Appleby Horse Fair 2025
Appleby Horse Fair is an annual gathering of Gypsies and Travellers in the town of Appleby in Westmorland, which takes place over a week in early June, from a Thursday to the following Wednesday, but this is essentially a weekend event, the main days being the Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Appleby Fair is unique in Europe and, as well as attracting around 10,000 Gypsies and Travellers, over 30,000 other visitors attend the Fair.
Public Safety
Thousands of people attend Appleby Horse Fair each year and do so safely. However, Appleby is a unique event, with fast-moving, as well as tethered horses around the town for the duration. People are asked - particularly first time visitors - to make sure they are aware of steps they can take to stay safe.
Find out more by visiting our Public Safety page.
Steph Cordon, MASCG Chair and Director of Thriving Communities for Westmorland and Furness Council, reflects on what went well at the 2025 Fair, one of the busiest and safest in recent years, and what the agencies involved in the MASCG can do to improve the response to next year's Fair.
Appleby Horse Fair's Police Gold Commander, Detective Superintendent Dan St Quintin, reflects on the successful conclusion of the police operation for the 2025 Fair and the lessons learned for improving the police response at next year's Fair.
