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What time do fireworks have to stop? Who can buy them, and what can you do about fireworks going off in the street at midnight? Here are the rules for setting off fireworks in Stratford-upon-Avon, from GOV.UK, and who to contact if they’re being broken.
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The quick answer
- No fireworks between 11pm and 7am, except:
- Bonfire Night (5 November): until midnight.
- New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year: until 1am.
That’s the same across England, so it applies in Stratford and every village around it.
Who can buy fireworks
- You have to be 18 or over to buy “adult” fireworks (categories 2 and 3), and that includes sparklers.
- Shops registered to sell fireworks can sell them for private use from 15 October to 10 November, from 26 to 31 December, and for the three days before Diwali and Chinese New Year.
- At any other time of year, you can only buy them from a specially licensed shop.
- Category 4 fireworks are for professional display operators only.
Where you can and can’t set them off
- It’s against the law to set off or throw fireworks, including sparklers, in the street or in any other public place.
- In your own garden, stick to the time limits above and follow the safety instructions on the box.
The penalties
Selling or using fireworks illegally can mean an unlimited fine and up to six months in prison. The police can also give an on-the-spot fine of £90.
Reporting fireworks being used illegally
- Fireworks being thrown at people, cars or animals, or used to intimidate: call 999 if someone’s in danger. Otherwise report it to Warwickshire Police on 101 or online.
- Fireworks after 11pm, or in the street: report it to Warwickshire Police on 101.
- Persistent noise from a neighbour: if it’s an ongoing problem rather than a one-off night, Stratford-on-Avon District Council’s environmental health team deals with noise nuisance. Contact the council through its website.
- Someone selling fireworks to under-18s, or outside the selling dates: report it to Warwickshire Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice consumer helpline.
Going to a display instead
An organised display is safer, and easier on neighbours and pets. Displays near Stratford this year include the Riverside Halloween fireworks on Friday 30 October, Stratford Rugby Club’s bonfire night on Sunday 1 November, and Warwick’s town bonfire on Saturday 7 November. Every display is in our Bonfire Night 2026 guide.
If you’re setting off your own, let your neighbours know, especially anyone with pets or horses: see our guide to fireworks and pets in Stratford.
Fireworks rules: questions
What time do fireworks have to stop on Bonfire Night?
Midnight on 5 November. On other nights, fireworks have to stop at 11pm.
Can you buy sparklers under 18?
No. Sparklers count as adult fireworks, so you have to be 18 to buy them.
Can you set off fireworks in the street?
No. It’s against the law to set off or throw fireworks, including sparklers, in the street or any other public place.
When can shops sell fireworks?
Registered shops can sell them from 15 October to 10 November, from 26 to 31 December, and for three days before Diwali and Chinese New Year. Licensed shops can sell them all year.
Alex Harrington
Alex Harrington grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon and runs What's up, Stratford? as an independent guide to the town.
