2020 Dinghy Show

Just tried Google Maps directions to Alexandra Palace and the Farnborough Exhibition site by road from Shustoke Sailing Club (East of Birmingham - North West of Coventry), came out as 2 hours 7 minutes for both   May work less well for other parts of the Midlands.   

I live in Coventry as central as you get in the midlands and England too for that matter . Farnborough is slightly further distance wise but the difference in travelling time is bugger all. It just means a trip down the m40 instead of the m1. The show moving is not going to make any difference to me and most people in the midlands.

Bring back the ( old fashioned) coach to the show !

Great memories of the banter during the drive and options to have a beer or two before being collected at the end of the day.

And perhaps encourage some that wouldn't otherwise have gone when the last few free seats need to be filled.

Edited by ian.r.mcdonald - 07 Mar 20 at 9:47am

LateStarter... you'll be fine when you have HS2!

So there are people from North of the Midlands saying they probably will still go, while the Midlands say maybe not?

Midlands is a big place so I thought I'd see what you might be worried about... I don't really understand!

Leicester to St Pancras - 1hr 15
Ally Pally is about an hour from At Pancras IME. So 2hr 15.
Leister to Farnborough - 2hr 40 add 10mins from station... 35minalonger...

I tried again with Matlock cause it's a bit more tucked away...
Matlock to St Pancras - 2hrs 33. So 3hrs 30 to AllyPally

Matlock to Farnborough - 4hrs 7mins.

So - again... Less than an hour longer.


These are based on National Rail Enquiries timings too. They involve going from St Pancras to Waterloo. Which NRE gives you 59 minutes to do it in. I recall doing it in summer as a child in 30 something with suit cases and children..

It's actually only 15 minutes on Tube. So by my maths you may actually be able to do it just as quickly.

Incase you are doing it by car - apparently you can drive it in 2hr 35 to Ally P (according to Google!) And 2hr 52 to Farnborough.

I've enjoyed the show at Alex Palace and at  Pickets Lock before then and I've been probably 2 out of 3 years since the 70s.  As someone who travelled down from the Midlands it was about on the limit of what was sensible for a day trip. Farnborough adds too much time to make it a day trip for me so I won't be going to the show in future. Let's just hope the show gets enough additional visitors from the south to make up for the guys like me from the midlands and the north that probably won't travel any more. Personally I'd like to see the show get around the UK a bit and show that dinghy sailing isn't just a south of England pastime.