through to the early hours.
Reserve a space near Lewes Station, within a short walk of the town centre and School Hill.
Park on Tanners Brook, a quiet cul-de-sac around three minutes' walk from Lewes Station, with room for larger vehicles.
Book a driveway on Court Road, around two minutes' walk from the station and the town.
Spaces in Lewes are limited, so book as early as you can.
Top Tips for Lewes Bonfire Night
Get there early: aim to be parked by 4pm, well ahead of the road closures.
Plan for a late finish: roads won't reopen until around 2am, so don't book a space you need to leave earlier.
Buy fire-site tickets in advance: they aren't sold on the night.
Wrap up warm and wear sturdy shoes: expect cold weather, smoke, crowds and plenty of standing.
Agree a meeting point: phone signal can struggle with large crowds, so pick somewhere to regroup.
Lewes Bonfire Night FAQs
When is Lewes Bonfire 2026?
Lewes Bonfire Night 2026 takes place on Thursday 5 November. Lewes always holds its celebrations on the Fifth itself rather than moving them to the nearest weekend.
What time does Lewes Bonfire start?
Processions usually begin from around 5pm and carry on late into the evening, with the grand procession expected at around 9pm. Check the official programme for this year's routes and timings.
Are there road closures for Lewes Bonfire Night?
Yes. Roads into Lewes close from 4.45pm on Thursday 5 November 2026 and reopen at around 2am. Parking restrictions apply in the town from noon, so book a private space and arrive before 4pm.
Do you need tickets for Lewes Bonfire Night?
Watching the processions in the streets is free, but you'll need a ticket to enter a society's fire site. These must be bought in advance from the society or the Lewes Tourist Information Centre.
How do you get to Lewes Bonfire?
Trains won't stop at Lewes or the nearby stations of Falmer, Cooksbridge, Glynde and Southease from 5pm, and roads close from 4.45pm. If you're driving, book a space in Lewes in advance and arrive before 4pm. Bear in mind organisers are asking non-residents not to travel.
Where should I park for Lewes Bonfire Night?
Book a private driveway in Lewes through JustPark and arrive before 4pm, ahead of the road closures. Street parking is restricted from midday, and you won't be able to drive out of the town until roads reopen at around 2am.
Live in Lewes? Earn Extra Income from Your Driveway
Bonfire Night is the busiest evening of the year for parking in Lewes, and with on-street restrictions from midday, a private driveway is in high demand.
Rent out your driveway with JustPark: it's free to list, you choose when it's available, and the first £1,000 you earn each year is tax-free under the trading allowance. You can also set event-day pricing for the Fifth.
Plan Your Lewes Bonfire Night
Lewes on the Fifth is unlike any other Bonfire Night in the country, and a little planning makes all the difference. Book your space before the closures, arrive early and settle in for the processions.
Looking for a display closer to home? Explore our guide to the UK's best Bonfire Night events in 2026.
