Great Dorset Steam Fair Reviews

A fantastic place, but a shortage of toilets. The Ques for the toilets are Ridiculous

Loved it. Went on a whim. So glad we did, went in the evening, children were free, the lights from all the rides made it look lovely and pretty. Children enjoyed all the rides, a few pounds a go, there was a market, rides, lots of stalls to eat at, lots of porter-loo's around, army tanks and vehicles, and even a motorbike/truck stunt show. Ice cream vans and even a little convenience store. It's only on during the August bank holiday, so if your in the area, I recommend going.

Love this place. amazing. Amazing.
So much to do there.
You need 2 or 3 days to fully appreciate it.
Really is a great place for adults and children. . Car shows, old bikes, tanks, steam tractors, steam everything.
We learnt so much...acres and acres of really cool stuff.. wonderful...
We explored the new and old market stalls.
We found lots of bargains. .
NIGHTIME it comes alive even more, the whole fair is filled with sound and lighting, a most wonderful experience for all the family. Fantastic old and new rides at the fun fair..
Oh and the wide range of food caters for every taste. From organic burgers, , hog roosts, Indian, Chinese to Portuguese custard tarts and much more... It is all there. We fell in love with the selection of try before you buy chutney and cheeses.. yum yum.
Most amazing place we've visited in years.
I'm going again next year for sure. Can't wait to get back to the fun..
3 days was not enough time to explore...

Went on Sunday tickets were cheaper was a lot of fun

This Steam Fair which has been held every year since 1968, when it was established. The venue is enormous and takes a great deal of energy to walk around the whole site, be warned. There are people carriers ( a tractor and trailer ) that can transport you around the showground if you don t feel like walking everywhere. I have covered this event in 2013 / 2014 and again in 2016.. The 2013 visit was a hard work for me after having open heart surgery that year. Having taken the decision to visit the 50th year show in 2018, I set off at 08.30 am from home. It was a bit of a gridlock around Blandford I had never seen it so bad this year. I think it was caused by the stewards not doing their jobs first thing as the traffic moved very little in one hour around Pimperne. I guess it was inevitable being the 50th Anniversary show. The new Day Car Park was a long walk from the showground, around 30 minutes and therefore 30 minutes back to the car.
There was no way in at 10.00 am unless you walked along the main road, only to be told we could not proceed by Security. I told them to get their act together as we were told what to do by the car park attendants. On the way home, a gate had finally ben undone to allow a safer return to the car park. No Zone Signs had been laid out so many people returning to their cars were searching a long time to find out where their car was parked. The people queuing to get in was a bit disorganised you had to go to the front of the queue to find out which line you had to be in, it would have been better to have the same signs at the start of the queue. It was a bit of a shambles with the organisation at first. But so many people had turned up for the first-day event. Inside a new layout caused some wandering about but they had many maps about the place to double check where you were. It was the final showing of the World One layout and display and they had made it much better this year. For me personally it was a tiring day out but that s only due to getting on in years and the sun coming out and vastness of this show. The actual show was good value there was so much to see and so many different food stalls that must have satisfied everyone. The only thing that spoilt it for me was the lack of knowledge of many of the stewards and Security people but I guess that was to be expected on the first day of this vast showground.
Steam engine exhibits, vintage vehicles, heavy shire horses and rural crafts are on display here each year. Working rural displays on a 600-acre site including old-time steam funfair. Widely recognised as the leading event of its type in the world with over 2,000 exhibits, 800 trade stalls and over 220 full-size steam engines. The showground is one of Europe's largest outdoor event locations. For the first 15 years of its existence the steam fair then known as the Stourpaine Steam Fair ~ was held at Stourpaine Bushes, then in 1985 it temporarily moved to nearby Everley Hill.. In 1988, after 3 years at Everley Hill, where access by large crowds was difficult, it moved to its current permanent home at Tarrant Hinton, north of Blandford Forum, where access is vastly improved. A great attraction at the show is the display of traction engines and steam rollers performing the work for which they were designed. Such displays include heavy haulage, threshing, sawing logs, ploughing and road-making. The main arena of the show is purposely sited on the slope of a hill to allow both steam- and internal combustion-powered machinery to demonstrate their capacity for heavy load hauling. One of the main displays is the ~ Showman's Line up, in the vintage fairground section, which is thought to be the largest collection of showman's engines in the world.

