A County Tradition
The Surrey County Show is organised by the Surrey County Agricultural Society, which has been promoting agriculture and rural life in the county since the 19th century. The show itself dates from 1954, when the first Surrey County Show was held at Eashing Farm near Godalming. The show is held annually on the late May bank holiday at Stoke Park in Guildford – a 60-acre public park on the outskirts of the town that was once the grounds of a Victorian mansion.
It is the county's largest one-day outdoor event, drawing around 40,000 visitors. The show covers livestock judging (cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, poultry), equestrian competitions, a grand ring programme, a food and drink hall, countryside demonstrations, and a large trade and shopping area. It is as much a day out for families as it is a working agricultural event.
Livestock and Equestrian
The livestock sections are the backbone of the show. Cattle classes include dairy and beef breeds, and the sheep section regularly attracts over 200 entries. The equestrian programme runs all day, from showing classes in the morning to the grand ring displays that anchor the afternoon. Heavy horses, hunters, hacks, and working dogs all feature. A farriery competition – blacksmiths forging horseshoes against the clock – is one of the show's more unusual attractions.
Food, Drink, and Surrey Producers
The Food Surrey Pavilion showcases producers from across the county: cheese, charcuterie, ales, wines from the Surrey Hills vineyards, and preserves. Surrey's food and drink scene has grown substantially in recent years, and the county show is where many small producers make their public debut. It is a good place to discover what Surrey makes, rather than just what it consumes.
For families in the Guildford area, the county show is a fixed point in the calendar – a day when the fields around Stoke Park fill with livestock trailers at dawn and the smell of hog roast carries across the park by mid-morning.
