Come the end of May we’re razzing-up for early June, because what’s coming is more exciting than Christmas, birthdays or a holiday. For those in the know: it’s all three wrapped up into one.
The event is an annual 3-day festival, combining food and farming with Cornish charisma, country fair and entertainment, arts and crafts with all the fun of the fair. There’ll be tractors, livestock, bowlers above suits and sunhats over summer frocks. Flashes of tweed likely - threading through the crowd.
We’re talking the Royal Cornwall Show (5th–7th June ’25). Among the roving ensembles that burst into apparent random performances, street food and country chic stalls: young farmers and county gentry alike will be rubbing shoulders in the mass of families on a day out.
What have they all come for?
- Flower tent, full of displays, demonstrations and competitions
- Dog show (different breeds each day)
- Horse section – from in-hand classes to showjumping, carriage driving and dazzling displays
- Countryside village (includes rural skills area)
- Fur & Feather: rabbits to chickens, they’re all here
- Forestry area – full of woodsman demonstrations, tree conservation and wattle fencing
- A huge food marquee, full of local produce (extremely popular)
- 2 main craft tents (1 each end of the showground), plus others dotted around
- Fun fair, alongside the steam rally and vintage section
- Main ring entertainment (2025 includes Ben Atkinson Action Horses and Bolddog FMX Stunt Team)
- 2 performing stages with packed schedules of music and dance
- Bees, goats, cider and a whole lot of other sections
- Stands and stalls: shop till you drop!
What makes it really special? The atmosphere: of Cornish carnival. Where locals mingle with one and all. A fiesta of family fun.
What wouldn’t we miss?
- Friday/Saturday’s grand parade (mid afternoon in the Main Ring) – the mass of prize-winning livestock
- Rare Breeds Survival Trust tent
- Sheep shearing competitions – made by the live commentary
- Young Farmers Club and Womens Institute tents
- Countryside Area
- Pimms with friends and ice cream with family
- Watching cattle/sheep/pig judging (whichever’s your thing)
- Shopping – whether we need a dog lead, boots, garden chairs or farm equipment: the choice here is fantastic. Don’t forget something to take home for supper from the Food Hall, and the birthday/wedding present that’s been a real headache!
What we love most…
- The characters we meet, whose enthusiasm for their exhibits (and the event) radiates goodwill
- Meeting and greeting – making acquaintances and bumping into old friends
- The unique flavour and pure Cornishness that is the Royal Cornwall Show
Top tips
- The first and second days (Thurs/Fri) are marginally less busy footfall wise
- Allow time for heavy traffic on the approaches to the showground, stewarded car park fields lie beside the A39 – make an early start to avoid worst delays. (If staying at Tom’s Cottage we’ll suggest the best route into The Show, taking around 15 minutes if leaving home at 8am)
- It’s possible to get round the whole show in a 10-hour day, but 2 days make for a far more leisurely experience (it takes locals all 3 days to see everything, because they keep stopping to talk!)
- RCS membership benefits include forward parking, admittance to The Show and the Members’ Pavilion, where there’s a cloakroom facility for leaving ‘left luggage’ (coats and bags of shopping); restaurant, indoor/outdoor seating, bar and bistro food.
- Take both a jacket and sunscreen, wear comfy clothes/footwear for a day on the hoof
- Buy a catalogue or program on arrival: its map of the showground is invaluable (the catalogue also lists exhibitors – great for tracing a stand holder or showman after the event)
- Have a designated meeting point in case some of you get separated – mobiles aren’t always heard over the background noise. A children wristband service is available, inside main entrances
- The Family Area includes creche & baby feeding/changing area
It's showtime...
The Royal Cornwall is country festival with Cornish character. With agriculture at its core there’ll be plenty of tractors, masses of livestock and that rare breed: farmers on a day out. But it’s so much more than wicker baskets and steam engines – it’s where Cornwall goes to town: fiesta style.
Tom’s Cottage lies about 6 miles NE of the Royal Cornwall Showground, and is available for short breaks as well as by-the-week holidays. With 4 bedrooms and a home-from-home layout, this ex-farmhouse has a secluded country feel – a great retreat after busy show days. Farmer excursion or family holiday, it's the perfect base over showtime.
There’s a natural presumption around these parts that everybody will be at the Royal Cornwall, all conversations end: ‘see you at The Show’.
Tom's Cottage is available to book through Classic Cottages
