First Timer at Badminton

[SibeliusMB]

I booked my tickets to attend Badminton last week (Fri/Sat)! Going down Tues-Sun and hoping to explore The Cotswolds, Cheddar Gorge, and whatever else is a "must-do" in the area on the days I'm not at Badminton. Booked the cutest AirBnB about 25 minutes away.

Anyone have any particular advice for the event itself (must eat food, vendors, parking, etc) or places in the area to visit? I am SO ready to play tourist!


ETA: I thought I had put this thread in the Tack Room! Oops...

 

[ihatework]

How exciting!

I’m a Badminton local so its always a fun week for me.

Which direction is your B&B in? Are you going solo or with partner?

Badminton itself – well don’t necessarily write off the Wednesday, especially if you like young horses. We have a competition called Burghley Young Event Horse, which is a bit of a showcase for producers with 4 and 5yo horses, it runs in an outside ring and I quite like to park myself and just watch and keep a note on bloodlines and what I like. Then late afternoon you have the trot up in front of the house, if you want a good spot you have to get there early otherwise you are straining to see.

Dressage days – worth getting a head set, usually amusing commentary to go alongside.

XC day is mayhem, although this year possibly a bit better as its pre-booking only. There are big screens dotted around and at some of the bigger fence complexes the odd stand/wagon for viewing (although fills up quick). The last Badminton that ran they tried to introduce a new QR code ticket system that was a massive failure (signal issues) and meant even bigger queues and delas to get in than normal. I’d say aim to get there super early (8 ish), have breakfast there, a wander around the course and pick a vantage point.

Personally, unless I’m doing the finish box for a friend, I do not go in on XC day!!

On SJ day you have an early trot up. Also you can rewalk the xc and get up to the fences (you must stay off track until after xc completed).

Shopping wise, it’s vast so do your shopping on Wed/dressage days unless you want a mental breakdown over dogs, prams, old people in tweed, teenagers looking at tat etc on XC day. Its rammed and quite unpleasant.

Eating – well there are stacks of outlets, standard fast food event type stuff, but also some nicer bits and a marquee area by the scoreboard. You won’t go short if you want to buy food.

Parking – well where you park will primarily be dictated from where you are arriving from – it is country lanes coming in and you will be filtered to the nearest car park. For Wed/Thur/Fri it tends to just be the main car park anyway. XC days has lots of alternative parking, so if you are planning on doing a picnic then I’d suggest going in off the Sopworth lane to park at Lake, or Luckington Lane carpark (the ease of access to those will depend on which direction you are coming from).

There is also a bit of partying at the lake on Friday and Saturday, live music, alcohol etc and plenty of locals behaving badly!

I’m not much into touristy stuff so can’t really help with that. If you want local and quaint, Tetbury might be worth a wander around, but its mostly just antique shops, overpriced cafes and a couple of expensive clothes shops! Good place to go for supper out one night, Chipping Sodbury another option for evening eating. If you want names of local pubs I can give you those too.

 

[eggs]

IHW has covered it pretty well. I always try to park at the lake car park but get there early as the queues to get into the main car park on xc day are usually horrendous. Usually I don't go on xc day and watch it on the red button but as it is not on this year and a friend is riding (very excited for her) I am going down on the Saturday as well as the Friday.

It is best to walk the course on the Friday as it will be really crowded on the Saturday and ditto with shopping.

Depending on where your AirBnB is there are a lot of pretty Cotswold villages to visit but other than wandering around them there usually isn't much else to do. Bath isn't too far away and is worth a visit.

Have fun - it is usually a lovely day (or two) out.

 

[humblepie]

Loos - there are normally some nicer loos behind the trade stands near where the big screen/food area is. Much nice ones than the individual portaloos by the car park.

I quite like to wander over to the entrance to the stable area - horses normally being hand grazed and can get some quite arty photos through the archway to the stabling.

Burford is quite nice to visit. Bourton on the Water very popular tourist destination but probably wouldn't be that busy in early May.

 

[Northern Hare]

You're going to love visiting Badminton, it really is fantastic.

Not much to add to the above advice - only to say get there as early as you can to get decent parking and to avoid the queues, it makes a huge difference - in the past there have been lengthy queues build up on XC day - hopefully they'll be better this year, but I'd much rather get there early on (8am'ish as you're staying nearby) and be having a coffee before everyone arrives, than sitting in a queue in your car.

 

[Starzaan]

Another Badminton local here, whereabouts is your B&B?

