Here's some
helpful tips on meteor watching from
Sky & Telescope. This includes instructions for serious observers, but some of it applies to anyone wanting to get some enjoyment out of seeing "shooting stars".
You're more likely to see them after midnight, but that doesn't mean you won't see anything earlier.
1. Find the darkest place you can with a clear view of the sky.
2. Be sure to take all the safety precautions you normally would when out in the dark.
3. Take reclining lawn chairs (or camping mattresses for those who are fit), so you can lie back and watch the sky without getting a stiff neck.
4. Insect repellent if there are mosquitoes around.
5. Something warm in case it gets chilly and perhaps a hot drink.
6. You're most likely to see meteors - and anything else in the sky! - if you give your eyes time to adapt to the dark, at least 10-15 minutes. No lights on during that time unless it has a red filter. (So keep the phone off!)
You not only don't need a telescope or binoculars, you don't want them. Optical aids will restrict your view. Just lean back and enjoy the sky.
