RNAS Yeovilton is one of two principal naval air bases in the UK, the other being RNAS Culdrose. In the absence of an airshow at RNAS Culdrose since 2017, the Royal Navy International Air Day at Yeovilton has been the only airshow based at a Royal Naval Air Station in the UK.
On July 10th 2021, the Air Station’s gates were to have opened to an estimated 40,000 visitors but the live show had to be cancelled because of Covid-19. The 2020 show had also been cancelled for the same reason and on 16th March 2022 the show announced that it would not be held in 2022 either.
A social media message from the Air Station simply said:
It is with regret we can confirm, for commercial reasons, that The Royal Navy International Air Day will not take place in 2022. It is hoped the Air Day will be back on as usual in 2023.
However, following silence from the organisers about the 2023 or any future shows, and speculation that the 'commercial reasons' blamed for the 2022 cancellation have not been resolved, we are now aware that there will be no airshow at RNAS Yeovilton in 2023. Regrettably, there is a possibility that, like the show at RNAS Culdrose, it's absence from the airshow circuit may endure.
Getting to the Air Day
By car
RNAS Yeovilton is on the B3151, five miles north of Yeovil and about forty miles south of Bristol.
The post code BA22 8HT can be used for sat nav but, as with all shows, ignore the sat nav in favour of local airshow direction signs as soon as you see them.
There are links to other route planners in the Travel Advice section.
By Train
The nearest stations are Yeovil Penn Mill and Yeovil Junction. From Yeovil Junction there is a direct service to London (about 2.5 hours) and Exeter (about 1 hour). From Yeovil Penn Mill the service goes to Weymouth (about 45 minutes) and Bristol (about 2 hours). There is a (not free) shuttle bus service from both stations to the show site.
It is best to book as far as possible in advance. This is not only because nearby hotels and guest houses tend get booked up well before the date of an airshow but also because prices can be better when you book early online.
There are plenty of booking agencies. We find that many of the well known ones are better at finding hotels from international or larger UK chains and may suggest hotels in main towns or cities quite a distance from the show site.
Some Options
Premier Inn have one hotel on the edge of Yeovil airfield (not RNAS Yeovilton which is about 7 miles away) and another in Yeovil Town Centre.
There is a Travelodge hotel very close to RNAS Yeovilton and another two within 10 miles.
Click any of the blue names to go to the corresponding web site. The links already have the location built in, but please check, and change as necessary, the dates, number of rooms and number of guests.
The Met Office 7-day forecast includes actual and "feels like" temperatures, the likelihood of rain, wind speed, wind direction, wind gusts and visibility: the latter can have an impact on the viability of displays.
The BBC's 14-day forecast has overall conditions including and hourly estimate of temperature, wind direction, wind speed and UV range.
Click the blue-text link to go to the forecast. The location is already built into the links.
