Great Dorset Steam Fair Reviews

This is the greatest show in Europe you can never see it all in on day. Food from every Country, every type of musical entertainment. Amazing entertainment in show rings and the stalls will satisfy any visitor. You.can stay one day or bring your caravan or camper to stay even longer.

Lots to see and do will need a couple of day to get all over massive

This event was an excellent place for steam and other historical vehicles. However I camped there this year and the staff and toilets were terrible. They did not seem to emtpy the toilets while we were there. I have been going since 1976 off and on. This year is the last time. I will not be back unless the management change, charging to camp and providing little return.

Great time as always except the lack of ale again!!! How can you run out every year!

Very good place to go too for all ages, from looking at the tractors for the younger children or trying the best cider around for the adults

An absolute must for every car and tractor fan. Great shows, lots to see, nice people and a mega event. We were there in 2015 and will go again in 2018. Not only the Steam Fair is worth a trip, we were fascinated by the whole region of southern England.

First visit and absolutely brilliant wish i had found this show sooner.

A total change from last year toilets always clean security helpful and friendly a lesson learnt if it ain't broken don't fix it

What a great day out, plenty to see and do and loads of food choices. There's a fairground for the young and older children, lots of stalls selling everything you can think of, oh and keep an eye out for Boycie from only fools and horses, aka john Challis.

Pointless on Sunday in the rain nothing running just got soaked to look at covered up traction engine's. I know the weather can't be helped so why put the prices up the next day to cover the bad Sunday. Very poorly run now compared to when Michael was doing it.

A great day out as there's something for everyone to enjoy.

There is just something special about this place! Highly recommended! Fun for all ages!

I have been going here for over 25 years and really enjoyed the fair and staying on the campsite but this year NO it was a shambles from the start ticket queues a mile long . fighting on the campsite. commercial vehicles on the campsite when the rules stated none allowed what So ever. This would never have happened when Michael Oliver was in charge.

Absolutely brilliant place plenty to see and do but have to look forward to 2021

Absolutely loads to see, so it's such a shame it was completely disorganised. Unfortunately the time and effort don't warrant a return visit next year.

Can not understand what the 4 day ticket is all about if pay for 4 days you should be entitled to choose which days to go in to the fair most people heading off home on the Monday like I was but the management say you after after go in on the Monday not Thursday so realy and most people have only paid for 3 days rip off and this year all the staff and security team were totally in cose and did not know which one at to do what and were so don t know if I will be coming back but sill a good steam fair

The traffic was the worst part the fair was tacky with hippys everywere the same entertainment every year we qued for 1 hour to get in we had to walk from the blandford carpark which was 25 mins . We got there and they had no programs at 1oclock which is mad!! The fair was alright with games and rides. Worst part traffic

We go every year we love the show been going for over 25 years loads to see and do recommend you visit for a few days

Excellent
Great music events
Lots to see and do
Could do with more toilet facilities as long queue
Lack of stewards to direct you this year
Security far better previous years

If you are into Steam Engines, minature steam engines, tractors, old vehicles if all sorts, fair ground, stunt shows, music, real ale, cider, amazing ww1 and ww2 exhibitions plus many stalls an autojumble and plenty more then THIS IS THE PLACE!!
THE LARGEST STEAM EVENT IN THEVUK AND PROBABLY EUROPE.
Arrive very early to avoid long traffic queues.

Apart from last year's disappointment with some aspects of the show... I can't ignore 30 plus years of good shows attended.
Hope the show doesn't suffer the same issues for the next one.

The best steam show in the world. Definitely worth a visit. Has an amazing atmosphere.

The very best Rally in Dorset something new every year, well done Martin and the team , will be back again this year

There is so much to see and do at the steam fair. The whole thing is so well organised and very affordable. And don't worry about being hungry as there is every type of food on offer. We will probably go back some year as it is so enjoyable.

