Devon County Show: A First-Timer's Guide to Tickets, Parking, and What to Wear

Farm machinery the size of a bungalow, sheep with rosettes on their pens, a brass band somewhere behind the food hall, and a queue for ice cream that never seems to get shorter. The Devon County Show fills a whole day and then some. If you have never been, the practical side can feel like a lot to work out in advance: which day to go, where to leave the car, what on earth to wear when the forecast says one thing and the clouds do another.

None of it is complicated once you know how the day works. Here is what to sort out beforehand, and what to put on your feet when you get there.

The show is usually held over three days in May at Westpoint, on the eastern edge of Exeter, and it is one of the largest agricultural shows in the South West. That scale is worth remembering: the showground is big, the walk between rings is longer than you think, and comfortable shoes matter more than any other decision you make that morning.

Sort Your Tickets Before You Go

Buying in advance is almost always cheaper and quicker than paying at the gate, and it removes one queue from your day. Go to the show's own website rather than a resale site. If you do buy from a third party, check the show's terms first, because tickets bought unofficially can be refused at the gate.

Which day should you pick? Thursday and Friday are usually the quieter days, with more room at the ringside and shorter queues for food. Saturday draws the biggest crowd and has the best atmosphere if you do not mind the squeeze. Family tickets, child rates and concessions vary from year to year, so check the current details on the official site rather than assuming last year's prices still apply.

Children under a certain age often go free, and carers' tickets are usually covered too, but confirm both when you book. If anyone in your group has mobility needs, contact the show in advance about accessible parking and the best gate to use. Sorting that out beforehand saves a long walk or an awkward conversation at the entrance.

Getting There: Parking, Traffic and the Bus Option

Most people drive, and the roads east of Exeter get busy from mid-morning. Aim to be arriving as the gates open, or come after the first wave has settled. The middle of the morning is the slowest window, and it is the same story on the way out, so plan for a pause before you reach the main road.

Follow the stewards and the temporary signs rather than your satnav, which will happily send you down a lane that is closed for the day. Parking is on the showground itself, and once you are parked, take a photo of your row marker and the nearest gate on your phone. At the end of a long day, every field looks identical.

If you would rather not drive, bus services from Exeter and shuttle-style routes have run in previous years, and the show publishes a travel page with timetables. That page is the only source worth trusting, because routes and pickup points change. Arriving by bus also drops you closer to the entrance than most car parks.

What to Wear: Devon Weather Does What It Likes

A May day at Westpoint can be warm enough for short sleeves by lunchtime and cold enough for a jacket by four o'clock. It can also rain sideways for twenty minutes and then clear completely. Dress for both and you will be comfortable regardless.

Start with layers: a T-shirt, a mid-layer, and a waterproof jacket with a hood that you can tie around your waist if the sun comes out. Bring sun cream and a hat as well. The showground is open and shade is limited, so a bright afternoon catches people out.

Footwear is the real decision

Grass, mud, gravel, straw and tarmac all feature in a single lap of the showground. Waterproof boots are the safe choice if there has been rain in the days before, and wellies are never wasted in a wet May. In a dry spell, supportive trainers with proper grip will do. What you want to avoid is anything new, anything with a heel, and anything you would mind ruining. This is not a day for sandals.

What to Pack

• A card for the main ticket and food outlets, plus some cash for smaller stalls and rural craft stands
• A refillable water bottle
• Sun cream and a hat
• A light waterproof, even if the forecast looks good
• A tote bag or small rucksack for purchases
• A phone charger or power bank
• For children: a named water bottle, snacks, and a note of your phone number in a pocket

Dogs, Children and Other Practicalities

Dogs have traditionally been welcome on leads in the outdoor areas of the show, but not near livestock or inside food halls and some marquees. Rules are tightened from time to time, so check before you set off rather than being turned away at the gate.

With children, the show is a genuinely easy day out. There is plenty to watch, from heavy horses to sheep shearing, and most of it is free once you are inside. Pushchairs cope with the main paths but struggle on wet grass, so a carrier is easier if the ground is soft. Write your mobile number on a wristband or a piece of card for younger children, and agree a meeting point at the start in case you get separated in a crowd.

Food is plentiful, from sit-down lunches to pie stalls and ice cream vans. Queues peak between about half past twelve and two. Eat early or late and you will spend less of the day standing in line. Loos are spread across the site, with more near the main entrances and food areas.

Making the Most of the Day

Pick up a programme at the gate and choose three things you genuinely want to see, whether that is the livestock classes, the equine rings, the flower tent or the cookery demonstrations. Build the rest of the day around those, and let the wandering happen in between. Trying to see everything is the most reliable way to enjoy none of it.

Wear the day in gently. The first hour is for the parts you came for, while the crowds are still thin. The middle of the day suits the food halls and the craft marquees, and the late afternoon is the best time for the main ring and for shopping as stallholders start thinking about packing up.

Final Practical Notes

Charge your phone, take cash as a backup, and set off earlier than feels necessary. If the weather turns, the marquees are warm and dry and there is always something happening under cover, so a shower does not have to end the day.

Above all, wear the right shoes and pack a waterproof. Everything else at the Devon County Show can be worked out as you go, and half the pleasure of a first visit is turning a corner and finding something you had no idea would be there.

Photo: Chadlad / Pixabay