Event
Few car shows can claim a setting quite like this. Sherborne Castle, built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594 and home to the Wingfield-Digby family since 1617, sits beside a 50-acre lake with 30 acres of gardens designed by Capability Brown. Across the water, the ruins of the Norman Old Castle – which fell to Cromwell during the Civil War – complete a backdrop that makes even the most impressive machinery look appropriately placed in history.
Now entering its twentieth year, the Classic & Supercars Show has grown into one of the premier automotive gatherings in southern England. Over 1,500 vehicles fill the grounds, spanning everything from brass-era veterans and cherished post-war classics to rally cars, hot rods, American muscle and the latest supercars. More than fifty car clubs stake out their displays, and the variety is genuinely remarkable – you might walk from a concours-condition E-Type to a modified Mk2 Escort to a McLaren 720S within a few hundred metres.
Each year features a marque celebration with a dedicated display and parade past the castle. The 2025 show honoured sixty years of Lamborghini; the 2026 featured marque will continue this tradition of bringing together significant collections for a themed presentation. Celebrity guests from the motoring world typically attend, adding autograph opportunities and expert commentary to the day.
Beyond the cars, the show functions as a proper summer fête: autojumble stalls for parts hunters, craft fair, catering village, live music throughout the day, and activities for children. Dogs are welcome, picnics are encouraged, and the atmosphere stays relaxed despite the scale. Importantly, the event exists entirely for charitable purposes – recent years have distributed over £65,000 annually to local organisations.
Sherborne lies in north Dorset, easily reached from the A30 or by train from London Waterloo. The town itself, with its abbey and honey-coloured stone buildings, rewards a visit before or after the show.
