Carnival fever in Somerset: A guide to the Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival

This absolutely spectacular event takes place every year in the first weekend of November. It celebrates the failed attempt by Guy Fawkes to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605. It is one of the biggest and most famous carnivals in the UK. And, it is often recognised as one of Europe’s biggest illuminated carnivals. Here is some useful information on planning your trip to Carnival fever in Somerset: A guide to the Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival!

During Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, the Bridgwater Carnival represented Somerset with the cart Jubilation, which featured in London’s Pageant from Westminster to Buckingham Palace.

Bridgwater Carnival really sets the scene as the opening night for the circuit of carnivals that take place in various other towns across Somerset, as the procession continues throughout November. With a squibbing finale after the last cart has passed during the Bridgwater procession.

The next carnival takes place on Saturday 7th November 2026 at 6 pm. If you’re in town beforehand there is also a fireworks display on Friday 6th November at St Matthew’s field in Bridgwater.

The carnival consists of massive carts, or floats as they’re also known, that are up to 100 feet long, with dancers, moving parts and thousands of lightbulbs. The carts are all designed and handmade by groups of people in different carnival clubs. The carts take all year to build by these local people, who all do it in their spare time. There are an estimated 80 carts that parade in the carnival.  

It is also important to recognise and state that this is a free event and that the people running the event are all volunteers. The Carnival is a huge part of the people’s history and heritage of the town.

The carnival is funded by donations from the public, public grants and sponsorship. During the procession, you will see various members from each carnival club walk by with buckets and driving small trailers, asking spectators for donations in between carts. 

The origins of the Bridgwater Carnival date back to 5th November 1605, when Guy Fawkes was caught and stopped from blowing up the Houses of Parliament. The carnival, like the 5th of November, was considered a day of thanksgiving. It is believed that the carnival has existed in the town for over 400 years, but the first officially organised procession took place in 1881 when the Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Committee was formed.

There are plenty of places to stay in this small town; however, I would recommend booking early. Especially if you want somewhere on or along the Carnival route. Important for getting back to your hotel and back into the warm afterwards! And also, if the weather does turn out to be particularly bad, then you can watch from your hotel room. Just remember to book a room facing the road or the main carnival route!

~Mercure Hotel overlooks the carnival route. Just remember to book a room that faces the main road. They have good parking too.

~Admiral Blake Guesthouse also on the carnival route, if you get a room facing the front of the building. It also very close to the train station and Bridgwater Coach Station. 

~The Old Vicarage Hotel and Restaurant situated in St Mary’s Street opposite St Mary’s Church. Less than a minute’s walk from the carnival route. This is a fantastic location to stay on the carnival route. It is down a side street. So you wouldn’t be able to watch the procession from inside the hotel, if that’s how you’d prefer to watch it. But it is worth a stay just for the spectacularly beautiful décor. And, it is located close to the train station, Bridgwater coach station and bus routes. I think they also have parking.

~Tudor Hotel is in a very convenient location and they also have a restaurant that is pretty popular with locals.

~Ibis hotel right off of Junction 23 of the motorway, but without a car, it’s quite a far way out of the town centre. There is a bus, but you would need to catch this quite early into town, and I doubt there is one back after the carnival. The main 21/21A bus terminates at 4 pm. There is a Park and Ride bus along Bristol Road; however, I’m not sure of the exact location of the bus stop for this. This hotel is more convenient if you are staying in the area for a few days around the Bridgwater Carnival, as you are close to the motorway, town and surrounding areas.

~Holiday Inn and Travelodge at Junction 24. We stayed in the Travelodge at Huntworth Business Park for our trip. Which we found quite convenient for our needs and situated just off Junction 24 of the motorway, with the town situated between the two Junctions.

However, next time I think I would choose to stay somewhere in the town centre rather than on the outskirts to make it just a bit more convenient. As it was just so busy getting back with the crowds leaving town at the same time!

But, these hotels are relatively easy to get to if you don’t have a car, as there is the bus 21/21A along the A38 main roads from the Taunton and Bridgwater train stations. And, if you are coming from Bristol Airport, it is super convenient with the Megabus Bristol to Plymouth service that takes you from the airport to the Bridgwater stop on the Huntworth roundabout.

There is a Park and Ride bus from the Livestock Market that takes you into town for the carnival procession. But, if you feel like a longish walk, it is possible and safe, with pavements and street lighting pretty much all the way, to walk into the town from these hotels.

And, if you’re staying for a longer trip over the carnival weekend, or taking a trip when the weather is warmer and sunnier, then there are also some fabulous countryside spots to stay dotted around the outskirts of Bridgwater and the county of Somerset itself.

If I’m being entirely honest, the town itself isn’t overly appealing. Saying that, it is worth taking a stroll through to see for yourself and at the centre point of the town, there is the statue of Guy Fawkes holding a squibbing brush. Symbolising the home town of carnival. Also, there are quite a few cafes and pubs to choose from to get a hot drink or meal.

There is also live entertainment in the town centre from 10.30 am throughout the day before the main carnival procession in the evening. This boasts music, dance, live bands, street performers, choirs, family fun activities and more.

And there are also some other things to do and explore in the town during the day before the carnival. With a walk along the Bridgwater Docks or nearby canals. Also, there are various places to choose from to get lunch. And, if you want to learn more about the history of the town, be sure to visit The Blake Museum.

