Rustival 4: 18th April 2026 - who's going?

[egg]

Just booked tickets for this years event on 18th April. 

Anyone else coming?

https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/rustival

[egg]

 

[robt100]

Might give it a go, bit of a way, but went to the one in august last year. Did gift aid so have the annual pass, so I'm guessing....free entry this time round? (not an exempt date!)

[catsinthewelder]

Hopefully, really enjoyed the first one but couldn't make it last year. 

Waiting for the moment though as although I could take the daily driver into the show I don't want to.  Waiting to see if I can fix something interesting or if I'm buying a ticket for the carpark. 

[Lonestar]

I've booked to go. This will be my 2nd time.

[Schaefft]

I've been in August last year and really enjoyed it despite rushing through it a bit. Will most likely go!

[Paul-l]

I’m tempted to go again - went to the first one in the yellow car

[Mr Livered]

Never been before, but I may well go now that Master Livered is starting to show an interest in these things.

[Paul-l]

Do you still need to book a ticket from the museum and do a separate booking for the parking area? @dollywobbler

[wesacosa]

you just book an exhibitor ticket now I believe no need to register a specific car

[N Dentressangle]

On 06/01/2026 at 17:40, robt100 said:

Might give it a go, bit of a way, but went to the one in august last year. Did gift aid so have the annual pass, so I'm guessing....free entry this time round? (not an exempt date!)

Looks that way, but you have to pay £13 per adult for an exhibitor ticket. Unless I'm missing something?

[Weird Car]

6 minutes ago, N Dentressangle said:

Looks that way, but you have to pay £13 per adult for an exhibitor ticket. Unless I'm missing something?

I get this is meant to be a fantastic show but I’ll never get over the mental hurdle of having to pay to display my car at a show

same with FOTU 

[wesacosa]

15 minutes ago, Weird Car said:

I get this is meant to be a fantastic show but I’ll never get over the mental hurdle of having to pay to display my car at a show

same with FOTU 

or in this case you could view it as getting a £5 discount on entry to the British motor museum for displaying your car as it's £18 a ticket normally 

[Weird Car]

7 minutes ago, wesacosa said:

or in this case you could view it as getting a £5 discount on entry to the British motor museum for displaying your car as it's £18 a ticket normally 

I guess it’d make sense if you’d never been to BMM before 

[wesacosa]

4 minutes ago, Weird Car said:

I guess it’d make sense if you’d never been to BMM before 

yeah sure. Or at least not been for a good few years.  Time I went before Rustival they didn't have the overspill bit (which to me was more interesting than the museum) or the Jaguar bit

[dollywobbler]

On 06/01/2026 at 17:40, robt100 said:

Might give it a go, bit of a way, but went to the one in august last year. Did gift aid so have the annual pass, so I'm guessing....free entry this time round? (not an exempt date!)

Sadly the free pass won't allow you in as an exhibitor but you can visit the museum and so walk into the show.

16 hours ago, Weird Car said:

I get this is meant to be a fantastic show but I’ll never get over the mental hurdle of having to pay to display my car at a show

same with FOTU 

Put it another way. Without attendees paying, there is no show. We have expenses to cover, including a vehicular stage and being honest, we do actually pay ourselves a little for all the time we put into it (we don't work out our hourly rate for that...).

As others have said, an exhibitor ticket gets you discounted entrance to the museum if nothing else though quite a lot of people (myself included) never make it inside!

Where attendees cars are used to primarily draw in the public, who are then charged, I agree attendees shouldn't have to pay. But with Rustival and many other shows, the show is primarily FOR the attendees.

[Weird Car]

3 minutes ago, dollywobbler said:

Sadly the free pass won't allow you in as an exhibitor but you can visit the museum and so walk into the show.

Put it another way. Without attendees paying, there is no show. We have expenses to cover, including a vehicular stage and being honest, we do actually pay ourselves a little for all the time we put into it (we don't work out our hourly rate for that...).

