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🛏️ Europe · UK

Great Knaresborough Bed Race

BUILD/decorate a racing bed; team pushes it on a course incl. a river crossing.

Team entry
12 Jun 2027Next date
1 Jan 2027Next deadline / key date
JuneUsual timing
Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, UKWhere
01 · How to take part

Your way in

Enter a team; entries close end Feb, lottery in March picks 90 teams.

Team entry

Enter a bed team

Build or decorate a racing bed (you bring your own bed) and push it round the course, river crossing included. Enter online between 1 Jan and 28 Feb; if there are more than 90 entries, a lottery in March picks the teams.

You build or use
BUILD/decorate a racing bed; team pushes it on a course incl. a river crossing
Participation
Build-compete (lottery)
Entry and deadlines
Entry by end Feb; lottery (2026: 18 Mar)
Where
Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, UK
02 · Dates

Dates and deadlines, Jan 2026 to Dec 2027

Usual timing: June. Dates are only shown where a source publishes them; everything else is marked TBC.

  • 1 Jan 2027Knaresborough Bed Race 2027: entries OPENOfficial FAQ: entries open 1 Jan each year. · sourceDeadline / key dateTeam entry
  • 28 Feb 2027Knaresborough Bed Race 2027 entries close (11:59pm)Official FAQ. · sourceDeadline / key dateTeam entry
  • Mar 2027 · date TBCKnaresborough Bed Race lottery (March)Only held if more than 90 entries; date TBC. · sourceDeadline / key dateDate TBCTeam entry
  • 12 Jun 2027Great Knaresborough Bed Race 2027Official site. · sourceTeam entry

Already passed this season: 13 Jun 2026: Great Knaresborough Bed Race 2026.

See it on the calendar →

03 · Skills you'll need

Skills you'll need

What to learn and practise before you go. Each resource is marked Official or Community-accepted and names its publisher. Difficulty and prep time are our estimate.

Core skill

Building or adapting a racing bed that passes scrutineering (size limits, no mechanical propulsion)

Also useful:

  • Team running and pushing over a 2.4-mile course including a river crossing
  • Theme decoration and parade etiquette
Difficulty our estimateSome practice (fit team of 6 plus passenger)
Prep time our estimate4–8 weeks of team fitness plus a few build weekends

Difficulty and prep time are Curiosta editorial estimates for a first-timer, not organiser figures.

Refresher

  1. Read the official rules: each team brings a bed decorated to the year's theme, an air horn, plus a helmet and lifejacket for the passenger.
  2. Decorated size limit: max 2 m wide, 4 m long, 3 m tall; decorations come off before the race, and the bed must have no mechanical propulsion. Scrutineers must pass it.
  3. A team is six runners plus one passenger (minimum age 10), with two adult marshals who attend a briefing.
  4. Everyone must be able to swim, because the course crosses the River Nidd; the passenger wears a helmet and lifejacket throughout.
  5. Keep left unless overtaking; no throwing objects or liquids; no alcohol for runners until after the race; finish within 30 minutes.
  6. Entries close at the end of February and a lottery picks the teams.

Practise before you go

  • Train as a team: interval runs pushing a loaded trolley or cart.
  • Check every runner can swim; do a pool session in clothes.
  • Build a test frame and check wheels and steering on rough ground.

Safety notes

  • All competitors must be able to swim (river crossing).
  • Passenger: helmet and lifejacket throughout.
  • No alcohol for runners until after the race; no throwing objects.

Resources

Officialofficial rules

Bed Race Rules

Full team, bed, safety and conduct rules.

Publisher: Great Knaresborough Bed Race (Knaresborough Lions Club)

Officialofficial entry page

Enter a team to the 2026 Great Knaresborough Bed Race

Entry process and timeline (applications and lottery).

Publisher: Great Knaresborough Bed Race

Officialofficial FAQ

FAQ

Practical questions about the day.

Publisher: Great Knaresborough Bed Race

See also the skills guide: Human-powered craft → · All skills guides

04 · Check before you go

What we could and couldn't confirm

Before you book

  • Team size and entry fees were not captured.
  • Costs are not listed on Nomad. Check them, and the latest dates, on the official site.
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