As the roads close early and the town is generally quite busy with people coming in for the carnival, I wouldn’t really recommend going out of town on the day of the carnival. But, if you do, make sure you’re back early and long before the roads close so that you don’t get caught up in traffic or stuck outside of town!

We did hear of people claiming their spots as early as 2 and 3 pm! Honestly, this really isn’t necessary! It’s not like claiming your sunbed at a holiday resort! You will get a spot with a good view if you get to the route at least 30-40 minutes before the procession starts.

The route is about two miles long. The procession usually starts at Parkway, down towards Taunton Road, through the town centre and ends at Northgate. But, you will see the crowds start to gather late afternoon/early evening to get an idea of where the route will be and get a feel of where best to watch it.

If you’d rather not stand for the procession, or carry camping chairs along with you as some spectators do, then there is the option of grandstand seating. The grandstand is located along the Broadway stretch of the procession and can be booked online where you can choose your seat in the stand for a fee.

I would say one of the better places would be to find a spot along the town centre to be in a good position for the end when the squibbing starts. The squibbing starts a few minutes after the last cart of the procession. So, you want to be in a good spot to watch it!

We almost missed it as we chose a spot further up, and, although it’s a dramatic, cultural aspect of the Bridgwater Carnival, it only lasts a few minutes.

The procession starts at approximately 6 pm and lasts for roughly just over two hours.

Be sure to stand somewhere on the route where you can get easy access to a toilet! Standing outside in the cold for over two hours, this is important! The Methodist Church, where we stood, next to the Mercure Hotel, had its doors open for spectators to use their toilets for a small donation to the church. And, I can’t tell you how grateful we were! Other good spots would be outside pubs along the route, such as Wetherspoons, which is aptly named The Carnival Inn!

The squibbing aspect of the carnival is very unique to the town of Bridgwater. It doesn’t take place at any of the other towns the carnival procession visits. It is an historic tradition in the town taking place right at the end of the evening after the last cart of the procession.

Over 150 people, known as the squibbers, hold large squibs which are like fireworks on a long pole, or broom handle even! These poles are known as coshes that are held above their heads as they line the street of the town centre on either side. The sparks from the fireworks shoot up, creating a spectacular scene of fiery lines through the street.

This tradition celebrates the failed attempt of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

There are some really lovely things to see and do in Somerset if you are staying for longer over the carnival, and especially if you’re visiting over the warmer months.  

A walk, bike ride, fishing or a boat ride along the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal. There are also cafes and bars along the way. The Purple Spoon at Bridgwater, Maunsel Lock Tearooms at North Newton. Then, if you go even further along the canal, you will eventually make your way into Taunton and the town centre.

And for a hike, the nearby Burrow Mump. However, you’d need to have a car to get there. And, the road is busy and winding with traffic that drive very fast! So, you will need to be very cautious. Or, there’s the National Trust site of Glastonbury Tor. There is the 376 bus route from Bristol or Wells, the 375 from Bridgwater and the 374 from Taunton.

Or, a walk on the Quantock and Blackdown Hills, depending on where in the county you’re staying.

~Blake Museum, Bridgwater

~Somerset Brick and Tile Museum, Bridgwater

~Shepton Mallet Prison, Shepton Mallet

~Haynes Motor Museum, Yeovil

~Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury

~Museum of Somerset, Taunton

~The Jane Austin Centre, Bath

~Fleet Air Arm Museum, Ilchester

~Clark’s Village, Street – a stone’s throw away from Glastonbury on the 373, 374, 375 or 376 bus.

~Taunton – by train from Bridgwater, or 21/21A bus.

~Cabot Circus, Bristol, by train from Bridgwater.

~Princesshay, Exeter, by train from Bridgwater or Taunton.

~Rich’s Cider Press Farm in Highbridge – take the train to Highbridge and then a taxi 67. Or, the 66 bus from Bridgwater.

~Sheppys in Taunton – reachable via 21 bus from Bridgwater and then bus 22A from Castle Way .

~Thatchers Cider in Sandford, Winscombe – take the train from Bridgwater to Weston Super Mare and then the U2 bus to Thatchers Railway Inn.

~Weston Super Mare Pier – easily reachable by train or the 21/21A bus from Bridgwater or Taunton.

~Cheddar George – take the train from Bridgwater to Weston Super Mare, then 126 bus, or 21 bus from Bridgwater and 48 bus from Regent Street.

~Stone Henge, Salisbury – take the train from Bridgwater or Taunton to Salisbury and then the X2 bus from St Paul’s Church.

~The Roman Baths – easy to get to by train from Bridgwater or Taunton.

~Wookey Hole Caves – take the train from Bridgwater to Weston Super Mare and then the 126 bus to Henley Lane. Or, the 375 bus to Chamberlain Street and then the 67 straight to Wookey Hole Caves.

The town itself may not be entirely desirable to visit, if I’m being completely honest. But the town of Bridgwater really does have something quite special and unique in its carnival. Something that shows the talents and artistic nature of individuals and groups of its local people. And, a truly magnificent community spirit that really brings everyone together. Bridgwater Carnival offers a spectacular and totally amazing (FREE) yearly night of entertainment and fun. It is certainly worth the journey if you’re coming from afar. And as it’s free entertainment, and all those that work on the carts are volunteers, they really do deserve those donations when the buckets and trailers pass by.