Five Things You Should Know Before Attending Burghley Horse Trials

It’s been quite some number of years since I made a trip to Burghley Horse Trials but with my 40th coming up we thought it would be nice to take a visit! We went off in the camper van with both dogs in tow ready to go and watch the Cross Country. Whilst there I soon remembered that there are a few essentials things you should know before attending so if you are a first time visitor hopefully this will help you out!

1. Be Prepared To Walk Miles – Our step counter was over 20,000 steps by the time we left and we didn’t even walk all of the course. The ground was dry so we didn’t need wellies or boots but whatever the weather comfortable footwear is a must. Obviously Cross Country Day tends to involve the most walking but even on the other days it a long trip around the shops and the car parks are quite a trek. Keep it in mind when taking children or dogs with you and be realistic as to what they can manage. Elsie our Golden Retriever did a few classic flops on the floor and refused to move! We definitely underestimated the walk back to the car.
2. It’s Expensive – There’s no getting away from it, it is very expensive but it is an amazing day out. Be sure to go with others that will really appreciate it – aka anyone who loves horses and shopping! Don’t forget to budget for the never ending shops and food stands too.
3. Shop Till You Drop – It’s difficult to describe the extent of the shopping at Burghley and we’re not just talking about equestrian shops. There is plenty of non horsey options there to choose from. Browse multiple marquees full of crafts and smaller businesses then venture into the luxurious stands of the larger brands. Fairfax and Favour even had their own Saxophone player or grab a glass of bubbles as you buy your Dubarrys! Make sure you take in all the options in the Food Isle – the perfect place to find your lunch and pick up some yummy goodies to take home too. I could go on but I’ll leave you to discover all the shopping delights yourself. Question is should The Horse Diva have a stand there one year?
4. You Can’t Avoid the Queues (much) – At some point of the day you will end up queuing whether that be in the car or on foot. If you want to avoid the worst of the traffic then travel early and have breakfast on arrival. The shopping gets particularly busy during the breaks/ after the horses have finished competing so keep this in mind if you don’t want to tackle the worst crowds. Dressage days tend to be quieter for shopping overall.
5. XC Day is the Best Day to Take the Dogs – Burghley is super dog friendly but of course dogs are not allowed into the arena so you’re not going to see much of the equestrian action if you take your dogs on the Dressage / Showjumping Days. Cross Country is a great day to go if you’re dog enjoys walking and is good with the crowds etc. Of course dogs must be on the lead at all times and they are welcome in the shopping marquees etc. However if the temperature is hot I would definitely leave them at home as there isn’t a massive amount of shade about and it is not worth the risk of your dog overheating.

So if you’re thinking of taking a trip to Burghley in 2026 we hope the above helps you to arrive there fully prepared! In the meantime take a look at our YouTube below showing a few snippets of our lovely day out.