The War and Peace Show will return to the UK July 25th through 29th, 2023. The event is billed as the greatest celebration of military history and vintage lifestyle in the world. It will be held at the Hop Farm in Kent, UK. Here’s a look at what you’ll be in for at the show!
Trade Stalls
With hundreds of trade stalls to browse, you are sure to find what you are looking for! There are stalls selling badges, uniforms, militaria, vehicles, clothing, books, tents, de-activated weapons and vehicles, if it’s military related, it will be available at the War and Peace Show. Everything from a tiny shirt button, to a tank!
Military Vehicles
See some of history’s most iconic military vehicles. The War and Peace Show is an opportunity for both vehicle owners and enthusiasts alike. Visitors are presented the rare opportunity to see some of the most iconic military vehicles up close and personal, plus seeing them in action around the Arena – Vehicle owners are given the fantastic chance to actually get behind the wheel of their beloved vehicle and show it off to the visiting public!
Living History
Many dedicated enthusiasts brush off their uniforms, dig out the camo netting and recreate some classic scenes from the last 100 years of worldwide warfare. Living History scenes will provide a unique picture of life in conflict with depictions from WW1 to the present. See the British living in trenches, GIs in Vietnam, or Germans plotting their next moves!
Home Front
Welcome to the Home Front at the War and Peace Show. Our various Living History Groups and re-enactors come together to bring you our very own ‘pop up’ village of Trentham, ‘somewhere in the South-East of England’. Our Home Front Area is the biggest display of its kind in the country with a reputation for high standards of authenticity and education in a friendly and fun way. Next to us, you will find our brave boys (and girls!) in blue, stationed at RAF Upper Trentham, part of 11 Group Fighter Command.
Victory Marquee
The Victory Marquee is the go-to place for an authentic experience of the ‘good old days’ of music. With live music played throughout the day and special performances scheduled for the evenings – the Victory Marquee is the best place to go to listen to some of the best known songs from around the 1930’s through to the songs of the 70’s and everything in between!
The Arena
The arena is a popular and action packed part of the show with things happening in the arena all-day from 10:30am-16:00pm. See all those great military vehicles you’ve come to see in action. The arena gives the chance for Military vehicle owners to get the toys out and play and use their vehicles in the arena for everyone to see. You will see a variety of vehicles from all over the world being represented including British, German, American, Soviet and many other European vehicles.
Veterans Service
For much of the 20th century and now into the 21st century Britain, supported by her allies, has seen her young men and women serve in countless places around the globe and often make the supreme sacrifice. They have waded ashore at Normandy, toiled under the desert sun in Libya, searched out terrorists in the Malayan jungles, been cold and wet in the South Atlantic, patrolled the streets of Belfast and Afghanistan.
The War and Peace Show is paying its own tribute to these heroes by telling their stories so that present and future generations will learn of their courage and understand the sacrifices they made.
Join us at the ‘Veterans Rendezvous’ inside the Victory Marquee, close to the heart of the show where you will be made welcome and will be able to: Meet up with old comrades, enjoy a drink and exchange reminiscences. Take a trip down Memory Lane with the vehicles and equipment you once used. Meet re-enactors and living history groups who keep the memories of what you did alive. Enjoy music, fashion and entertainment from the 1930’s, 1940’s 1950’s and 1960’s.
Spitfire Stage
The Spitfire Marquee is the place to be for foot tapping, head bopping live music all day and late into the evening. If you’re into more recent hits, why not pay the Spitfire Marquee a visit? With a huge bar in the marquee and a cove of food outlets, there’s everything you need to have a great time. From a chilled atmosphere in the daytime with a focus on solo and acoustic acts, to a bustling hive of activity with modern hits played live by some amazing bands until late into the night. The Spitfire Marquee just gets better and better every year.
Flyovers
The Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar is proud to be once again displaying at the War and Peace Show. The two aircraft displaying in the skies above are Spitfire Mk 9 TA805 known as ‘The Kent Spitfire’ and in a tribute to the county is named ‘Spirit of Kent’. Currently in No. 234 Squadron colours, this aircraft was rolled out of Castle Bromwich in April 1944 and served with the fore-mentioned squadron at Bentwaters and also with No. 183 Squadron based at Chilbolton.
Sold to the South African Air Force, it served for many years before being made redundant and placed for scrap value. The remains were bought back to the UK and restored to the splendid Spitfire you see today.
Steam at War & Peace
2017 saw the first War and Peace Show 5” gauge miniature railway, which took over 500 passengers during the event. Due to the success of the railway and how popular it became, we have decided to expand both the railway and the locomotive fleet for this years event!
Passengers will embark on a trip from Trentham Station and experience a full lap, passing vintage vehicles which would have been used during the world wars. Due to the size of the new track layout, two steam locomotives will be used every day of the event out of a pool of our locomotives. The fleet consists of a variety of engines, from the powerful ‘Schools’ class to the perky ‘Speedy’ class. These small yet powerful engines will help recreate scenes during the war effort in the Home Front area of the War and Peace Show.
More information and tickets are available at warandpeaceshow.com.