 

[Nicnac]

We're there too camping in horsebox. It's been toooo long since the last one!

Don't forget the grassroots national championships on Wednesday at 90 and 100cm level. Their XC course is in the main park with dressage and showjumping in back fields. Lots to see on the Wednesday as they go XC along with the youngsters as IHW said. I think it's free to get in?

A very important part of Badminton i.e. the shopping is best done on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday it gets busier, Saturday is a nightmare around the trade stands so best to keep to the XC course where's there's lots of food options (pricey). Make sure you get to main arena to clap in some of the finishers - it's a great place to be and I find it can be quite emotional - especially when a first timer finishes well. Head to the lake at the end of XC which is great fun for a drink to celebrate/commiserate.

It's a beautiful area and Burford is lovely. My grandparents lived in Lechlade where there's a lovely pub called The Trout Inn right on the river. Both before Badminton so depends which side of Badminton you're staying.

 

[ester]

My old local, and we did spend some years camping for the duration too.
We used to walk the course on the thurs/fri (great if you can get on a course walk) and then on saturday park ourselves on a comfy chair next to the big screen with lots of food options either side for the day. Mostly because if you are trying to follow the whole competition, and even with badminton radio (worth having but tend to take my own little FM rather than buy one ) you miss a lot/any of the interesting bits if you are trying to walk the course with everyone else. I'm a bit anti people too
Def aim for getting in 8 or before on saturday.

Also,
cheddar gorge isnt that interesting but probably because I grew up with it ? Arguably with grass roots also going on we've been well occupied on site from the tuesday

 

[RachelFerd]

Just go to badminton every day. Bristol is a great city to visit, as is bath if you want a day away. There's nothing of any interest in the countryside nearby, bar walking in the Cotswolds. Says the sour person who grew up locally and had nothing to do bar horses!!

 

[ycbm]

Dyrham Park is only just down the road if you want to see a lovely old mansion in quiet parkland. It doesn't compare with Badminton, but you really can't see the beauty of Badminton and imagine living there in past times while the competition is on and Dyrham is very nice.
.

 

[littleshetland]

If your planning on venturing into somerset and visiting Cheddar Gorge(ous), definitely visit Wells Cathedral , its beautiful.

 

[littleshetland]

.....and if you've got enough time, go a bit further on to Glastonbury. I think I can safely say, you'll probably never have seen anywhere like Glastonbury before!

 

[ester]

TBF you could do a fairly sensible cheddar/glastonbury/wells loop in a day, if you really wanted ?

 

[SibeliusMB]

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate everyon's insight!

I think I may drop in on Weds for the Grassroots stuff, especially if it's free. Other than that though, I think I'm about spent with two days at an event. I plan to watch some of the dressage on Friday, explore the vendors' booths, try to get on a course walk, and enjoy whatever food trucks are out there. Saturday I know will be mad, but I wanted the Badminton XC experience, so I'll be ready to suffer. I've done Kentucky 5* as well and the XC day is always the big draw. Otherwise, I want for these few days away to be relaxing. Some leisurely walks through villages in the Cotswolds, some photos at the gorge, etc is fine by me. This is my first proper holiday since moving here and quiet/relaxing is goal!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

It is a lovely part of the country, if you are there for extra holiday, try to go into the Cheddar Gorge caves (there are usually tours and it's NOT potholing, imho Glastonbury is just another small town full of hippy-types, the likes of which can certainly be seen around me. If you go a bit further you can go to Stonehenge/or Avebury to see the neolithic stones. Enjoy your break!

 

[teapot]

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate everyon's insight!

I think I may drop in on Weds for the Grassroots stuff, especially if it's free. Other than that though, I think I'm about spent with two days at an event. I plan to watch some of the dressage on Friday, explore the vendors' booths, try to get on a course walk, and enjoy whatever food trucks are out there. Saturday I know will be mad, but I wanted the Badminton XC experience, so I'll be ready to suffer. I've done Kentucky 5* as well and the XC day is always the big draw. Otherwise, I want for these few days away to be relaxing. Some leisurely walks through villages in the Cotswolds, some photos at the gorge, etc is fine by me. This is my first proper holiday since moving here and quiet/relaxing is goal!

Just be aware that Kentucky on xc day has nothing on Badminton numbers wise! So if you want mad, you're in the right place.

