UK for Equestrian Enthusiasts: Best Racetracks to Visit

Horse racing is one of the most popular sports in the United Kingdom, with only football outranking the action on track in terms of attendance figures throughout the year. Around six million people attend a race day during a year in the UK, with an interesting 40% being women. 

Therefore, it is no surprise that there are regularly capacity crowds at the 10,000 races that are run throughout the year. 

Embracing the racing history is a must for all visitors to the UK. Racing is one of the most popular betting options in the country, with newcomers to the sport typically getting involved around the times of Royal Ascot and the Grand National. 

You can find out everything you need to know about betting on the sport here: twinspires.com/betting-guides/what-do-horse-racing-odds-mean/ 

But, what are the best racetracks to visit when you’re in the UK?

Cheltenham

There are few more popular locations to watch horse racing in the United Kingdom than Cheltenham. 

The home of jumps racing was first opened to the public in 1815, with the first jumps race at the location dating back to 1834 when the Grand Annual was run for the first time. 

It is home to some of the biggest races on the UK calendar, with most revolving around the world-famous Cheltenham Festival. Racegoers from across the globe descend on the Cotswolds every March to see the champions crowned. The most prestigious race on the National Hunt calendar comes in the form of the Gold Cup, which was won by Inothewayurthinkin in 2025, and it is run on the final day of the Festival. 

There are few more iconic sporting venues in the country than Cheltenham, with Cleeve Hill meaning that the track is a natural amphitheatre. 

Ascot

There are few more prestigious tracks in the United Kingdom than Ascot. The track is located 25 miles west of London, and is the home to flat and jumps racing. 

Throughout the year, 13 Group Ones on the flat are held at the track, while a further three Grade Ones are held over the jumps. It is one of the most popular tracks for visitors, with around 600,000 people visiting Ascot annually. 

It is most renowned for its connection to the Royal Family, with monarchs attending days of the five-day Royal Ascot meet since the late 18th century. Royal Ascot is the key date in the diary, with all visitors having to follow strict dress requirements in order to gain entry. 

Gold Cup Day is the busiest of the week, while a staggering £7.3 million in prize money is up for grabs during the meeting. As well as Royal Ascot, the track also hosts British Champions Day in late October, with the featured Champion Stakes being won by Calandagan in 2025. 

Chester

Visitors should make sure that they add the oldest racing venue in the world to their list of locations to visit in the UK. Chester Racecourse is officially recognised as the oldest racing venue still in operation by the Guinness World Records, as it first staged equine action back in 1539. 

As well as being the oldest, Chester is also regarded as the smallest racecourse in England, as it covers only a mile and one furlong. Racing’s history in the town came about after the bloody Goteddsday football match was cancelled in 1533. 

Attending racing at Chester was free up until 1897, but it is one of the more pricey options in this modern day. The biggest meeting on the calendar is the Chester Festival, which is staged annually in May. 

The feature of the week is the Chester Cup, which is one of the biggest betting races of the flat season featuring a big field competing over two miles and two furlongs. The most recent winner of the race was East India Dock, who became the first winning favorite of the race since 2010, for trainer James Owen and jockey Harry Davies. 

Aintree 

It would be challenging to attend horse racing in the UK without acknowledging the track that hosts the most popular race day on the calendar- Aintree. 

The track on the outskirts of Liverpool city centre has five meetings throughout the winter. However, the standout occasion comes in the form of the iconic Grand National. This race is a staple of British tradition, and sees runners compete over a marathon trip of just over four miles. 

Runners involved will need to navigate 30 fences and complete two laps of the Aintree circuit. Its iconic legacy ensures that it is a global attraction, with the Grand National now streamed live in over 140 countries to an average audience of 600 million. 

Some of the most famous moments in racing history have come in the Grand National, including Red Rum’s iconic third win in the race in 1977 and Aldaniti’s emotional success with Bob Champion in 1981.