Burghley 2023

[Morganfan]

Hi from Australia. I am planning a trip to Burghley this year. I did have it all booked for 2020 but covid put a stop to that. Anyway, can someone please clarify the tickets for me, I will be coming alone (travel partner has just badly broken her leg) .
Am I reading correctly that a membership ticket gets me and another person into everywhere / everything for the whole 4 days? Would I be better off purchasing individual tickets to each section i.e. dressage, xcountry etc. Also, anyone who has been, can they please pass on some tips to make the whole experience memorable in a good way. I already have a booking for accommodation within walking distance, (hopefully) have just rolled the deposit over each year since 2020 !! I will get there and cross it off my bucket list. TIA.

 

[lannerch]

you will still need grandstand tickets for the final day’s showjumping with membership tickets unless you are happy to watch from a screen. Does cover a grandstand for dressage though so only needed in sj day.
membership does get you and a guest everywhere else and is particularly handy for the premium toilets as well as the members enclosure.

 

[canteron]

If you have invested that much already worth getting the grandstand tickets for the showjumping (my favourite bit) …. but they go quickly so you have to be ready to buy when they are released! The members is heaving on x-c day but there are lots of other eating spots.

 

[Morganfan]

Thanks Lannerch and Canteron any other tips you can think of, greatly appreciated.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Membership is well worth it, even though you won't be able to make use of the forward parking that comes with it. Your accommodation being within walking distance of the event sounds fab!

As said above, it's really just the grandstand tickets for the SJ that you additionally need to buy.

You can buy special fixed frequency mini single earphone headsets at the event to listen to Burghley radio, but we take our own portable short wave sports radios, which are better quality and can be used elsewhere. You get the dressage commentary etc on them.

Amazon.co.uk

Burghley is a great event, lots to see, you won't get bored. Plenty of good food outlets to choose from outside of the membership enclosure.

 

[Morganfan]

Thanks Tiddlypom, I am hoping that my accommodation is really within walking distance. I have been to the Adelaide (Aus) 3 day but I imagine Burghley is very different. I am really looking forward to it.

 

[hollyandivy123]

make certain you come with two bags, one empty for you to take bits back with you

 

[ester]

If there's only one of you I'm not sure it's worth going members, and perhaps purchase a seat for dressage - members dressage is along the long side but non reserved, the reservable seating is at the A end (block F/G). You can watch dressage without reserved seating but from further away (A/B/H/J/K I think) as they don't place the arena centrally in the main ring.

So other than that you've just got nicer loos at the back of the members . Alternatively you could probably sell you're spare members pass though.

Trot ups are in the main ring, lunctime demos on dressage days are ofte worth watching (it's usually better on the friday when busier).

XC day there are big screens in the shopping and usually at the trout hatchery and discovery valley- discovery valley is close to the shopping and both of these screens mean you can watch horses in real life over some stuff while not missing anything elsewhere on the course - DV they also go through twice as it's a loop but it does get busy as the day goes on.

Absolutely get a radio

Food you definitely have to go to the 'food walk' which is lots of small independent producers. Grasmere usually do the nicest breakfasts .
There's also quite a lot of non-horsey 'craft' shopping, some of which are hilarious and you think who on earth is buying that, but some is lovely. I usually get a good load of christmas shopping done )

I'm quite well practiced at giving people a whistlestop tour at the start of the day usually some random hhoer and am always happy to do that if there.

Print outs with running orders are available at the scoreboard (optional charity donation)

I'll let you know if I think of anything else.

Oh if you can find a course walk going on on thursday/friday they're usually good.

There is a 2nd ring which runs the burghley young event horse classes and pony club team jumping if you want to watch something else/everything else has finished.

Watching XC we tend to get out on course before the start - this did once backfire as the fog came down so there was a half hour delay but that was aided by a chocolate crepe.

There are water points so bring a bottle.

 

[honetpot]

I booked caravan membership last year, for the first time, and I had been going for over thirty years, and I would recommend it. Depending on where you source your caravan or camper from it's not expensive, you miss the traffic, you can save on food, and essential for me, I can have a nana nap if I get tired and spend extra time in bed.
If you eat out book early because most places were doing last food orders at eight, or were fully booked.
I am not fussed about the XC, so I usually give away the tickets to a friend.

 

[Hobo2]

Thanks Tiddlypom, I am hoping that my accommodation is really within walking distance. I have been to the Adelaide (Aus) 3 day but I imagine Burghley is very different. I am really looking forward to it.

oh that was salt in the wounds for me . We booked to go this October just gone to Adelaide. after following the keep the date to after we have booked everything they moved date toApril.
Luckily I am sure this will not happen to you with Burghley.
My main tip is make sure you have very good walking footware. You will have a wonderful time

 

[Morganfan]

Thanks everyone, paid for the flights yesterday so it looks like I am definitely coming ! Still unsure what ticket to purchase, anyone have ideas about what the cost will be this year?

 

[lannerch]

Thanks everyone, paid for the flights yesterday so it looks like I am definitely coming ! Still unsure what ticket to purchase, anyone have ideas about what the cost will be this year?

Costs not yet released , if there is 2 of you and your going for all 4 days membership is definitely worth it , it’s not a lot more and gets you better viewing on dressage day and always a comfortable place to sit along with premium loos with a lot smaller queues ( usually only queues cc day)

 

[ester]

Membership is definitely worth it if 2 of you, my post was because you’d said would be only you.

 

[bubsqueaks]

I booked caravan membership last year, for the first time, and I had been going for over thirty years, and I would recommend it. Depending on where you source your caravan or camper from it's not expensive, you miss the traffic, you can save on food, and essential for me, I can have a nana nap if I get tired and spend extra time in bed.
If you eat out book early because most places were doing last food orders at eight, or were fully booked.
I am not fussed about the XC, so I usually give away the tickets to a friend.

Interested to hear any feedback you have regarding the campsite as looking to camp this year - the layout looks quite complicated as to which space to chose - are there plenty of shower/toilet blocks? thank you

 

[Morganfan]

Just looked at the tickets and now just confused as to what to purchase so some help would be appreciated. What does the Season ticket get you? My favourite is XC, do I need another ticket for that or does the season ticket get me in there? I know I need a seperate SJ ticket for the Sunday.
I don't understand the dressage tickets it is all a bit different to what we do in Australia for the big events.
It looks like I am definitely coming alone so the membership ticket is out. Help please.

 

[Tiddlypom]

The general admission season ticket gets you entrance every day to the event - dressage, XC and SJ. You are not going to need a car pass.



While as you know you will need a SJ ticket to get a grandstand seat for the Sunday, it's up to you whether to buy a ticket for the dressage. Tickets will get you the best view in stands F&G, but the rest of the seats are unreserved and free, and people come and go throughout the day. I've never had any trouble finding free seats for dressage.

 

[Morganfan]

Thank you so much Tiddlypom, Season ticket and SJ ticket it is.

 

[bubsqueaks]

Tickets on sale today if buying Membership too - how exciting cant wait!!