| When | Tue 18 Aug 2026 |
|---|---|
| Usually | a Tuesday in mid/late August |
| Where | Hawkshead, Cumbria |
| Indoor / outdoor | Outdoor |
| Family-friendly | Yes |
| Entry | Paid / ticketed — check the official site |
The Hawkshead Agricultural Show is a proper traditional Lakeland show: rings of prize cattle, horses and Herdwick and Swaledale sheep, horticulture and handicraft tents, local food, trade stands and main-ring entertainment, set in fields by the village. It's the kind of genuine working-countryside day out most travel guides skip.
Good to know: it's outdoor in a field, so dress for the weather; very family-friendly, with animals, displays and stalls for all ages. Paid entry on the day; parking is on-site (the village itself is small and car-free at its centre).
Getting there & nearby: Hawkshead is reached via Ambleside or the Windermere car ferry — see our Hawkshead guide. Make a day of it with the short walk up Latterbarrow or a stroll round Tarn Hows, and the Beatrix Potter Gallery in the village.
Dates and details can change — always confirm on the official site before you travel.