A great buzz at The National Honey Show!

Some things in life are genuinely unique, and the National Honey Show is one of them.  There is no show like it anywhere in the world.  A group of mostly Surrey-based beekeepers manage to organisethe largest global honey show and beekeeping convention.

The Show gives local producers a platform to sell their honey and other products. It also hosts lectures and talks that anyone can attend.  These are filmed and posted free of charge on the Show’s YouTube channel. There are practical workshops, educational sessions for children and the public about honeybees and other pollinators, and a large trade show with numerous stands.

I had the pleasure of attending the Show this year and was struck by the variety of products that can be made from honey and beeswax. There were more than 200 competition classes to enter and win.

What makes the National Honey Show exceptional is not a big budget or a famous venue. It is the combination of a highly skilled, entirely volunteer team, the high standards the Show upholds, and the sheer scale of the event. In 2024, an American show billed itself as the biggest ever held in the USA, with just over 800 entries. This year, the National Honey Show received just under 3,000 entries, and the number grows every year.

Countless beekeepers and members of the public have benefited from the Show since 1923.  The Show’s uniqueness was recognised in 2025 with a King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest honour given to local voluntary groups in the UK.  It is a fitting tribute to a group of volunteers who regard themselves as simply a group of local beekeepers.  It just happens to be a group of beekeepers that the world wants to come and join.