Basingstoke Festival of Transport 2026 caters for all

The popular event, on Sunday, May 10, saw thousands of people visit the War Memorial Park for a good cause.

Franklin Gardner, 3, from Basingstoke has fun on one of the bikes on display (Image: Sean Dillow/The Big Cheese Photography)

The festival, organised by Basingstoke Deane Rotary, raised funds for the Hampshire Hospitals Charity, to purchase equipment for the maternity unit at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital.

Alan Gibson, from Basingstoke Deane Rotary, said: “One hundred per cent of what we raise goes to charity. We rely on volunteers to come in and help us. We need 140 volunteers to make it run.

President of Basingstoke Deane Rotary Paul Temple, volunteer Ivan Gibson, events organiser Alan Gibson, volunteer Mark Jones, Rotary supporter Mark Dolby , and volunteer Neil Holmes, (Image: Sean Dillow/The Big Cheese Photography)

“We’ve had a good turnout. The event is growing; it’s getting bigger and bigger each year. We’ve expanded it to being a family event, as well as cater to the enthusiast side.”

The event saw more than 800 vehicles on static display, including classic cars, vintage buses, military trucks, fire engines, and motorcycles.

2026 Basingstoke Festival of Transport (Image: Sean Dillow/The Big Cheese Photography)

Group One Ford also impressed crowds at the event, which donated £30 to the Rotary’s charity for every free test drive of one of its electric vehicles.

Basingstoke Rock Choir also performed, as well as local musicians, on the main stage.

Evelyn Taylor, 3, from Winklebury enjoys her ice cream (Image: Sean Dillow/The Big Cheese Photography)

Connor Gentry, 30, and his son Elliott Gentry, seven, from Winklebury, visited the festival to look at the cars.

Elliott’s favourite cars were the Lamborghinis while Connor preferred the Aston Martin.

Connor Gentry, 30, from Winklebury with his son Elliott Gentry, 7, enjoying the festival (Image: Sean Dillow/The Big Cheese Photography)

Connor said: “We have come for the last few years in a row. I think it's good for families.

"It's an event that caters for all ages and shows a wide variety of cars. It’s a really nice wallet-friendly day out.”

David Greene from Brighton Hill with his 1972 VW Beetle (Image: Sean Dillow/The Big Cheese Photography)

David Greene, from Brighton Hill, attended the event to showcase his car, a Volkswagen Beetle from 1972, which he’s had for 16 years.

He said: “This is the second year we’ve come here. Any time, any show, with people outside is always a good time.

"It’s a day out, meeting new people, chatting, looking at the nice cars. A good day out.”

Basingstoke Gazette reporter Matt Rooks-Taylor finds an old Gazette delivery van toy at one of the stalls (Image: Sean Dillow/The Big Cheese Photography)

Gazette reporter Matt Rooks-Taylor visited the Festival of Transport on his day off with his dad and grandad and found a vintage model of a Basingstoke Gazette newspaper delivery van at one of the stalls.

Matt, 26, said: “As a reporter, I was amazed to see it and then I purchased it for £1. It will go on my desk.

"I come here each year with my family, I never miss it.”