I've always walked the course backwards at Badminton. Food tends to be pretty generic out on course sadly.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

I've won some Friday tickets. Will I need grandstand tickets to see any dressage or are there areas where you can sit & watch without a grandstand ticket?

 

[Northern Hare]

I've won some Friday tickets. Will I need grandstand tickets to see any dressage or are there areas where you can sit & watch without a grandstand ticket?

For the dressage on Thursday and Friday there are stands available where you can sit and watch the dressage without buying a grandstand ticket - usually some covered and some uncovered seats. You can buy grandstand tickets if you want to sit behind the judges box at C.

Also, they usually have dressage commentary on Radio Badminton, you can buy little radios there or tune in via a radio App on your phone ?

Ps. Well done on winning the dressage tickets! ?

 

[Orangehorse]

Just check on the prices before you go, not sure that Grass Roots IS free (it used to be, but that was several years ago). You don't want a nasty surprise. Also, just check if you need to pay in cash, card, or even if you need to pre-book.

I turned up at Hartpury last year and didn't know that I was supposed to have pre-booked. Luckily it was early and they dealt with me on the gate!

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

For the dressage on Thursday and Friday there are stands available where you can sit and watch the dressage without buying a grandstand ticket - usually some covered and some uncovered seats. You can buy grandstand tickets if you want to sit behind the judges box at C.

Also, they usually have dressage commentary on Radio Badminton, you can buy little radios there or tune in via a radio App on your phone ?

Ps. Well done on winning the dressage tickets! ?

Thank you. I'm very excited. Last time I was at Badminton they had roads & tracks and a steeplechase I was very young.

I did enter for the dressage days on purpose; I enjoy the more relaxed shopping and I can watch the xc on tv without thinking I'll miss something. We will walk the course on Friday while we're there.

 

[Northern Hare]

Here's the info from the Badminton website ref grandstand tickets for the dressage for Friday.

Also, just checking that they've also given you the car parking tickets as well as the admission tickets - if not you'll need to buy the car parking ticket online before Friday as this year they're not seeking any tickets on the gate this year. ?

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Here's the info from the Badminton website ref grandstand tickets for the dressage for Friday.

Also, just checking that they've also given you the car parking tickets as well as the admission tickets - if not you'll need to buy the car parking ticket online before Friday as this year they're not seeking any tickets on the gate this year. ?

View attachment 91751

Yes, they've sent me a parking pass as well as tickets. Thanks for mentioning it.

 

[Northern Hare]

Yes, they've sent me a parking pass as well as tickets. Thanks for mentioning it.

That's great news - I would have hated for you to get there and not be able to get into the car park!! It's a great prize you've won! ?

 

[asmp]

I’ve also won some tickets but for Thursday. Not been before so looking forward to a day out ?

 

[Tiddlypom]

Not going this year, but when we go it is always just for the Thursday. Get there early then there is plenty of time to walk the XC, take in the shopping and watch a fair bit of dressage.

Then drive home to get ready to watch the XC on the Sat from the comfort of the sitting room, without the crowds .

 

[Bernster]

We’re there for the weekend but it’s sold out for the sj on Sunday ! Love the xc day in particular. Have an awesome time.

 

[Muddywellies]

I always go on dressage days as xc day is absolute chaos! I love to watch the dressage in the comfort of the undercover seating whilst eating lunch, and have a mooch round the shops. Shopping on xc day is nigh on impossible. You'll see more of the xc at home on the telly.

 

[SibeliusMB]

Well...I think I'm skipping XC day after all.

I've had a lovely couple days in the Cotswolds. Castle Combe, Tetbury, and Bourton-on-the-Water were all lovely! I spent the whole day yesterday at Cheddar Gorge. Hiked the entire cliffside walk (which is anything but, by the way ?...it's a proper mountain climb in some places), then mooched around in town, had lunch, explored the caves, and then came back to my Airbnb and collapsed.

I did Badders today and got my fill of shopping. The XC walk was slow torture because of how tired I was from the five or so miles and lots of climbing up/down yesterday. It was quite busy and I'm not sure I'm interested in fighting an even larger crowd tomorrow. I'm also physically drained from all the driving, hiking, and walking around so I'm looking forward to going home early to see Sig and sleep in my own bed. I see a hot Epsom salt bath and XC on TV in my future tomorrow. ?

 

[humblepie]

Glad you had a fab time and enjoyed the places you visited. Enjoy your bath and TV. I’m local to Badminton and not been cross country day for years. Sounds very busy already.