The Victory Show
ENTRY
from £10
WHERE
Leicester
What it’s like
A weekend of WW2 aircraft, tanks and living history on grass farmland, with an airshow from 9am and hundreds of vehicles to gawp at.
This is the sort of day where you turn up expecting to look at some old tanks and end up spending six hours wandering a working WW2 world. There's a proper army encampment to poke round, over 150 living history displays, and heavy armour parked up alongside 1940s farming machinery still doing its thing. The battle re-enactment is the bit people talk about afterwards, and the airshow runs from 9am, weather and aircraft serviceability allowing, so don't leave your visit until mid afternoon if that's what you're here for.
It's not a cheap day out. Friday is the quieter, cheaper option at £17.50 for an adult and £10 for a child, while Saturday and Sunday jump to £35 and £20 on the gate, though booking online early knocks a fair bit off both. Under 5s go free throughout. Given the price gap, if your week allows it, Friday is worth a serious look, and it's also the schools day so there's a slightly different feel to it.
Bring boots rather than buggywheels if you can. The whole site is grass farmland, so the terrain is rough and uneven, and while wheelchairs and mobility scooters are welcome, it will be a bumpier ride than a normal museum floor. There's free parking including disabled bays, but be warned some car parks go sterile during the flying display, meaning you can't nip back to the car until it's finished. Picnics and your own chairs are fine to bring, and dogs can come too as long as they're on a lead, though with pyrotechnics and simulated explosives popping off unannounced, a nervous dog might not thank you for it.
With over 80 trader stalls to browse and live entertainment in the marquee, there's enough here to fill a whole day rather than a quick morning visit. Just don't expect a warning before something bangs.
Facilities
Need to know
- Booking
- Tickets can be bought online in advance at discounted prices or on the gate at full price on each day
- Parking
- Free on site, including disabled parking
- Picnics
- Visitors welcome to bring own picnic and chairs
- Wheelchairs
- Mobility scooters and wheelchairs welcome
- Dogs
- Must be kept on a lead at all times
- Friday is the cheapest day and doubles as a schools educational day
- Pyrotechnics and simulated explosives happen without warning, so brace nervous kids and dogs
- Some car parks become sterile during the flying display, meaning no access back to your vehicle until it ends
- Veterans aged 85 and over get a complimentary ticket plus a carer, hosted in a private enclosure near the airstrip, call ahead to arrange it
- The airshow depends on weather and aircraft serviceability, so it is not guaranteed to run exactly as planned
Plan your visit
How much are tickets?
Friday is £17.50 for an adult and £10 for a child on the gate. Saturday and Sunday jump to £35 and £20. Booking online in advance gets you an early bird price of £27.50 adult and £15 child, and under 5s are free every day.
Do we need to book in advance?
You can buy on the gate any day and they say they won't sell out, but the early bird online prices are noticeably cheaper than paying on the day.
Can we buy weekend tickets that cover both days?
There's no single weekend ticket. You buy per day online and it all goes through in one basket, so you can mix and match Saturday and Sunday if you want both.
What time does it open and when's the airshow?
Gates are open 9am to 5pm daily, and the aircraft start flying from 9am, so it's worth getting there early if the airshow is the main draw.
Is there parking on site?
Yes, two car parks and both are free, including disabled parking. Some car parks do go sterile during the flying display for safety, so you may not be able to get back to your car for a while.
Is it OK for a wheelchair or buggy?
Wheelchairs and mobility scooters are welcome, but the ground is rough grass farmland, so it is not a smooth ride.
Can we bring a picnic?
You're welcome to bring your own food and chairs and set up on site.
Can we bring the dog?
Dogs are allowed but must stay on a lead, and you'll need to clean up after them. Worth knowing there's vehicle and aircraft noise, plus pyrotechnics without warning, which some dogs won't love.
Do serving or ex-military personnel get a discount?
There's a discount on standard admission for serving and ex-military, but you need to download the booking form from the website and post it in advance rather than claim it on the gate.
What does a VIP ticket include?
The VIP enclosure gets you unlimited soft drinks, a hot or cold lunch, a flight line walk, upgraded toilets, reserved viewing for the battle re-enactment, VIP parking and a complimentary brochure among other bits.
What if I lose my e-ticket or booked the wrong day?
Check your spam folder first, then message them via the website with your name and the email used to buy it. They can transfer a ticket to another day if you give at least 7 days notice, but they don't issue refunds.
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