Visiting Badminton horse trials - advice?

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Taking DD to Badminton for the first time this year, we're just doing the weekend.

We'll probably camp, any recommendations on campsites (the on-site one is booked out)?

Are the roads around it really busy? Would we be crazy to drive in each day?

Any other top tips?

Thanks 😊

Yes, roads are ridiculously busy and queues have in the past been hours long. Plan on getting there very early and walking the course on Sat, browsing stalls etc on Sun and generally hanging about a bit for the riders to start (that or sit in the car for ages in queues listening to Badminton radio and cursing because you're in the car missing people riding). I've driven in each day but don't live far away and got there early doors :)

Thanks, that's really helpful! I was considering driving part way there and cycling the last few miles. Would that work? (We have electric bikes)

When you say "early" what do you mean? 8am?

Also, we have a camper van so can just pull the bed down and snooze if we want to

Yes to getting there very early. Roads will be v slow in and out.
Take absolutely inordinate amounts of cash

I've already told DD to start saving, my pockets are not deep enough to support all her horse kit needs!

UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea Its a very very very long drive from the road to the parking (at least it is in the direction I come from!) and I wouldn't want to cycle down there! And theres always the issue of where to store the bikes and that at the end of the day, by the time you've walked the course a couple of times, your legs will be knackered and the cycle back, even with electric bikes, will have little appeal!

Agree with getting there v early - gates open at 7am on XC day and I usually get there for around 7.30. There's still a queue but not a bad one. Buy tickets beforehand if you can as sometimes the card machines don't connect to the wifi properly. Take plenty of water and snacks in a back pack rather than buying there as the prices are extortionate. Remember that many things there can be bought cheaper online or in the actual shop .

It worth getting a running order to go with your programme - they are usually somewhere near the scoreboard and tell you the rider times. Very helpful if you want to watch a particular rider

Thanks @blobby10 I think in that case we'll drive in early and have a snooze in the van until everything opens up. We can use the van as our own mini cafe during the day (assuming the car park isn't a million miles away from the action).

We have our tickets - they say on the website they're not doing any on the day.

UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea Everything opens up really early and if you want to walk the course, get that done first! My daughter and I usually walk the course first then go around again and watch one horse at each fence . We haven't done Sundays at Badminton but have done both at Burghley and recommend the shops first thing on Sunday

In addition to Blobby10's advice, I'd recommend going back to the trade stands after the last horse has gone. The majority of people all leave straight after the last horse, so you can sit in traffic for a couple of hours to get out, too, if you leave then. We tend to get there early, walk the course, do the trade stands before the first horse. First horse doesn't usually go xc until at least 11, sometimes after midday (depending on entries and whatever). Spend the whole time during xc on the course watching (I never understand all the people who go there then miss most of the action by being in the bar / by the big telly screen / in the trade stands) then back to shopping after - most trade stands stay open for a good couple of hours, and, especially on the Sunday, many reduce prices in the afternoon, as they don't want to have to pack stuff up again!
Walking the course beforehand, and getting an idea of layout really helps you to identify which jumps you really want to see horses over, and which you don't mind so much. The lake, and getting to the front of the crowd is often pretty nuts, to be honest.
Take a back-pack with your lunch and drinks so you don't need to go back to the van too much, and plan your day so that you're at a jump near the car park when you need to go back to the van, so you don't miss too many horses. Horses usually set off about 4 minutes apart.
Enjoy it, it's really amazing.
Oh, and take sunglasses and sunscreen, plus waterproofs and comfortable footwear you can walk in all day - with Badminton, you can easily get sunburn or foot-rot!

Really helpful @Biddie191 thank you!

I've now managed to get into their own campsite so travelling back and forth every day won't be a problem. DD is beside herself with excitement!

UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea oooh, brilliant! We were going to camp, but not sure what's happening with exams etc, so haven't booked yet. I will have a look at the website.... we used to camp every year when I was growing up, it was our annual holiday really!
If you're camping there, walking across to the XC course is really quick (you can cut through the woods near the huntsman's copse area) so unless you're buying big items, then we would just walk across daily, rather than battle with the queues of cars. If you walk the XC course on the Friday night after dressage, you'll probably spy some of the competitors walking the course too, which is great. Most are really friendly x

Well, we're here! Arrived this evening so no actual horse-related stuff as yet, just dinner and getting the van ready for bunking down.

There's a lot of posh people here, isn't there ?😀

I’m beyond jealous OP ! Was the campsite expensive can I ask ? I’m thinking of hiring a motor home next year and making it my holiday !

I can't remember how much the camping was but it wasn't too much on top of the daily admission charge - I think I paid £200ish? The campsite is pretty basic but the luxury of just walking back to your bed for the night is great.

We had so much fun today, Shetland Pony Grand National and cross country. The shopping is overwhelming and there a 1000s of very cute dogs as a bonus.

My DD sprained her ankle badly a couple of weeks ago so we had to miss Badminton this year - have decided to do each other a joint birthday treat next year and go and camp for four days! Any tips about the campsite UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea??

@blobby10 re camping I'd say bring as much food in with you as you can, the food onsite is ridiculously expensive, and you can waste a lot of time in queues. So bring picnics for the days and simple breakfasts/dinners.

Camping is pretty rough and ready, portaloos and temporary showers. Field not mown beforehand. We were also treated to baying hounds hourly 😀 but that's all part of the fun.

Bring wetwipes!

All the other advice on this thread is excellent. It was really hot this weekend so suncream and hats were a must.

The queue to leave was unbelievable. 1 hour 45 minutes just to exit the campsite! Probably better off hanging around for a couple of hours after the showjumping finishes and resigning yourself to getting home really late. Nevertheless we are already planning next year's trip!

UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea thank you so much for the insights. Hopefully both daughter and I can get time off work for it next year! Might see you there

There is a really decent little shop in the village for supplies, if you go again - so instead of walking up through the big gates from the campsite, go on past a hundred yards or so. Really nice people, and they don't put prices up over the event, so normal village shop prices - often have really good sausages, too.
We always go off and re-walk the course, or have a picnic, or just chill after showjumping, as 90% of people all try to leave at the same time, and it will take you a couple of hours to get to the motorway. We left at about 7.30, and it was still busy, but more like 40 minutes or so.
Weather can be anything from heavy rain to blazing hot, so take everything from wellies and waterproofs to sunscreen and shades!
It really is a fantastic experience