5 best ways to get the most from WDYTYA? Live (number 3 is vital!)

If you've visiting WDYTYA? Live this week you will want to make sure you're fully prepared to get the best from the world's biggest family history show, especially if it's your first time.

We at Family Tree have been attending the show since the very beginning, and as the event celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, we have a few tips to help you enjoy it and make it a success for you and your research.

Follow our 5 best ways to get the most from the show!

1. Take copies of your family tree and your family history notes. You may think you'll remember all the details that you want to ask for help with, but they're all too easy to forget once people start asking you questions! It can also help a researcher to see a visual representation of your tree as it can be hard to visualise who is related to whom and how when you're not familiar with the family.

2. Plan your day. Work out which talks you want to see and when. List the exhibitors you absolutely must visit (Family Tree is stand 300 and Family Tree Bookshop is stand 192!) and check where they are on the floor plan. It's worth having a walk around the exhibition hall once to get a feel for where things are and then go back around to explore more closely.

3. Wear comfortable shoes! Who Do You Think You Are? Live is the world's largest family history show and the exhibition is BIG! When you have more than 130 exhibitor stands to wander around and queues to stand in for workshops and expert Q&A sessions, you will soon regret wearing those 6-inch killer heels.

4. Take some refreshments. Food and drink is available to purchase at the NEC but it is pricey and the queues can be very long, especially at peak times. And speaking from experience, if you wait until after the rush there may not be very much choice. A bottle of water at least is highly recommended, but if you have someone willing to carry a picnic and camping chairs for you, so much the better.

5. Take a bag. Or preferably a rucksack or shopping trolley, as well as a notepad and pen. Collect leaflets and guides that exhibitors are giving away but take some time to have a quick look through them during the day in case they include any exclusive show offers you don't want to miss out on. Take lots of notes, whether in a workshop, listening to an expert date your family photos or to remind yourself of a stand to go back to.

Hopefully these top tips will help you have a very successful Who Do You Think You Are? Live and allow you to really enjoy it, which is the most important thing!

Don't forget to drop by the Family Tree stand (300) to show us your comfy shoes, we can't wait to see you!