Tens of thousands of people will descend on RAF Fairford over the next three days for RIAT – here’s how to get there.

"SIMPLEST WAY"

A free shuttle bus service will take passengers to the Royal International Air Tattoo from Swindon’s central bus station.

Guests can also leave their cars at the Cheltenham Racecourse and take a park-and-ride service to the air base.

Organisers say these are the simplest ways to get to and from the showground, though visitors that use them cannot bring their cars to the show itself.

Both public transport options come 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.

SWINDON SHUTTLE BUS

Select ‘Air Tattoo with Swindon Shuttle Bus’ when booking a RIAT ticket. The bus station is a five-minute walk from Swindon’s train station – check gwr.com for live updates on train journeys.

Journeys take around 30 minutes and the buses operate on a first-come first-served basis.

The first departure leaves at 6.45am and will then be every 12 minutes until 2pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The first return journey will be at 2pm from RIAT, and then every 12 minutes until 6pm on Friday and until 7.30pm on the weekend.

CHELTENHAM PARK AND RIDE

These tickets are limited and can only be purchased in advance.

It departs from the Cheltenham Racecourse pick-up area, where parking is free, and passengers should arrive 15 minutes before their bus leaves.

Journeys take around 90 minutes, with Friday’s first departure leaving at 7.30am and the second at 8.30am, while on the weekend, the first departure will be at 6.45am and then hourly until 9.45am.

The first return from RIAT on Friday will be at 5pm and the second follows at 6pm, while Saturday and Sunday’s first return heads back at 4.30pm and then hourly until 7.30pm.

 

ARRIVING BY CAR

Motorists should allow extra time on their journeys to account for the high amount of traffic on the roads.

Enter the postcode GL7 4EG into the sat-nav, then follow the colour-coded AA road signs near the airshow.

The signs are as follows:

RED ROUTE (from the North East): Approach via Burford and Lechlade, along the A417 and then through Whelford into the Red car parks. Traffic on the A420 should avoid approaching Lechlade from the South East.

BLUE ROUTE (from the South and South East): Exit M4 at Junction 15, travel north along the A419 and then, after Cricklade, depart left onto the C124 towards Kempsford and into the Blue car parks.

BROWN ROUTE (from the West and South West): Exit at Junction 17 of the M4 and travel north towards Malmesbury, turning north east onto 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 southbound through Latton, merging with the Blue or Green routes as directed.

GREEN ROUTE (from the North West): Via M5 Junction 11A and Cheltenham, 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.

The various routes into RIAT 2024.The various routes into RIAT 2024. (Image: RIAT)

Additional overflow routes will relieve congestion. Air Tattoo Live on 87.7FM provides live traffic reports and airshow news.

Coming by taxi is NOT an option due to the one-way systems in operation.