SsangYong Blenheim Palace Horse Trials 2019

Make the most of your visit

The SsangYong Blenheim Palace Horse Trials attracts loyal visitor attendance each year who come along to enjoy the range of competitions, extensive shopping opportunities and variety of attractions for all the family in the stunning grounds of Blenheim Palace.

Here are some tips and information to help make your visit to Blenheim a happy and memorable occasion.

Tickets

A range of tickets are available for the event – please see the ticket information page for more details and prices. It is highly recommended that you book your tickets in advance as discounts apply to most ticket options, and this will also speed up your access to the event. Alternatively, many ticket options will be available on the gate (but not all)!

Children

Children 12 years of age and under can enter the event for free when accompanied by an adult. However, due to health and safety requirements, each child requires a complimentary entrance ticket. Please ensure that you have booked one complimentary children’s ticket for each child (12 years of age or under) attending the event. These tickets will be scanned in the same way that adult tickets are. Grandstand seats should be booked for all children over 2 years of age who require a seat to observe either dressage and show jumping.

Opening times

The gates will open at 7:00 am each morning, closing each day at approximately 6:30 pm.

Official event guide

Vouchers for official event guides (redeemable on arrival at the event) can be purchased at a discounted rate on the event website. Visitors will also be invited to buy one on the day. They will be available for sale at the pay lanes, the Organiser’s Office and from the event guide sellers who are based in branded booths throughout each day.

What to wear

Dress code is casual and should be suited to the weather conditions on the day, however, please bear in mind the mixed terrain and wear appropriate comfortable footwear, especially if you are planning to walk the cross-country course and browse the extensive shopping village! Wellies are always a safe option as the site can get rather muddy when it rains! Bare chests are not permitted in the Marlborough Pavilion.

If the weather is sunny, do not forget to apply sunblock in advance of your arrival and bring extra to top up! Sufferers of hay fever and horse allergies are advised to remember their antihistamines or other relevant medications. St John Ambulance will be on site, however, prevention is always the best policy!

Arrival at the event

Several entrances to the event site will be available in order to ease traffic flow and limit queues, however, delays can occur during peak times so leave plenty of time for your journey. Directional signage to the event will be displayed on all major roads approaching Blenheim Palace.

Parking

Extensive onsite parking is available in the public car parks as well as disabled parking facilities for holders of official blue disabled passes.

A parking fee applies to all vehicles. When purchasing tickets in advance, add one vehicle pass per day attending the event to your basket (£3 per day in advance). The gate price for cars entering the event without a pre-purchased vehicle pass is £5.

A 5- to 10-minute walk from the public car park will bring you into the heart of the event site. A complimentary shuttle buggy service will be available for transfer from the car park to the shopping village.

Disabled facilities

Limited disabled parking areas will be provided in the forward parking area for holders of official blue disabled car passes. Admission charges apply to disabled visitors, but a complimentary carer’s pass can be provided for registered carers. Please contact the Blenheim Palace office to book. Mobility scooters are available to hire from Mobility Hire. The main Marlborough Arena has an adjacent disabled viewing platform. Spaces are limited and cannot be pre-booked or reserved. Disabled lavatories are located near the disabled parking areas as well as near the Marlborough Arena and other major facilities.

Food and drink

There will be a wide choice of catering options throughout the event site to suit all tastes from the mobile catering units.

Shopping

The shopping village at Blenheim will have over 200 outlets selling a wide and interesting variety of high-quality products and services. The shop and drop facility means that you do not have to carry heavy bags around all day! On Thursday and Friday, there will be free admission to the event from 4:00 pm for late afternoon shopping – trade stands will close at approximately 6:00 pm.

Lavatories

Lavatories will be situated around the event site and cross-country course. These will be marked on the map in the official event programme.

Cash point

A cash point will be located near to the scoreboard and Marlborough Pavilion.

Dogs

Dogs are welcome at Blenheim as long as they are well behaved, kept on a lead at all times and owners clean up any mess. Dogs are not permitted within the grandstands or the Marlborough Pavilion but are welcome in the Marlborough Pavilion garden which overlooks the main Marlborough Arena. Dogs must not be left in vehicles at any time.

Lost property

If you have lost or found any items during the event please go to the Ticket hub (next to the Marlborough Pavilion). After the event please call 01993 813335 to check for lost property. Lost property will be retained for two months, after which point any unclaimed items are donated to a local charity shop.

Smoking & Fire safety

Smoking and vaping are not permitted within the grandstand or inside the Marlborough Pavilion. Due to the risk of fire spreading in car parks and dry grassy areas the use of portable BBQs and open fires, is not permitted. Do remember to tidy your picnic area and take your litter home with you!