Used to be the greatest show on earth,been going for twenty years,could always find and buy the most rarest,oddest items,but no more ,trade stands are full of handbags and teeshorts,primark do better ranges and cheaper products ,if I wanted to listen to loud bands I d go to Glastonbury ,recent improvements by the management might not be what the public want ,most food or drink is far more expensive than anywhere in England ,due to rent increases, it's madness ,everybody loved the quaintness of the steam fair but now it's a soulless, glamping ,corporate money raising monster

Brilliant show. We stayed for all 5 days and had a fantastic time and will hopefully be going next year.

What a place to go it's amazing I have been going for 8 years. Love it you have to go for a few days one day is just not enough amazing

Massive collection if steam engines with lots to see....the british weather can be the biggest player whdn going here....we went last year......saturday was manic and hot..sunday was dead and very very wet....thats btitish summer for you...4 seasons in 1 day...

Best fair ground by far. The steam engines are awesome as is the vintage lorry display

Great event, so much to see literally for every age.

We were lucky with the weather on the Monday we went, the ground had dried out amazingly well from the down pour on Sunday. We'll worth staying for the previous evenings when it gets dark, all the fairground and traction engines lit up is amazing.

Shame they had run out of programmes and event guides so early on in the weekend, it's worth talking to a few people around to find out there best experiences. The WW1 trenches were a great reminder of what life must have been like for the troops on the front line. I never realised they were there other years, can't belive they were dug in 2014.

Simply awesome, some incredible Machines of yesteryears.

Great day out, but it is getting to big, you will need transport soon to get about.

Lovely place well run show you could spend the whole week at it I loved it

Always loads to see and do, really well organized and run.

A good time and plenty of exhibits to look at but very very hot on the day

It was 15 acres of fun fare. Different sorts of steam engine were on display and others were being driven around.

A brilliant way to spend some of the summer holidays! You can camp for the five-day duration of the fair, and then have plenty of time to see everything from live re-enactments to steam rallies, numerous trade and craft stalls, and night time funfair and entertainment.

Amazing event! Not just steam engines... All kinds of old vehicles and machinery.

Been going for about 20 years now. Never gets old and well worth a visit. Your need more the one day to see the whole show.
Lots of interesting stuff to see here.

An amazing show would highly recommend this to any steam or vintage vehicle enthusiast.

Nice family event, very large place with many engines, rides, good food, old fashion ploughing Probably seeing once is enough.

Great event but terrible traffic delays getting in.

You need more than 3 days to visit
If you are disabled and wish to camp there was only 2 showers for approximately 500
+ campers toilets were not designed for disabled
They camped caravans and motorhomes to close to each other (fire risk)
Staff had no idea what to do or how to help

Was once good in the 80s and 90s but it seems to be less a rally and more a business. All they seemed to be bothered about this year was getting 500 engines no matter what. My husband's grandmother has said that non of her engines or organs will ever attended again.

Good day out spoiled by crazy queue for 3 hours to get in then hour for tickets

Thoroughly enjoyed the day (reduced price bank holiday tickets). The craft tent was amazing, the steam engines were beautiful. Only 4 stars as I was a bit disappointed that the fairground was not stream. Please have a steam fairground next year.

Been coming up to the show for many years from cornwall and now the grandchildren we all love it can't see it all in a day but they changed around the last couple of years not for the good. change it back like before more jumble and car boot and stalls in same field better atmosphere see you all next year stay safe my lovelys xx

Very wet, which was any one fault but lots of stalls did open which was a shame.We had enough by 2pm and came home.

Absolutely amazing week I've had here with my partner & father-in-law. We've got an auto jumble stall & the steam engines, fairground, monster trucks, world war 1 & 2 display.. I could go on. Its the last day 2morrow, bank holiday 26th Aug More

Fantastic Day out, loads and loads of exhibits and various attractions, always some top notch Cider available which goes down well on a warm summers day well worth a visit

We love going to the fair every year, the great thing is that it is over a week or so which means you are likely to have at least 1 day with some ok clear weather

Probably the largest Steam (& all things Vintage) Fair in the UK. Fantastic experience, should be on everyone's bucket list.

Too far from the car park. Unless you have kids and are happy to spend a month's wages at the fairground or you're into traction engines, don't bother your arse. More for the participants than anyone

A great day out. Actually it's more than you can do in a day. Definitely going back next year.

wow this place is a most go children and adults will love it xx