Camping at Fairford Airshow 2026 is available at 3 main sites – the Official RIAT Campsite, Townsend Farm (Fairford Airshow Camping), and Fairford Town FC at Cinder Lane. Prices range from £25 per night to £30 per night depending on the site. The Official RIAT Campsite is already sold out for 2026.
What Camping Options Are Available at Fairford Airshow 2026?
3 campsite options serve the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at RAF Fairford:
- Official RIAT Campsite – located on the former Green Car Park, directly adjacent to the showground
- Townsend Farm (Fairford Airshow Camping) – an independent family-run campsite at Whelford, directly under the flight path
- Fairford Town FC (Cinder Lane) – a community-run campsite 2.5 miles from the base on the A417
Each option suits a different type of visitor – from those prioritising showground access to those wanting a quieter, more spacious base.
What Is the Official RIAT Campsite at Fairford?
The Official RIAT Campsite is located on the former Green Car Park, giving direct access to the showground via a private entrance. It accepts tents, motorhomes, and campervans and offers glamping upgrades.
How Much Does Official RIAT Camping Cost in 2026?
|
Nights |
Price |
Per Night |
|
Friday and Saturday only |
£50 total |
£25 per night |
|
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday |
£65 total |
£25 Fri/Sat, £15 Sun |
Note: Friday and Saturday nights must be booked together and cannot be split.
Facilities at the Official RIAT Campsite include:
- Direct showground access through a private entrance
- Free parking for 1 vehicle per booking
- Flushing toilets and shower facilities
- Movie night on Friday evening
- Live music on Saturday evening
- Food trucks operating each morning and evening
The Official RIAT Campsite is sold out for 2026.
A waitlist is available via the official RIAT website at airtattoo.com/camping.
What Is Townsend Farm Fairford Airshow Camping?
Townsend Farm is a family-run independent campsite at Whelford, covering 90 acres of fields divided by hedgerows. It is not affiliated with the RIAT organisers. The site sits directly under the flight path – aircraft on Runway 27 approach pass overhead at approximately 500 feet, descending to around 100 feet as they reach RAF Fairford.
- Postcode: GL7 4DY (follow signs on the only bend in Whelford)
- Open: Saturday 11 July to Monday 20 July 2026
- Minimum stay: 2 nights
- Last advance booking night: Sunday 19 July
- Monday 20 July: Cash on gate only, subject to availability
- Accepted: Tents, caravans, and campervans
- Pitch sizes: Unrestricted – no fixed pitch dimensions
What Facilities Does Townsend Farm Offer?
Facilities at Townsend Farm include showers, toilets, a camp store selling milk, bread, drinks, snacks, and camping essentials, limited device charging at Jenners Barn, and fully managed glamping. There are no electric hook-up (EHU) points.
Note: The Navy Field is closed for 2026 due to on-site works. The walking route to the showground runs from Jenners Barn through the Yellow Field.
What Are the BBQ and Fire Rules at Townsend Farm?
- Gas and charcoal BBQs must be at least 30cm off the ground
- Disposable BBQs are not permitted
- Camp fires, fire pits, and burning of wood are not permitted
What Is the Cancellation Policy at Townsend Farm?
Cancellations made more than 6 weeks before arrival receive a refund minus a £10 administration charge. Cancellations within 6 weeks of the start date receive no refund. Travel insurance is recommended. No refunds are issued if RIAT displays are shortened or cancelled, as the campsite operates independently of RIAT organisers.
What Is the Fairford Town FC Campsite at Cinder Lane?
The Fairford Town FC campsite at Cinder Lane is a community-run camping option with 13 years of RIAT experience. It covers 10 acres and is located 2.5 miles from RAF Fairford on the A417, on the eastern edge of Fairford.
- Postcode: GL7 4AX
- Price 2026: £30 per night per pitch
- Pitch definition: 1 tent or caravan, up to 6 people, and 1 vehicle
- Walking distance to base: Approximately 1 hour via a dedicated footpath
What Facilities Does Fairford Town FC Campsite Offer?
- 2 fully stocked bars open all weekend
- Large function room with 2 screens showing Sky Sports and BT Sport
- Separate shower and toilet block – male, female, and family rooms
- Outside sink for washing crockery
- Hot food and entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings
- Separate caravan and motorhome area – note: no electric hook-up available
Booking for RIAT 2026 opened on 30 September 2025 via the Cinder Lane online booking system.
What Should You Pack for Camping at Fairford Airshow?
7 essentials for camping at RIAT:
- Ear defenders – particularly important for children; jet engines are audible from all campsites
- Waterproof clothing and groundsheet – Gloucestershire weather is unpredictable in July
- A raised BBQ stand if you plan to cook – disposable BBQs are banned at all sites
- Cash – some facilities, including late gate arrivals at Townsend Farm, are cash only
- A printed or downloaded booking confirmation – mobile signal near the site can be limited
- Portable power bank – EHU points are not available at Townsend Farm or Cinder Lane
- Insect repellent – all 3 sites are on open farmland or grass pitches
How Do You Get to Fairford Airshow Campsites?
- Townsend Farm (GL7 4DY): Located in Whelford village. Satnav takes visitors a few yards past the entrance. Look for the campsite flag on the only bend in Whelford.
- Fairford Town FC (GL7 4AX): On the A417, eastern edge of Fairford, near the Whelford Road junction (red route).
- Official RIAT Campsite: Located at RAF Fairford. Follow RIAT directional signage from the A417 and A419.
Nearby food and essentials:
- Budgens Fairford – open 06:30 to 22:00, approximately 10 minutes by car
- Budgens Lechlade (GL7 3AP) – approximately 10 minutes by car
- Yang’s Kitchen, Lechlade (GL7 3AX) – Chinese takeaway, approximately 10 minutes by car
Sources: Fairford Airshow Camping (fairfordairshowcamping.net), RIAT official website (airtattoo.com), Fairford Town FC Camping (fairfordfccamping.co.uk), The Big Guide to RIAT (thebigguidetoriat.co.uk).
Alex Bradley is a UK-based aviation writer and airshow circuit regular who has spent years attending displays from RIAT at Fairford and the Biggin Hill Festival of Flight to small fly-ins that drew two hundred people and a hot dog van, and values both for entirely different reasons.
He is not a pilot. He is not a PR man for the aviation industry. He is the person in the crowd who has been coming long enough to notice when something has quietly changed, when an organiser is papering over a problem, and when a display is genuinely worth the drive.
His writing on Redhill Airshow covers the British airshow circuit, safety, display team politics, CAA regulations, and the quiet contraction of grass airfield culture that nobody in the industry wants to discuss plainly.
He has stood at Redhill Aerodrome in every kind of English summer weather, watched Tiger Moths bank low over Surrey farmland, and carries strong opinions about what this country is slowly losing one cancelled event at a time.