Braunston Historic show 2026

[David Mack]

In previous years participating historic boats have been given one free parking pass.

Edited March 13 by David Mack

[ditchcrawler]

1 hour ago, agg221 said:

We have a related quandary. We could take Oates down to Braunston after the BCN Challenge if we can find somewhere to leave it for the 3.5weeks in between and then again at the end of the event before heading off.  

Does Tim give you a free mooring before and after  ?

[David Mack]

3 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:

Does Tim give you a free mooring before and after  ?

CRT usually allow 7 days mooring before and after the event for participating boats, on what are otherwise 48 hour moorings. We have sometimes boated a short distance either up the North Oxford or along the Puddle Bank to get 14 days towpath mooring.

[Lady M]

I expect Tim would charge for a temporary mooring, though it may be worth asking.  I also suggest checking if weekend parking permits are provided for historic boat owners attending with their boats.

[Rob-M]

When we have attended with the Heritage Working Boats we have had multiple free parking passes per day as we have a minimum of two volunteers on the boat per day.

[Stroudwater1]

10 hours ago, agg221 said:

We have a related quandary. We could take Oates down to Braunston after the BCN Challenge if we can find somewhere to leave it for the 3.5weeks in between and then again at the end of the event before heading off. However, we would need to travel over on the Friday after work so it would need to be close enough that we can boat straight to Braunston, and then get back there on the Sunday evening. That also means parking fairly close, which isn't appealing at that price.

 

Alec

It’s quite likely there will be mooring space in the marina for Oates Alec, there are quite a few shorter pontoons usually not full. It’s possible you will get a discount in view of Oates attending the gathering. Seem to remember a couple of shorter boats mooring in the marina a few years ago.  Robbie Cummin moored there 2 years ago too, when participating in the event (as a musician not his boat, though approaching historic age..)

[Tonka]

But if Tim and Braunston are organising the parking will they be in communication with the HNBC who are organising the parade

[Lady M]

Someone in the marina office will be responsible for organising the show.  Those wishing to take a historic boat for the first time need to contact the marina and get on the mailing list.  Previous participants are normally contacted to see if they wish to come again.  I do think some of you are missing the point here.  See how keen Agg221 and Stagedamager are to take their boats and show them off despite personal diary difficulties.  Apart from the show weekend itself, due to Tim and his show, there will be more historic boats moving on the canal system than usual as they travel to participate.  Some boatowners will use the June date as a target to complete works.  Some may even be inspired to change their modern boat for a historic.

[Tonka]

2 minutes ago, Lady M said:

Someone in the marina office will be responsible for organising the show.  Those wishing to take a historic boat for the first time need to contact the marina and get on the mailing list.  Previous participants are normally contacted to see if they wish to come again.  I do think some of you are missing the point here.  See how keen Agg221 and Stagedamager are to take their boats and show them off despite personal diary difficulties.  Apart from the show weekend itself, due to Tim and his show, there will be more historic boats moving on the canal system than usual as they travel to participate.  Some boatowners will use the June date as a target to complete works.  Some may even be inspired to change their modern boat for a historic.

You are out of touch. It clearly states in the HNBC newsletter not to do that but contact the HNBC

[Lady M]

Thank you.  I think I indicated that I am no longer so close to the show earlier in the thread when we were discussing parking.  While there used to be two passes per historic boat, I don't know if this is still the case.  You are quite right, Tonka, and the marina website confirms that HNBC are now the people to contact.

[Annie cariad]

Key wording profits to charities after all costs hmmm......

[alan_fincher]

11 hours ago, Lady M said:

  I also suggest checking if weekend parking permits are provided for historic boat owners attending with their boats.

 

Cerainly it has been one free parking pass per historic boat attending.  It used to be two passes, but that was stopped some time back.
I must admit when both arriving and departing by boat I have donated my pass to another historic boat enthusiast who doesn't usually attend by boat.

[ditchcrawler]

14 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:

Does Tim give you a free mooring before and after  ?

I was just thinking that if you have to pay maybe you could moor at Dunchurch pools and leave the car there, only an hour by boat 

[Lady M]

As I said, I think Tim will probably charge for a temporary mooring in his marina but it may be worth asking to find out the details if relevent.

[agg221]

22 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said:

I was just thinking that if you have to pay maybe you could moor at Dunchurch pools and leave the car there, only an hour by boat 

 

The full plan, if I can figure the logistics, is to boat over after the BCN Challenge. That's half-term week so I will have crew which makes it a lot more enjoyable.The Challenge ends on the 24th May; I reckon it should be reasonable to get the Braunston area on the 28th (could do the 27th but probably not that much of a rush). I then need somewhere to leave it until the 27th June, close enough that I could boat over to Braunston in a few hours on the evening of Friday 26th, so say within 3hrs. That's just over 4wks (I had got the date wrong for the Challenge) so I can't quite do it on 2off 14 day moorings, although an overstay of 24hrs would probably not be noticed, but it's not ideal to have to go over solely for the purpose of moving the boat on a bit so I would rather find somewhere official for the whole duration - Braunston or Ventnor are the two which are immediately appearing as options. I will then need to figure locations/timings for the route back.

