How to Get Here
RIAT is held each year at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. It's one of the biggest international airshows, so we recommend planning your travel carefully to minimise delays on the day. The fastest way to get to the show will be via the Park & Ride, plus choosing this travel option when you book allows you to save money on show tickets.
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Park & Ride
To enable easy access to the event, we offer a subsidised combined admission ticket with a dedicated Shuttle Bus from Swindon Bus Station or Park & Ride from Cheltenham Racecourse.
These come straight into the show to the Yellow Customer Entry Point at the eastern end of the showground which is for visitors that travel to the event by bus, coach, bike or on foot. You are not entitled to bring your car to RIAT if you select the subsidised admission with Swindon Shuttle Bus or Cheltenham Park & Ride.
The Park & Ride is the simplest way to get to and from the showground.
See more info about the Park & Ride options.
Swindon Shuttle Bus
The dedicated Swindon Shuttle bus station is only a 5-minute walk from Swindon train station, however please check train times and planned engineering works with the train operator HERE before booking your RIAT tickets. Journey time is about 30 minutes. Swindon Town Council have made some council run car parks FREE on Sundays. To check which, please visit here.
Friday
- First departure at 6:45 and then every 20 minutes until 12pm
- First return at 2pm and then every 20 minutes until 6pm
Saturday & Sunday
- First departure at 6:45am and then every 20 minutes until 12pm
- First return at 2pm and then every 20 minutes until 7:30pm
Cheltenham Park & Ride
You can travel via Park & Ride from Cheltenham Racecourse. These tickets can only be purchased in advance. Journey time is about 1 hour 30 minutes. Find out more HERE.
Car
Please be aware that you will need to allow additional time to travel to RIAT due to the volume of traffic on the roads.
If you are using a satnav to find your way to RIAT, please use postcode GL7 4EG. When you get near to the airshow you will see colour coded AA road signs (details below), at which point you should follow these instead of your satnav.
Details of the coloured routes are show below. To see Google Maps Traffic for the area, click HERE.
Please be aware that coming by taxi is not an option. Due to the one way systems in operation, there will be no way for a taxi to leave after dropping off in the morning, or to arrive to pick up in the evening.
Routes
From the North East (M40/A40) Red Route
Traffic from the North East should approach via Burford and Lechlade, along the A417 and then through Whelford village into the Red car parks. Traffic on the A420 should avoid approaching Lechlade from the South East.
From the South and South East Blue Route
Traffic from the South and South East on the M4 should travel north along the A419(T) (exit M4 at Junction 15) then, after Cricklade, depart left onto the C124 towards Kempsford and into the Blue car parks.
From the West and South West Brown Route
Traffic from the West, South West and Bristol on the M4, exit at Junction 17 and travel north towards Malmesbury, turning north east on to the B4040 towards Minety and then north on the B4696 towards Ashton Keynes (Cotswold Water Park). Traffic passes over the A419 joining the Cirencester Road south bound through Latton, merging with the Blue or Green routes as directed, dependent upon prevailing traffic levels.
From the North West Green Route
Traffic travelling from the North West (M5 Junction 11A and Cheltenham) should follow the A417(T) south, exiting at the Burford Road junction and joining the A417 eastbound towards Fairford. Traffic will be directed through Meysey Hampton into the Green car parks. Traffic travelling from the West should follow the Cirencester ring road to the south of the town and use the old A419 past South Cerney airfield. Carry straight on at the first roundabout and follow the road parallel to the A419(T). At the second roundabout turn left, over the A419(T) and bear right towards Latton. Turn left to Down Ampney and follow signs to the Green car parks.
Additional overflow routes also exist to relieve congestion on all the main routes.
Drivers should however be aware that once in the vicinity of RAF Fairford, they will be directed onto the designated Air Tattoo routes as agreed with the Police (see above).
Tune into Air Tattoo Live on 87.7 FM for traffic reports and airshow news.
Train
Direct rail services to Swindon from London, Oxford, Wales and the West, make rail an easy way of getting here.
It is important to check HERE for engineering works and train times.
Once at Swindon Station, it is approximately a 5-minute walk to Swindon bus station where you can catch the Swindon Shuttle Bus to RAF Fairford.
Air
The nearest international airports to RAF Fairford are London Heathrow, Bristol and Birmingham. We are also close to Cotswold Airport, Gloucestershire Airport and Oxford Airport.
We are unable to accept Charter or Day Visitor commercial flights at RAF Fairford.
VIP flights are subject to the normal rules and regulations. Any enquiries should be directed to aircraft@rafcte.com
Coach & Travel Groups
Numerous Coach Operators run trips to the Air Tattoo. View our participating Coach Tour Operators who are planning to operate a tour to the Royal International Air Tattoo 2024 as a combined admission ticket and travel package.
Coach Operators travel from all areas of the United Kingdom and Europe so look below to find out how to catch a ride to RIAT from your local area.
