All you need to know about the Great Yorkshire Show

Exhibitors at the Great Yorkshire Show. People in white coats are parading cows around an arena. Image source, Great Yorkshire Show
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The four-day annual event is one of the biggest agricultural events in the calendar

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The Great Yorkshire Show is set to welcome thousands of visitors, vendors and livestock to its 166th edition over the next four days.

The annual agricultural show will take place in Harrogate, North Yorkshire from Tuesday until Friday, with the event attracting about 140,000 visitors last year.

Promising a mix of breed shows, classes, food and entertainment, tickets have already sold out online and will not be available to buy at the gate.

From travelling there to what to expect when you arrive, here's everything you need to know about the event ahead of time.

Travelling by bus or train

Trains run approximately every 30 minutes between Leeds and Harrogate, and every 30 minutes between York and Harrogate.

Visitors to the Great Yorkshire Show can catch a free return shuttle bus from Harrogate station direct to the Great Yorkshire Showground.

Shuttles to the showground start at 07:30 BST and the last bus back to Harrogate leaves at 19:00.

If you're travelling from Leeds or Wetherby, the Number 7 bus runs every hour and passes the showground's entrance.

Travelling by car

Travel disruption can often be expected when travelling to and from the Great Yorkshire Showground, and non-visitors are advised to find alternate routes.

Wetherby Road (A661) will be one-way from the Kestrel Roundabout to the junction with Rudding Lane from 06:30 on show days.

The one-way system also runs on the A658 towards Harrogate from the Thistle Hill junction (turn off to Knaresborough) to the Kestrel Roundabout. This will be for mornings only from 06:30.

This will be reversed on Wetherby Road from 14:00 between Sainsbury's traffic lights and the Kestrel Roundabout to accommodate traffic leaving Harrogate.

It will remain in force until 21:00, but the restrictions may be removed earlier depending on the volume of traffic.

There is free car parking at the Great Yorkshire Showground and car parks open daily at 06:00.

A close-up of a Highland Cow, looking out from behind a metal gate, wearing a rope headcollar. In the background, a brown and white cow can be seen being led by a man in a checked purple shirt and blue jeans.Image source, PA
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The show will take place in Harrogate, North Yorkshire from Tuesday until Friday

What's on at the show?

In the main ring, people can watch showjumping, cattle parades and a performance by returning group Atkinson Action Horses which trains horses and riders for TV and film appearances.

There are livestock competitions, fashion shows and cookery demonstrations taking place across the showground, as well as talks hosted by Dave and Rob Nicholson from Cannon Hall Farm, Channel 5's Yorkshire Vet Peter Wright and TV presenter Matt Baker.

Baker described it as "a celebration of the rural year" and a highlight from his childhood.

"I just feel like I'm surrounded by 35,000 like-minded people when I'm there so it feels like a really comfy place for me," he said.

A large brown and white cow stands in a white fenced field, wearing a red headcollar. Holding the lead rope is a grey-haired woman in a white coat. Image source, PA
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Last year, 140,000 visitors attended the Great Yorkshire Show, according to organisers

What can I bring to the showground?

Visitors are welcome to bring a picnic to the Great Yorkshire Show to be eaten outside of catering areas, but "large quantities of alcohol" will be confiscated by gate staff.

Aside from assistance dogs or those competing, dogs aren't allowed on-site.

What's the weather going to be like?

Currently the rain looks as though it'll be kept at bay, with sunny spells, cloudy intervals and a light breeze throughout the week.

Temperatures are predicted to be over 21 degrees on all four days.

Friday promises to be the hottest day, with highs of 29 degrees.

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