 

Alec

[Tonka]

32 minutes ago, agg221 said:

 

The full plan, if I can figure the logistics, is to boat over after the BCN Challenge. That's half-term week so I will have crew which makes it a lot more enjoyable.The Challenge ends on the 24th May; I reckon it should be reasonable to get the Braunston area on the 28th (could do the 27th but probably not that much of a rush). I then need somewhere to leave it until the 27th June, close enough that I could boat over to Braunston in a few hours on the evening of Friday 26th, so say within 3hrs. That's just over 4wks (I had got the date wrong for the Challenge) so I can't quite do it on 2off 14 day moorings, although an overstay of 24hrs would probably not be noticed, but it's not ideal to have to go over solely for the purpose of moving the boat on a bit so I would rather find somewhere official for the whole duration - Braunston or Ventnor are the two which are immediately appearing as options. I will then need to figure locations/timings for the route back.

 

Alec

Calcutt Boats are opposite Ventnor Farm

[David Mack]

7 hours ago, Tonka said:

But if Tim and Braunston are organising the parking will they be in communication with the HNBC who are organising the parade

 

7 hours ago, Tonka said:

You are out of touch. It clearly states in the HNBC newsletter not to do that but contact the HNBC

The HNBC newsletter clearly states that "HNBC is organising the admin of the boat booking-in process on behalf of the Marina", and that "all other aspects of the rally (eg moorings, parade, stalls, car parking) are being organised via the team at the Marina as usual."

[John Brightley]

On 13/03/2026 at 07:29, jake_crew said:

We went in two cars on the Sunday.

 

The event was clearly winding down by then, though it was good to chat to friends on Pirton and Hampton.

 

We had a nice picnic luncheon in the car park, so what we saved on burgers etc., we spent on parking !!

I think the Braunston show is well worth going to - as long as you go on the Saturday. When I went on the Sunday two years ago it was very disappointing, as a large number of the boats had left early on the Sunday morning.

[David Mack]

21 minutes ago, John Brightley said:

I think the Braunston show is well worth going to - as long as you go on the Saturday. When I went on the Sunday two years ago it was very disappointing, as a large number of the boats had left early on the Sunday morning.

I agree. As a participant I have always stayed to the end, usually parading both days. But I have noticed a number of boats either leave on the Sunday morning before the parade, or parade up to Braunston turn, but then carry on up the North Oxford or towards Napton, rather than returning back through the Marina.

[stagedamager]

On 13/03/2026 at 20:49, stagedamager said:

im currently looking at the feasibility of getting Norway to Braunston. my quandary is that im due to load Phantom of the Opera out of a theatre in Vienna at 9am on the Monday morning..now if I can't get the boat there and I call in on my way to an airport I can't honestly justify £30 for a single occupancy vehicle and so would end up parking in the village or a bit further out. id happily donate some money to the charitable cause but that is a bit steep. 

right. we've hatched a plan. all being well we will hot foot it down from Middleport and be at Braunston.... subject to being allowed to attend and no water shortages....

[David Mack]

38 minutes ago, stagedamager said:

right. we've hatched a plan. all being well we will hot foot it down from Middleport and be at Braunston.... subject to being allowed to attend and no water shortages....

I can't see that being a problem. In previous years there have been other modern build craft that have had much less claim to being historic working boats than Norway.

[davidg]

Is it possible to have less claim to being a historic working boat than Norway?

[Stroudwater1]

Just a thought on the £30 parking per car , it reminds me of the Badminton horse trials where it was £5 a car (1980s).  9 of us drove over, parked at Hawkesbury 3 miles away but still in a queue then squashed into a Jeep Jimney for 55p each. Steam fares at £16-20 a person offer a little more maybe but perhaps some grumblers could aim to get 4 in a car for £7.50 or try a seven seater fully occupied.
 

Sadly as with many things you probably can’t legally get away with  9 in a Jimney now, and we certainly couldn’t squeeze the podgy 9 in now 😞
 

It’s now £52.50 each (£56 after 31st March) plus £2.50 booking fee plus £19 for parking on Saturday at Badminton.  A very very expensive walk. 

Alternatively try the Badminton RHS flower show, only £38 each plus £5 parking (£16 “premium parking “ 

 

Mr Badminton must be doing very well. 

Makes Braunston an absolute bargain! 
 

 

[Tonka]

16 minutes ago, Stroudwater1 said:

Just a thought on the £30 parking per car , it reminds me of the Badminton horse trials where it was £5 a car (1980s).  9 of us drove over, parked at Hawkesbury 3 miles away but still in a queue then squashed into a Jeep Jimney for 55p each. Steam fares at £16-20 a person offer a little more maybe but perhaps some grumblers could aim to get 4 in a car for £7.50 or try a seven seater fully occupied.
 

Sadly as with many things you probably can’t legally get away with  9 in a Jimney now, and we certainly couldn’t squeeze the podgy 9 in now 😞
 

It’s now £52.50 each (£56 after 31st March) plus £2.50 booking fee plus £19 for parking on Saturday at Badminton.  A very very expensive walk. 

Alternatively try the Badminton RHS flower show, only £38 each plus £5 parking (£16 “premium parking “ 

 

Mr Badminton must be doing very well. 

Makes Braunston an absolute bargain! 
 

 

How many horses were found guilty?

[Stroudwater1]

13 minutes ago, Tonka said:

How many horses were found guilty?

3 less than at Braunston when last counted?