As ever a really great show, BUT! The management of the entry system was a disaster massive queues, jobs worth officials, someone should be sacked!!

Absolutely amazing day for all ages. We really loved the stunt shows and birds of prey. The WWII trenches and tunnels where also fabulous. The midnight blow of the whistles was amazing and worth staying out for.

Great day out with the family ,well worth the visit.

An experience of a lifetime. If you haven't been, then do so

It has to be done once. so glad we camped off site and used our motorbikes. the queue for 6 hours was no joke on the Saturday.

Was not as big as previous years seems to be getting smaller and more expensive was very disappointed this year

Incredible. More than a days worth of fun no matter which corner you go round you'll find something to look at with Breath in long list comming up with steam tractors , fun fair , lots of shopping tents , drag races but not conventional vehicle's , bar and more and thats durimg the day by night the fun dosent stop with the bar becoming a club with partying all night. All this is on for 3 days so you have time to see it all.

Big !!!!!! Loads to do and see .... Great entertainment and an absolute must for those with engineering interests .... Lots of shopping available too

Great atmosphere, loads to see and many many options for food and drink!! A great day out and more than enough for 2 or even 3 days!!

Great day out, but i think you would need at least 4 days to get round it all.

Haven't been for 11 years, but rather disappointed,stalls are all just like a cheap tat market,no descent stalls you usually get at a steam rally,no auto jumble egg really wasn't worth the inflated entry fee or time to travel there. Back to Onslow park next year

Been going for years exhibiting, 2018 was a shambles.

First time going and was the anniversary. Had the best day!

Looking forward to seeing the 50th anniversary show the weather was good on the first day (Thursday) what is usually the public car park on the Blandford entry point was just one large caravan park the public car park was now nearer to More

Absolutely amazing event! Massive beyond belief with sooooo much to see! Would easily need to a few days to fully explore!

We go every year and love it! Great for families too however this year was a mammoth let down. Luckily we chose not to stay in their campsite as friends of ours did so it could have been much worse for us. Lets hope it was just a blip and it will return to its fill wonderful glory next year

Very poor. I am disabled and was promised that there would be access to disabled toilets on site, they did not exist, the area designated for disabled toilets was a lorry park. If it wasn't for the very generous help from the stewards I would have been stranded in the cold and rain for hours. This was in 1918 the 50th anniversary of the shoe

Five glorious days of sunshine this year. Toilet situation was much improved over some previous years, also security was a lot more visible and active within the campsites. As usual GDSF provided enough interest and entertainment to keep us coming in and walking around for the 5 days, though by the Sunday I was ready to spend the entire afternoon in the Cider tent :)

Attend every year for the last 22! Always a enjoyable experience. Wide range of activities for all ages.

A Hugh event this year, went with my kids on the Saturday there's something there for everyone had a great time.

What an amazing event this is. No show quite like it. Its a must if you're in the area. It was the 50th this year and organisation of camping and security was poor but you cannot judge this event on just this year

Always a excellent show just the queing for 3 hours to get there was a let down this year

Well, the continental European has not seen anything like it. It is fabulous! Old machines without end and a great atmosphere. Come here!

Steam displays and music is always very good. We gave been attending this every year for past 5 years, we use the camp site which in the past has been good, with toilet facilities being cleaned and restocked regularly. This year the campsite was AWFUL, will NEVER go again. The toilets were not kept to a good hygienic standard, many were full due to not being emptied, no toilet paper, no Hand sanitizer. When we arrived at the campsite, there was no organisation, we were told we needed drive around the site ourselves to find a double pitch, again previously we were helped to find appropriate site, the camp site itself is huge it was like trying to find a needle in a haystack!! Poorly organised. Very disappointed.

Brilliant time there. Very interesting but fun as well

awesome special event would recommend to all.
fun for all ages.

