The Learning Lessons Report and Action Plan for the Appleby Fair 2024 aims to assess the successes and challenges of the event to improve planning for future Fairs, including the 2025 event. The Fair attracts thousands of Gypsies, Travellers, and tourists, with last year’s event bringing 1,287 caravans and bow tops to the Eden area, slightly short of the record high in 2015.

The event continues to face scrutiny over issues such as crime, traffic congestion, safety concerns, economic impacts, and animal welfare. The overall costs to agencies involved in the response to the Fair stood at £348,975 in 2024, with concerns over animal welfare being significant, including incidents of cruelty and horse fatalities. The report also highlighted improved safety measures during the 2025 event.

Discussions about the possibility of making the event ticketed were addressed in the report, with concerns raised about the practicality and legal issues of implementing ticket sales. The report did not reach a formal conclusion, and Westmorland and Furness Council are seeking legal advice to inform any future decisions regarding the Fair.