Two top racecourses to visit in the United Kingdom
Horse racing can be one of the best sports to attend given the grandeur of racecourses around the United Kingdom, and a rare opportunity to watch elite action in between top-notch food and drink along with all the social activities that go hand-in-hand with the event.
The right race and location can make all the difference between a good trip and a great one. We’ll now talk through the best racecourses to visit in the United Kingdom.
Aintree Racecourse
You will want to target the second Saturday in April for a visit to Aintree Racecourse as it stages the most famous race in the world, the Grand National. Almost everyone in the United Kingdom has a flutter on the prestigious meet, and you’ll be searching the Grand National betting odds to pick out a potential winner on the day out of the 40 competing horses. It is one of the more difficult races to predict, therefore, a good scan of the odds and a little bit of research would go a long way in determining success, looking beyond the leading contender in the field at 8/1 Any Second Now. The race itself is the draw of the Aintree Festival, which spans from Thursday until Saturday of the second week in April.
There’s ample time to visit Aintree to witness the racing, but also to enjoy the festivities of the week. Aintree has several fine dining options in its hospitality areas, while there are equally good options in the enclosures around the venue. Aintree ensures that it caters for fans all of the budgets with tickets beginning at £30 ranging up to £600. Being based only a short distance from Liverpool via rail and car, there are ample hotels available at good rates. In terms of the entire package for a day at the races and a night out in a big city, Aintree certainly fits the bill.
Cheltenham Racecourse
If you can, target the second week in March for a trip to Cheltenham Racecourse to take in the notorious Cheltenham Festival for four days of outstanding racing entertainment. In terms of racing action, it is arguably better than Aintree Festival due to the calibre of horses competing in the events along with the number of races, seven per day from Tuesday to Friday. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the signature event of the week, which takes place on Friday at 3:30 GMT, and is the race that everyone empties the bars and restaurants to watch live.
Cheltenham features outstanding hospitality in its Grand Stand, catering for a range of punters, although the tickets begin in the enclosures at the very affordable price of £30. Hospitality begins at £375 and can reach up to £800, depending on your package. In terms of nightlife after the fact, you’re not going to enter the clubs of Cheltenham, but the Cotswold region provides several tranquil spas to attend. Rather than a night out, you can spend your time relaxing with a few treatments to unwind after a day at the races.
These are two of the top racecourses to visit for pure entertainment for a day at the races, and you should carefully consider the cost and the style of your stay before picking one to attend.