Normally a Great show but found thete standsrds disapointing this year. A shame ad it was their 50th anniversary

I`ve been comin here 4 many years now but this year wasnt so enjoyable.there were far 2 many food vendors but didnt have much of anything else tbh.normally myself + my partner stay until around 6 or 7 pm but we left at 3 bcuz we were bored.the world war trenches were good though.well done 2 whoever's constructed them.although an hour + half wait in blazing sun with no shade wasnt good.

Stupid prices to get in and toilets are full and no toilet rolls anywhere. No seating this year bring your own chair, corners are being cut to save money. Getting greedy !!!!

Its the 3rd year i have gone to the gdsf and have never been disappointed and this year was even better being the 50th anniversary as we went as a party of 8 people and took 4 tractors ,2 from Jersey and 2 from Guernsey. With one of the Jersey tractors taking the best overseas trophy,well done to Derek and his international 444 .

GDSF is excellent but organisation leaves a lot to be desired. From arriving at 7.30 to a holding area we didn t get our final berthing position until 10.00 having to move twice.
The toilet facilities were awful, some didn t flush so you can imagine the result. The queues for the toilets were huge, I counted 47 people in one queue on an evening which resulted in the gents toilet being wherever there was a quiet corner to wee, not what you except in 2018.
There were some gents only facilities for a wee but no hand sanitizer available.
There were loads of waste bins around the site which were emptied daily but no recycling bins anywhere, I do hope they recycle because there was an awful lot of single use plastic used, beer glasses, food containers, knives and forks etc.
Having said that the fair itself was amazing, just wish the facilities were better especially as it s not a cheap event to enter and stay at

Enjoy the experience except there may be long ques in and out but this is an amazing steam fair so mucj for everyone

Never again.
Booked for 3 days.
Day 1- 5 hour que to get into the car park. To be confronted with an individual totally un aware of the situation. Day almost over and ruined. Now the very long walk to gain entry.

Day 2 - rained. Absolute chaos. Vehicle's stuck in mud. Caravaners leaving in disgust, days with out pre paid electric. Un usable ablutions etc.
Toilet facilities in general awful.

Day 3 - just could not be bothered. But spoke to lots of people including locals who all agreed this was the worst ever. Very poorly managed. So ...Never again.

Suberb show. Facilities not as good for camping. We didn't find water or rubbish bins in our field. Due to an accident the 1 hour journey took 5 hours and when we finally arrived the Wi-Fi had gone down and they kept everyone waiting to check in. Otherwise it was great.

always a great day out just takes some time getting in.

Loads of old men with oily overalls and Greasy hands. Volunteers who don't know what they are talking about.
Loads of pykies running wild.
Bring a padlock and. Chain

Great week, something for everyone, downside arrived on crutches unable to be dropped off at entrance. Booked 1 week camping courtesy bus shuttle should have a reduced everyday pass especially for those with a disability

Such an amazing city in the countryside. Traditional farming methods are demonstrated, plus 100's of steam powered vehicles, classic cars and motorcycles, craft and food marquees plus exhibitions of rural life. Lots of animals on display... large and small. Big funfair, music, and 100's of stalls selling pretty much everything. It can get very hot, sooty and dusty there... so take plenty of water, wet wipes, sunscreen and a hat. Or an umbrella and wellies if wet. It is a vast event... one of the best in the world. We go every year.

Everyone interested in steam should go here at least once

Brilliant week at the steam fair, well worth a visit.

Fantastic day out for all ty family. So many fantastic steam engines

This is over an over price fair entry tickets are to expensive and most thing inside are very expensive all ride are far to expensive we no long go

Love, love, love it! Except for the camping electricity this year ...

Great as always- disabled facilities were well placed and the show was amazing! Love the WW1 trenches, great addition to the heritage event of the year

Best event ever, everyone should experience this once in your life!

This particular location is not the Dorset Steam Fair it is only the office (which is a residential home). Unfortunately a very large number of people this year went to this address instead of the actual fair which caused a lot of disruption for local residents.

This is a fantastic show. However, IT IS NOT in Child Okeford. The location of the show needs editing in this post

Amazing amazing amazing the only thing I would say is to take a couple of days to look around as there is so much to see you can not do it in a day but it is well worth the money to see it x just a quick note is that they printed fantastic tickets for the show but when asked to show they were taken off customers and chucked in the bin think people would have been a lot happier if they could have kept them as a keep same