Burghley has got expensive

Hi,
Have you not got a gang of bods to take with you? It is so much more fun being an 'expert' with a friend on the jumps you would never jump :) ...and the shopping is second to none...
Put an ask on here to see if anyone wants to go with you? Great way to make some new buddies.
Personally I don't think this is too expensive :)
Bryndu
 
I've always thought things like this were expensive, they seem to go up year after year although no reason is ever given. How they justify the price is beyond me.
 
I don't ever remember the entrance being cheap, tbh at these top BE events. It's always been a bit poor that they charge for children over 12 at full price too, and that it goes up on xc day, but I guess they need a lot of extra staff that day (but most are volunteers!)

However it's worth it when you get there, it's impressive. I don't think the shopping is cheap at these events though, and I'd suggest taking your own food too.
 
I don't ever remember the entrance being cheap, tbh at these top BE events. It's always been a bit poor that they charge for children over 12 at full price too, and that it goes up on xc day, but I guess they need a lot of extra staff that day (but most are volunteers!)

However it's worth it when you get there, it's impressive. I don't think the shopping is cheap at these events though, and I'd suggest taking your own food too.



Ooo yes..defo take your own food...you can sit and eat it out on the course :)

Bryndu
 
It is the prime reason I'm not going. I like to go on my own and then I can do what I want!

What gets me is that XC day is sooo much more expensive than the other days!!!
 
Went to Millstreet 3* last week, drove in, no cost, parked by water jump, visited the two trade stands, had lovely time in beautiful surroundings, no rip offs and no being tripped up by dogs on flexi leads and crushed by crowds. Lovely day out.
 
I had a fabulous day at Drishane (millstreet) 3* too - the jumps were absolutely beautiful, each one had a notice beside it with the history of the farm yard, water wheel, bridge etc where it was situated. - sometimes the smaller 3* events - like Burnham and the others are much more fun, and free! I have been to Burghley the past 3 years, twice on the xc day and last year on Friday- and it was just as good, saw all the horses close up, did loads of shopping and had a really enjoyable relaxed day. 3 years ago on xc day hardly anyone completed the xc and we were waiting ages between horses!
 
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I agree that it is very expensive but I love going. I know a lot of people prefer burghley but I love badminton the most! This year was fab as we were able to camp in the horse box, I think it is such a shame that you have to stay in a caravan for burghley as I would have preferred to have gone for a long weekend, there is just too much to see and do in 1 day but as I don't own a caravan I can't :( So now it is a toss up between going tomorrow, paying top price and not seeing much as hubby will want to shop shop shop or going on Sunday and watching snippets on the big screen?!

Edited to add, the best way to do Burghley we find last year was to do the sponsored ride on the Sunday as you then get free entry for the rest of the day so you can go round and finish what shopping you didn't manage to do on the Saturday!
 
The other nice thing about Millstreet was that it was a three star not four star so you weren't treated to horrible pictures of horses being yanked and pulled about to make the combinations (I know the good people make it look easy but the not so experienced make four stars look horrible)
It was beautifully flowing and very inviting, I wondered why more weren't there?
Also I hate shopping and think it's the main reason the internet was invented!
 
I know why they do the car thing but it is annoying as I too quite like going to things on own or have done in the past. Having said that a friend and I went to little Gatcombe last year which was free to get into and had a lovely time of it.
 
I agree that it is very expensive but I love going. I know a lot of people prefer burghley but I love badminton the most! This year was fab as we were able to camp in the horse box, I think it is such a shame that you have to stay in a caravan for burghley as I would have preferred to have gone for a long weekend, there is just too much to see and do in 1 day but as I don't own a caravan I can't :( So now it is a toss up between going tomorrow, paying top price and not seeing much as hubby will want to shop shop shop or going on Sunday and watching snippets on the big screen?!

Edited to add, the best way to do Burghley we find last year was to do the sponsored ride on the Sunday as you then get free entry for the rest of the day so you can go round and finish what shopping you didn't manage to do on the Saturday!

We have a caravan but wouldn't dream of camping at the Burghley campsite, they're like sardines in there. We camp at a nearby site in Rutland called Wing Hall that will also take tents and would probably take lorries if you asked.
 
Just thought I'd do a comparison with other sporting events (using Ticketmaster prices) are my findings were:
Rugby World Cup £46; Cricket One Day Event £36; Football Intl £35; Gymnastics £40; Ice Hockey £20; Drag Racing £65; Tennis £26; Canoeing £11 & Dart £23
Not sure how many of these are full day events.

Just also worked out that driving to Peterborough parking all day and getting the train to Stamford would cost £21.
 
Just thought I'd do a comparison with other sporting events (using Ticketmaster prices) are my findings were:
Rugby World Cup £46; Cricket One Day Event £36; Football Intl £35; Gymnastics £40; Ice Hockey £20; Drag Racing £65; Tennis £26; Canoeing £11 & Dart £23
Not sure how many of these are full day events.

Just also worked out that driving to Peterborough parking all day and getting the train to Stamford would cost £21.

Rugby world cup at £46 is undoutedly a child's ticket or a match between two lesser nations - the England matches start at £160 for an adult. I can assure you my tickets for Twickenham tomorrow were not £46 (almost double in fact) and that's for a 80 minute international match. Cricket matches at international level say at Lords are closer to £100, Wimbledon starts around £80 in the first week etc.

I never find eventing expensive in terms of entry price, especially not for the 4* and 3* events - you're looking at six or seven HOURS of world class/top level sport, plus shopping, a good walk in a nice location for a fairly decent pound per minute experience!
 
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Though it used to be entry per car load now you have to pay for the car and each spectator so its not 40 for a car load but 40 for the first person and the ticket price per extra person in the car
This is why I stopped going as we used to pile in the car and it made is a good day with the costs shared between us
 
Living in Devon I've only made it to Burghley once, and that was many years ago. We have the enjoyment of occasionally following Charlotte Rowe to events, seeing our logo on her numnah is great, and we see just as many famous names and a lot closer up than at the big events, and entry is generally free, we've been to Launceston and Bicton this year with no entrance fee at all. True, there aren't loads of trade stands, but the friendly feeling is great. OH 'borrowed' water from Mary King at Launceston HT, I swear he came back star struck!
 
I work in events (not equestrian!) and don't think it's that expensive. Visitor prices go up year on year because the prices for the organisers go up. Most businesses put their prices up every couple of years (normally in line with inflation, which has been low recently admittedly) and there are literally 100s of suppliers - from the marquee suppliers and the people that put them up to company that makes the temporary signs and the rope that lines the course, the company that supplies the tickets and the website, the advertising, the photgraphers and videographers, first aid team, etc etc etc As a goodwill gesture volunteers normally get food and that costs too!!
 
Well I've decided against it this year and I shall be an armchair spectator instead. I definitely want to visit next year though, as I agree with everyone it is a great day out and at least I know what it is going to cost me (entrance, fuel etc.) so I can set money aside.

I might even take a look at some of the 3* events also
 
Blimey! Just paid £35 for a weekend ticket to the Europeans at Blair. Will be my first and possibly only visit to a major championships and I can't wait!

I'm also going to Blair next weekend, very excited! I was wondering why it doesn't seem to be mentioned much in magazines I've read, in lists of upcoming championships etc....am I looking in the wrong places? Or is it just not as big a deal? Anyway, it will be my first visit to something like this so I can't wait either!
 
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