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Cheltenham Festival has become the most important date in the National Hunt racing calendar. Prize money has not reached that of the Grand National which is arguably the most famous race in the world but the reputation of the festival has grown exceptionally in recent years. The date is now extremely important for bookmakers with Cheltenham responsible for 10% of the Tote’s total annual on-course takings. Cheltenham plays host to four days of some of the greatest racing on the planet with a particular association with the Irish. The fourth day of racing includes the highlight of the festival, the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Thousands of racegoers flock to Cheltenham every year to enjoy the highlight of the social racing calendar where more than 18,000 bottles of Champagne and 214,000 pints of Guinness will be consumed! 

Dress Code

There is not a specific official dress code at Cheltenham due to the winter weather during March. However it is advised that guests loosely follow a dress code in the Club Enclosure and hospitality facilities. Entry to certain parts of the grounds such as the Club Enclosure may be refused if someone is deemed to be dressed inappropriately. Gentlemen usually wear a suit or similar while women tend to wear hats. The organisers of the festival are allowed to retain the right to decline entry into Cheltenham at their discretion.  

How to get to the Racecourse

By Rail

Cheltenham Racecourse is easily accessible from London Paddington with trains running hourly or more to Cheltenham Spa and take around two hours. Birmingham offers services to Cheltenham Spa every half an hour and they take 35 minutes. From Bristol the journey will take 35 minutes and services run every hour. The train station is a short 10 minute taxi ride away from the racecourse.  

By Bus

During Cheltenham Festival there are plenty of bus services to cater for the influx of thousands of race goers. An extra shuttle bus service with be operating throughout the festival picking up spectators at Cheltenham Spa Railway Station and outside WH Smith in the centre of the town and will drop off at the Racecourse. Return buses will pick up from the Racecourse with stops at Pittville Street and then the station. Fares start from as little as £2.50. National Express also offers dedicated services to Cheltenham Festival from multiple locations across the UK. Fares start from £21.00 for an affordable return to the Racecourse and is guaranteed to leave after all the races have finished. 

By Road

During Cheltenham Festival there is a carefully considered and organised colour scheme to make things easier for you and to avoid chaos. A colour coded parking scheme means that your parking zone will match your label and preferred route. Temporary signs will be put in place for the racing so it is advised to ignore both sat nav and brown signs once you pick up the yellow directional signs.

Colour Codes include:

Disabled Council Badge Holders – Disabled Parking Symbol
Annual Members, RCA Trainers car park stickers, RCA Owners car park stickers, RCA Press car park stickers, ROA members, RCA members, Hospitality guests with car parking label provided and those with four day members disabled parking – Red
Horseboxes and Minibuses – Red
PJA members, Owners and Trainers hanging labels – Blue
N Bays which have been sold by Cheltenham – Blue
Reserved Annual Members and bays sold in Hall of Fame Car park – Yellow
The Cheltenham Club members – Yellow
If you do not have a car parking pass then please see below;
Public and Pre Paid General Admission (Club, Tattersalls And Best Mate Enclosures) – Green 
Bookmakers – Yellow 
Drop off and pick up – Pink 

By Air

Bristol and Birmingham airports provide flights to many national and international destinations. Gloucestershire Airport in Staverton can provide private flights and there is also a helipad at the racecourse.

Timings

Cheltenham Festival includes four explosive days of racing with the first race commencing at 1.30pm and the last at 5.30pm which will be the last of seven races throughout the day. If you would prefer to take in the atmosphere before the races commence, the racecourse opens at 10.30am ready for a full day of exceptional sporting action. The final day of the meeting features the Cheltenham Gold Cup where we all await to see if Coneygree can repeat his success from last year.

For more information on our Cheltenham Festival Hospitality Packages contact us today: 0203 905 1750