As well as the 33,000 participants from 85 countries, an additional 17,000 British Scouts were camping on other organised sites spread over a fifteen-mile radius from Sutton Park and attending the daily organised events at the main campsite, giving a total attendance of 50,000 Scouts in residence, with a further 7,000 being bussed in from locations all over England for day-long visits that were spread over the 12 days of the Jamboree.

The Jamboree was formally declared opened on 1 August by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by the British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan.

The Jamboree was closed on 12 August by the World Chief Guide, Olave, Lady Baden-Powell, who gave her speech alternately in both English and French.

Daily rail excursion charter trains were laid on to transport the international Scouts on sight-seeing trips to various British cities, including Nottingham, Leicester, Swindon, Loughborough, Stoke-on-Trent, London and Cardiff.

The event is commemorated by a short stone pillar in the centre of Sutton Park that still stands near the site of Lady Baden-Powell's closing address.