As others have said, an exhibitor ticket gets you discounted entrance to the museum if nothing else though quite a lot of people (myself included) never make it inside!

Where attendees cars are used to primarily draw in the public, who are then charged, I agree attendees shouldn't have to pay. But with Rustival and many other shows, the show is primarily FOR the attendees.

If other people are okay with paying, great! I’m just personally not 

no drama either way 🤷🏻‍♀️

[dollywobbler]

No worries. Just understand we put a lot into making this event enjoyable for all who attend. You're not paying to show, you're paying to attend.

We try to do something new every time to ensure there's something else to enjoy every time. 

[Wibble]

1 minute ago, dollywobbler said:

No worries. Just understand we put a lot into making this event enjoyable for all who attend. You're not paying to show, you're paying to attend.

We try to do something new every time to ensure there's something else to enjoy every time. 

I tend to look at this as, I’m paying to look at lots of interesting cars, rather than paying to show mine. Hope I can get there this time.

[catsinthewelder]

Annoyingly I can't come again,  it's like a curse.  Roll on Rustival 5 😔

[dollywobbler]

19 hours ago, catsinthewelder said:

Annoyingly I can't come again,  it's like a curse.  Roll on Rustival 5 😔

Maybe we need a list of free weekends for you. 😉

[RoverFolkUs]

As long as nothing changes my end I intend to bring the Rover 620TI  - tickets and accommodation booked

[jon.k]

I'm hoping to go but my current vehicles really are boring. I'm trying to work out from the webpage whether it really is appropriate to take a knackered Toyota IQ in as an exhibitor, or whether to pay more to be a visitor? 

[brownnova]

All registered. Probably aim to take the Trans Sport again. 

[Lonestar]

29 minutes ago, jon.k said:

I'm hoping to go but my current vehicles really are boring. I'm trying to work out from the webpage whether it really is appropriate to take a knackered Toyota IQ in as an exhibitor, or whether to pay more to be a visitor? 

I think the general consensus is 'anything with wheels' is appropriate. 

I'm taking my 2012 Astra estate, which is probably in a lower tier of 'interesting' than most other cars there, but I've got an exhibitor ticket for it regardless.

[Mr Livered]

Hang on, so you can register/book as an exhibitor but figure out what car to take nearer the time? That's great news, makes it much easier.

[brownnova]

22 minutes ago, Mr Livered said:

Hang on, so you can register/book as an exhibitor but figure out what car to take nearer the time? That's great news, makes it much easier.

Yes, register a car but then changing said car is no worries.

Theres plenty of time til April, you might not even own the shite heap to take to this yet! 

[N Dentressangle]

On 08/01/2026 at 13:43, dollywobbler said:

Sadly the free pass won't allow you in as an exhibitor but you can visit the museum and so walk into the show.

Put it another way. Without attendees paying, there is no show. We have expenses to cover, including a vehicular stage and being honest, we do actually pay ourselves a little for all the time we put into it (we don't work out our hourly rate for that...).

As others have said, an exhibitor ticket gets you discounted entrance to the museum if nothing else though quite a lot of people (myself included) never make it inside!

Where attendees cars are used to primarily draw in the public, who are then charged, I agree attendees shouldn't have to pay. But with Rustival and many other shows, the show is primarily FOR the attendees.

I'm fine with paying. What's £13 - two pints in some pubs?

Was a great show last year, so will hopefully make it again.

[Austin-Rover]

11 hours ago, jon.k said:

I'm hoping to go but my current vehicles really are boring. I'm trying to work out from the webpage whether it really is appropriate to take a knackered Toyota IQ in as an exhibitor, or whether to pay more to be a visitor? 

I took a really boring car last year. Not a single person looked at it, and I was fine with that. You'll have a great day immersed in the show, and the whole point is that everything is welcome. I wouldn't call any Toyota IQ boring - rebadged Aston, isn't it? 😄

[Blake's Den]

I'm hopeful going in the 306 if I get it finished. If it isn't ready then I'll bring a back up vehicle.