Ascot Racecourse

A Guide to Ascot Racecourse

Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire is one of the most famous horse racing venues in the world. Founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, the course sits within Windsor Great Park and has hosted royalty, international visitors, and racing fans for over three centuries. It is best known as the home of Royal Ascot, a five-day meeting held each June that combines top-level flat racing with a strict dress code and a tradition of royal attendance.

Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot takes place in the third week of June and is widely regarded as the most prestigious flat racing meeting in Britain. The week features 35 races across five days, including several Group 1 contests that attract horses from across Europe and beyond.

Key races to watch:

  • Gold Cup (Thursday): Run over two and a half miles, this is the oldest race at the meeting and the centrepiece of Ladies’ Day. It draws the world’s finest staying horses and a huge crowd.
  • Queen Anne Stakes (Tuesday): The opening race of the Royal Meeting, run over a mile and contested by top-class milers.
  • King Charles III Stakes (Tuesday): Formerly the King’s Stand Stakes, this is the fastest race of the week, run over five furlongs.
  • St James’s Palace Stakes (Tuesday): A mile race for three-year-old colts that often features the season’s leading Classic generation.
  • Coronation Stakes (Friday): The mile equivalent for three-year-old fillies, bringing together the best of the European Classic crop.
  • Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Saturday): A Group 1 sprint over six furlongs on the final day.

The Royal Procession: Each afternoon, the royal party travels up the straight mile in horse-drawn landaus. Gates open around 10:30 am and races begin at 2:30 pm, giving plenty of time to settle in, watch the parade ring, and study the form.

Dress code: Royal Ascot enforces a formal dress code across all enclosures. In the Royal Enclosure, morning dress is required for men and formal daywear with a hat for women. The Queen Anne Enclosure and Village Enclosure also have formal guidelines. Check the official Ascot website for the full rules before you travel, as stewards enforce them at the gate.

The Enclosures

Ascot is divided into distinct enclosures, each with a different atmosphere and price point.

  • Royal Enclosure: The most exclusive area, requiring a sponsor for first-time applicants. Access to private lawns, the best views of the finish line, and a quieter atmosphere.
  • Queen Anne Enclosure: The main public enclosure with excellent sight lines, a wide choice of bars and restaurants, and a lively atmosphere. This is where most racegoers spend their day.
  • Village Enclosure: A more relaxed area with a festival feel, live music between races, food markets, and a large screen showing the racing. Well suited to groups and first-time visitors.
  • Windsor Enclosure: Family-friendly with a Kids Zone, food stalls, and a casual atmosphere.

Eating and Drinking

Royal Ascot offers a wide range of food and drink across all enclosures, from quick street food to formal sit-down dining.

  • The Carriages Restaurant (Queen Anne Enclosure): A large, busy restaurant serving hot dishes and carvery options throughout the day.
  • The Seafood and Champagne Bar (Royal Enclosure lawn): Oysters, dressed crab, and smoked salmon alongside a well-stocked champagne selection.
  • Village Enclosure food market: Independent traders serving everything from wood-fired flatbreads to British cheese boards. The quality here has improved significantly in recent years.
  • Champagne terraces: Scattered throughout the course, these are good spots to watch the racing with a glass in hand.

For pre-race dining, many racegoers bring their own hampers and picnic in the car parks or designated areas. This is a long-standing tradition and the quality of some hampers you will see is remarkable.

Getting There

By train: South Western Railway runs direct services from London Waterloo to Ascot station during Royal Ascot week, with journey times of around 55 minutes. The station is a short walk from the course entrance.

By car: Ascot is accessible from the M3 and M4. Pre-booked car park passes are essential during Royal Ascot as walk-up parking is not available. Roads can be slow on busy days, so allow extra time.

By taxi or private hire: A drop-off point is located on the High Street. A taxi from Windsor takes around 15 minutes.

Where to Stay

There is no accommodation on the racecourse itself, but the surrounding area has a good range of options.

  • Macdonald Windsor Hotel, Windsor: A four-star hotel close to Windsor Castle, about a 15-minute drive from Ascot. Rooms fill quickly during Royal Ascot week, so book well in advance.
  • The Berystede Hotel and Spa, Ascot: A large country house hotel a short distance from the course, popular with racegoers for its proximity and dining options.
  • Bed and breakfast accommodation in Sunningdale and Virginia Water: Both villages have independent B&Bs that are closer to the course than central Windsor and tend to be slightly quieter during race week.

If you are visiting from London, many people make the day trip by train rather than staying overnight, which works well for the earlier days of the week.

Beyond Race Week

Ascot holds around 25 race days each year outside of Royal Ascot. These include the QIPCO British Champions Day in October, which is the richest day of flat racing in Britain and the climax of the domestic flat season. Tickets are significantly cheaper than Royal Ascot and the atmosphere is still excellent.

The course also runs guided tours outside of race days, covering the parade ring, the Royal Box, the weighing room, and the winner’s enclosure. These are good value for racing fans who want a closer look at the infrastructure behind a major racecourse.

Nearby Attractions

Windsor Castle is the most obvious day extension from a visit to Ascot. It is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and has been a royal residence for nearly 1,000 years. The State Apartments, St George’s Chapel, and the changing of the guard are the main draws. Allow at least three hours.

Windsor Great Park covers around 5,000 acres and connects Windsor with Virginia Water. The Long Walk, a three-mile avenue of trees leading from the castle to a statue of George III on horseback, is one of the finest formal landscapes in England.

The Savill Garden, within Windsor Great Park, covers 35 acres and is particularly worth visiting in late spring and early summer when the rhododendrons and roses are at their best.

Virginia Water lake is a pleasant place to walk or cycle, with a waterfall and ruins salvaged from a site in Libya that were re-erected here in the early nineteenth century.

Tips for Visiting

  • Book tickets for Royal Ascot as early as possible. The Royal Enclosure requires an application process; other enclosures can sell out months in advance.
  • Study the form before you go. Even a basic understanding of the horses and trainers involved makes the racing far more engaging.
  • Wear comfortable shoes. The course is large, and race days involve a lot of walking across lawns and gravel paths.
  • Bring cash as well as cards. Some smaller food and drink outlets inside the course are cash only.
  • The weather in June in Berkshire is unpredictable. A light jacket or a layer for the evening is worth packing even on warm days.
  • If you are visiting with children, the Windsor Enclosure is the most practical option and gives younger visitors access to activities beyond just the racing.