A line-up of showman's engines glowing with strings of lights in the fairground at night at the Great Dorset Steam Fair, photographed from the big wheel in 2007.
Photo: PeterJewell · CC BY-SA 3.0
6 dated · 19 awaiting dates

UK Steam Rallies 2026 & 2027

Next up: Kramplewick Steam Event at Papplewick Pumping Station — Sat 14 – Sun 15 Nov 2026, Nottinghamshire.

Steam rally season opens in spring, with the Shanes Castle May Day Steam Rally in County Antrim and the Pickering Vintage Rally in early May, then builds to a high summer peak. July and August carry the big fixtures: the Welland Steam and Country Rally near Malvern each late July (its 60th rally runs 23 to 25 July 2027), the Astle Park Traction Engine Rally at Chelford on the second weekend of August, the West of England Steam Engine Society Rally at Stithians in mid August with around 70 full-size engines, and the Shrewsbury Steam Rally at Onslow Park over the August bank holiday weekend.

Do not write off September. The Bedfordshire Steam and Country Fayre, often searched for as the Bedford Steam Rally, marks the Bedford Steam Engine Preservation Society's 70th anniversary at Old Warden Park, 18 to 20 September 2026, one of the biggest club-run rallies in the south of England and drawing over 15,000 people to a 400 acre estate. The Haddenham Steam Rally near Ely marks its 51st year on the same showground on 12 and 13 September with over 800 exhibits, and the Henham Steam and Country Show fills the parkland near Southwold on 19 and 20 September, carrying on roughly 50 years of the old Grand Henham rally.

A rally is more than a row of parked engines. The working sections, heavy horses, fairground organs and evening atmosphere are the point, and engines in steam after dusk are worth staying for. Astle Park adds Saturday night fireworks and a licensed bar. Entry is honest money, typically £5 to £15 for an adult day ticket, and many rallies offer public camping from the Friday. Grass car parks plus autumn rain equals wellies. Every listing here is checked weekly and searchable by postcode.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

May 2027

15May

Anglesey Vintage Rally

Anglesey Showground (Mona), Gwalchmai · Isle of Anglesey

Steam Sat 15 – Sun 16 May 2027

July 2027

Annual fixtures — dates being confirmed

TBCJul

Woodcote Rally

Church Lane, off A4074, Ipsden · Oxfordshire

Steam

These events run most years but the organiser has not confirmed the next date yet. We check weekly and date them the moment they are announced. Get the weekly email and you will not miss it.

Same crowd, different engines: model and miniature steam · railway events

Steam Rallies: your questions answered

What is a steam rally?

A gathering of preserved steam engines, traction engines, steam rollers and ploughing engines, usually alongside vintage tractors, classic vehicles, working demonstrations, heavy horses and a traditional fairground. Most run over a full weekend on farmland or parkland.

When is steam rally season in the UK?

Roughly May to September. The peak is July and August, with fixtures like Welland in late July, Astle Park on the second weekend of August and Shrewsbury over the August bank holiday. Big September rallies include the Bedfordshire Steam and Country Fayre, 18 to 20 September 2026.

How much does a steam rally cost?

Typically £5 to £15 for an adult day ticket. The Yorkshire Traction Engine Rally at Scampston Hall (5 and 6 September 2026) starts from £6, and Haddenham's 2026 tickets run £5 to £15. Parking is usually included.

Which is the biggest steam rally in the UK?

Among the largest current events are the Bedfordshire Steam and Country Fayre at Old Warden Park, which draws over 15,000 visitors, and the Welland Steam and Country Rally near Malvern, one of the country's best supported, which holds its 60th rally on 23 to 25 July 2027.

Is the Bedford Steam Rally the same as the Bedfordshire Steam and Country Fayre?

Yes. Bedford Steam Rally and Old Warden Steam Rally are both names people search for, but the event's official title is the Bedfordshire Steam and Country Fayre, run by the Bedford Steam Engine Preservation Society at Old Warden Park near Biggleswade. 2026 is the Society's 70th anniversary year, and the show fell on 18 to 20 September.

Can I camp at a steam rally?

Many rallies offer public camping, often from the Friday evening. Haddenham and the Yorkshire Traction Engine Rally both take campers, and staying over is the best way to catch engines in steam at dusk. Book with the organiser in advance.

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