Badminton virgin visitor - what do I need to take?

Angelbones

Angelbones

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Hi guys,

Am so excited about going to Badminton with my daughter for the XC day, and am trying to get organised as to what to take, so an pointers please on this and anything else 'stategic' that I should be aware of? I guess foremost will be good walking shoes / boots, and plenty of money, and camera but what else? Do most people wear normal everyday clothes or do they dress up a bit?

I am desperately hoping that the weather will be good and the ground dry, but of course will chuck a mac and boots in the car just in case.

All suggestions, no matter how seemingly odd, gratefully received. You'd never believe I was a well travelled adult would you - I'm just SO buzzing about actually getting there this year!

Many thanks x
 
I generally wear jeans and take lots of layers and options for changing weather. Last time I went, I was wearing waterproof trousers a lot of the time - it was seriously WET!

Shoes wise - comfortable is the main thing - ideally capable of dealing with puddles.

Bring stuff to drink, I resent paying a fortune for drinks. Food doesn't feel quite as pricy and there are some nice things to try in the food village - worth spending money. You can get some great deals - I think it was Burghley last year there was a stall which sold Paella - £3.50 for a sensible sized lunch portion! Went there every day! Also some nice scotch eggs, interesting cheeses and more exotic things if you want them. Local produce as well... Probably best to aim to eat early or late as the queues get silly. Often worth grabbing something to eat if you see that there will be a hold on course, or there's been an Elim/Retirement before you, or there's a couple of riders you're not too fussed about seeing - then you don't miss too much of the action queuing for food.

Arena is a good place to watch on the big screen when you're tired of walking the course - also a handy rallying point.
 
You will see all sorts there - from dressed up to dressed down and everything in between. Lots of Joules, usually ;)

I would say, as essentials - sunhat/baseball cap and suncream - we can dream :D
waterproof hat and coat, decent shoes (i wear trainers or my jod boots if it's reasonably dry, as you will be walking MILES and these are comfiest for me)
Something to eat and drink - it's phenominally expensive to buy stuff there so good to have something up your sleeve. I had to leave Gatcombe one year when we ran out of money to buy water :o Can leave in car until needed
Spare socks in case feet get wet (= rubbing shoes)
I like to keep a light waterproof in my bag with me so I can sit on it to eat lunch etc, as you can't always get a seat/bench.

Sure there will be loads more - will discover that early on Sunday morning when I'm getting ready :D
 
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You lucky thing! I love Badminton but couldn't get there this year.. :(
Bring a huge range of jumpers and clothes, it can be lovely and warm in the sun, but some fences in the shade can be freeezing.
Most people tend to wear jeans, and nearly everyone wears dubarry boots!
I don't really have much advice, but definatley bring a camera, and have an amazing time!
 
You will so love it in Badminton! It's a great place to be on Cross Country day, the atmosphere is electric. :D As to what to wear, anything goes really. I usually wear jeans and a t-shirt plus a hoodie just in case it's cold. Weather isn't supposed to be very good this weekend so I'm taking some wellies with me just in case!
I always wear trainers, find them more comfortable for walking in than boots. There's a lot of walking involved, especially if you want to walk the whole course. Food is expensive to buy there so we'll be taking a picnic with us. We invariably end up buying something from the food vans though as we get so hungry from all the walking!
There are plenty of toilets on the course and they're usually well stocked with toilet roll. I always take a couple of packs of travel tissues with me though and some hand sanitiser. They do supply it but by the end of the day, it's often run out.
Apart from that, just take the usual as you've already mentioned. Plenty of money (shopping is great there!) and a camera for taking loads of piccies. Rucksack is handy as well to keep everything in. Much easier carrying it on your back than in a bag slung over one shoulder.
Hope you have a fab day! I'm sure you will :)
 
If its anything like burghly then the uniform is tweed and duburry boots and failing that joules and durburry boots!
And if you can manage to obtain one for the day a gun dog as an accessory
 
Oh, and another thing. Don't leave it till the last minute to use the toilet. Queues are reaaalllyyyyyy long so you might have to wait a fair bit. You may get caught short! lol :D
 
Do your shopping early or late in the day... I went last year and on both the XC and SJ days the stalls were packed at any other time. Seem to remember the SJ day at 9ish was a good time to shop :)
 
You will love it! I am off on freday and stayng til monday. I am so excited.

Really doesn't matter what you wear as long as it's comfy and can be made warm or cool, as weather dictates. Usually hoody and jeans for me. Some people wear there dubarry boots and tweed, but as a lowly student there is NO WAY I could afford that!

Take wellies, coat and waterproof trousers to be on the safe side. You don't want to be sat around in wet clothes, could really ruin your day :(

I always take lunch, because it's nice not to queue and spend lots of money. Also I like to go to eat lunch sitting in the stands (which are free on cross-country day and relatively empty). Then you are undercover if it rains, you have chairs, and you can watch the cross country on the big screen they have in the arena and riders leaving and coming back from course.

I suggest that you buy a programme, it's nice memorablia (did I spell that right?) and informative.
Hope you have fun :)
 
Camera, HUGE wallet ;), sunglasses - just in case! :p, waterproof coat, comfy shoes like wellies/converse/trainers, snacks if you don't feel like queuing for food or if you get peckish but don't want to spend more money, couple of bottles of water, phone so you can boast either to your friends or us on here that you're there ;), brightly coloured scarf so you can be seen easily in the crowds (my mum managed to lose me last year! :p), aaaand.. I think that's it! :D I never bother dressing up, for me it's an excuse to wear some old jeans, wellies, manky hoody and have my hair scraped back! :D Have fun! :) xx
 
As others have said, layers, waterproofs in rucksack, camera, phone, tissues, a couple of pens to enter lots of competitions to win stuff, and to mark your programme if you're that way inclined, water and a flask of coffee if you can be bothered to carry it. (I always have ibuprofen/aspirin for sore back/headache). If you leave stuff in the car, you may have to walk miles back to it. As it's your first time, it's probably easiest to walk the course in the order it's jumped, by starting in the stadium. Most people will see one or two riders at each jump, so if you have a rubbish view, you can normally wriggle to the front for the next rider - except at the lake, where some people seem to never move!

Remember to record it on the TV, so you can watch it back in the evening and try to 'spot' yourself!

Get there early - queues start before 9am, maybe someone else on here can give a better timescale than me. I was a bit late one year and after queueing for three hours turned around and went home.

Have a lovely time - I'm going up on Friday evening, caravaning until the bitter end with a couple of mates.
 
Haha, I couldn't help on timings. We like to have a lie-in in our caravan on Cross country morning, then stroll across the bridge where the roads and tracks used to be, into the park and look at the queue of cars below! Not that I'm feeling smug!

Sorry it's the excitment getting to me!
 
Plenty of cash for all those extras, as there are no cash points and thats pants at the end of the day when you just want 1 more cup of tea. If you are really shopping on XC day, no dogs. I am going on Saturday as I want to take my dogs with me and walk the course but, as XC day has become progressively more crowded, it is completely impossible to have a dog and try to get in and out of the stores. Buy H&H for a good guide to the stores as well and mark where you have parked your car (oh yes...!). When you are on the course, its really easy to find your way back - if you do walk round, once you hit the water fence then you are back at the shopping again. XC is really crowded so if you have "planned" your viewing, courtesey of the your programme you need to allow 1 - 2 horses to go through before the crowd disperses enough for you to view the fence properly and as for the water fence - more like 4 or 5 horses and you still wont get the best view - people get there early and sit on the seating all day. I would love to see an area where you can only sit for say 3 horses! room for the rest of us! and another one who says take some drinks etc along with you - saves huge amount of time queuing and saves money. Enjoy!!
 
WOW guys, thanks so much! I can feel your excitement from your posts! It seems I need to be more organised, especially with child in tow. Shall defo check out the site plan beforehand and try to take it all in. So off to the cashpoint now as that seems the most common suggestion! Hope everyone has a mega day - would like to bump into some of you - should be we all wear a pink hat or something recognisable?! ENJOY xxx
 
Luci07 said:
Plenty of cash for all those extras, as there are no cash points and thats pants at the end of the day when you just want 1 more cup of tea.
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Sorry to disagree but there is a cashpoint/bank and always has been :) Am linking the site plan and it is on the right, look between the Pig And Whistle (the main eating site with big screen) and Country Living Magazine :)

http://www.badminton-horse.co.uk/pdf/siteplan_shopping_2010.pdf

Not sure how old said child is, but there are fun fair rides too on the left of the shopping village, in case you want to steer clear LOL!
 
As Weezy said, there's definitely at least one cash point - although there's normally queues for it! Most of the retailers take cards as well.

Shop as early as you can - there's a great atmosphere in the shopping/food village early on XC day, especially if the sun's shining.
I'm another one caravanning so will be there the whole four days, am very excited :D

Weather forecast isn't wonderful so as everyone else said, lots of waterproofs! And layers! A couple of black bin bags stuffed in your bag are quite handy for sitting on wet ground too ;)
We're doing a packed lunch each day, as can't be bothered with the queues and mainly rubbish overpriced food! Only concessions will be lots of coffee from the stand near the screen as their vanilla lattes are quite tasty ;)
 
Gazehound said:
Oh and dont forget your sense of humour, boy are you going to need it after all the crowds on XC day :p:D:D:D
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Yes - definitely agree with this one!! Me and my friend always used to start counting Dubarry's - as there are sooo many of them - but after half and hour, and reaching about 100, we would usually get bored of that game!! :)

Oh - and don't forget your camera - I have got some ace shots from the last few years at Badders - at some of the jumps you do have to elbow your way in a little to be able to get the shots - but it is usually worth it! Keep an eye and ear on who is where on the course, so that you can catch your faves actually going over jumps, rather than just galloping past you!

Enjoy! :)
 
QR - just looked at the weather forecast BTW, BBC are predicting rain every day between now and Sunday, with heavy rain on Sunday :D
 
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