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Horse racing is one of the most popular sports in the UK, with over 4.8 million people attending these events as recently as 2022.
Discover the Best UK Racecourses for 2025: Your Ultimate Guide to a Glamorous Day at the Races!
Attending the races can make a great day out with friends and family, filled with excitement. But with almost 1,500 race days across up to 60 different racecourses, choosing which event to attend can be challenging.
We’ve analysed various factors, including review scores, social media presence, and ticket prices, to help determine which UK racecourses you should add to your must-visit list in 2025.
Ascot is the best racecourse in the UK, with a score of 7.97 out of 10
We’ve looked at social media, reviews, race days, and prices to reveal the best racecourses for you and your friends to visit in the UK.
| Rank | Racecourse | UK Search Term | Google Searches (January - December 2024) | Google Review Score | Tripadvisor Review Score | Instagram Account | Instagram Followers | Instagram Hashtag (Races) | Instagram "Races" Hashtags | X Account | X Followers | Number of Racedays | Buzzsumo % "Love" Reactions | Ladies Day (or Signature Event if no Ladies Day) | Adult Single Ticket Price (From / Cheapest area) | Nearest train station to racecourse | Minutes from Nearest Train Station to Racecourse | Races score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ascot | Ascot | 1,130,000 | 4.6 | 4.5 | @ascotracecourse | 168,000 | #Ascotraces | 56,400 | @Ascot | 135,900 | 26 | 65% | Ladies Day | £34 | Ascot | 10 | 7.97 |
| 2 | Beverley | Beverley races | 189,300 | 4.5 | 4.5 | @beverley_racecourse | 4,897 | #Beverleyraces | 6,234 | @Beverley_Races | 20,700 | 19 | 97% | Ladies Day | £10 | Beverley | 34 | 6.83 |
| 3 | Musselburgh | Musselburgh races | 186,100 | 4.5 | 4.5 | @musselburghracecourse | 13,300 | #Musselburghraces | 6,362 | @MusselburghRace | 32,900 | 25 | N/A | Ladies Day | £57 | Musselburgh | 31 | 6.47 |
| 4 | York | York races | 505,700 | 4.5 | 4 | @yorkraces | 26,100 | #Yorkraces | 70,000 | @yorkracecourse | 65,200 | 18 | 24% | Juddmonte International | £15 | York | 37 | 6.44 |
| 5 | Cheltenham | Cheltenham races | 1,244,000 | 4.5 | 4.5 | @cheltenhamraces | 127,000 | #Cheltenhamraces | 99,700 | @CheltenhamRaces | 167,000 | 16 | 39% | Style Wednesday | £57 | Cheltenham Spa | 48 | 6.42 |
| 6 | Newbury | Newbury races | 121,100 | 4.4 | 4 | @newburyracecourse | 32,600 | #Newburyraces | 15,800 | @NewburyRacing | 56,700 | 31 | 75% | Ladies Day | £24 | Newbury | 27 | 6.35 |
| 7 | Newmarket | Newmarket races | 494,000 | 4.5 | 4 | @newmarket_racecourses | 35,900 | #Newmarketraces | 34,700 | @NewmarketRace | 49,000 | 36 | 49% | Ladies Day | £25 | Newmarket | 99 | 6.30 |
| 8 | Chester | Chester races | 499,500 | 4.4 | 4 | @chesterraces | 26,300 | #Chesterraces | 72,500 | @ChesterRaces | 58,700 | 15 | 22% | Ladies Day | £10 | Chester | 26 | 6.27 |
| 9 | Southwell | Southwell races | 204,000 | 4.4 | 4 | @southwellracecourse | 5,832 | #Southwellraces | 3,735 | @Southwell_Races | 24,900 | 79 | 78% | Ladies Day | £33 | Rolleston | 1 | 6.07 |
| 10 | Goodwood | Goodwood races | 351,400 | 4.5 | 4 | @goodwood_races | 41,600 | #Goodwoodraces | 18,200 | @Goodwood_Races | 47,700 | 19 | 49% | Ladies Day | £21 | Chichester | 120 | 5.88 |
| 11 | Kempton Park | Kempton races | 76,700 | 4.3 | 4 | @kemptonparkrace | 7,425 | #Kemptonraces | 1,884 | @kemptonparkrace | 47,500 | 61 | 100% | King George VI Chase Day | £16 | Kempton Park | 7 | 5.86 |
| 12 | Ripon | Ripon races | 170,700 | 4.6 | 4.5 | @riponraces | 3,389 | #Riponraces | 3,731 | @RiponRaces | 23,100 | 16 | 96% | Ladies Day | £7 | Thirsk | 244 | 5.85 |
| 13 | Doncaster | Doncaster races | 519,900 | 4.4 | 4 | @doncasterraces | 16,200 | #Doncasterraces | 20,500 | @DoncasterRaces | 54,700 | 37 | 9% | Ladies Day | £36 | Doncaster | 34 | 5.84 |
| 14 | Thirsk | Thirsk races | 156,300 | 4.5 | 4.5 | @thirskraces | 4,451 | #Thirskraces | 3,154 | @ThirskRaces | 16,500 | 15 | 98% | Ladies Day | £18 | Thirsk | 19 | 5.77 |
| 15 | Epsom Downs | epsom racecourse | 389,700 | 4.5 | 4 | @epsomdownsracecourse | 19,100 | #Epsomsraces | 5,257 | @EpsomRacecourse | 33,700 | 11 | 100% | Ladies Day | £28 | Epsom | 42 | 5.69 |
| 16 | Haydock Park | Haydock races | 557,900 | 4.3 | 4 | @haydockparkracecourse | 9,808 | #Haydockraces | 11,100 | @haydockraces | 49,700 | 30 | 69% | Ladies Day | £28 | Newton-le-Willows | 64 | 5.65 |
| 17 | Aintree | Aintree races | 480,100 | 4.5 | 4 | @aintreeracecourse | 40,900 | #Aintreeraces | 31,600 | @AintreeRaces | 43,800 | 8 | 32% | Ladies Day | £55 | Aintree | 5 | 5.61 |
| 18 | Chepstow | Chepstow races | 373,200 | 4.3 | 3.5 | @chepstowracecourse | 14,800 | #Chepstowraces | 5,074 | @Chepstow_Racing | 33,600 | 30 | 57% | Ladies Night | £24 | Chepstow | 35 | 5.51 |
| 18 | Ayr | Ayr races | 178,700 | 4.2 | 4 | @ayrracecourse | 6,953 | #Ayrraces | 8,102 | @ayrracecourse | 21,500 | 30 | 77% | Ladies Day | £28 | Ayr | 20 | 5.51 |
| 20 | Lingfield Park | Lingfield races | 204,300 | 4.3 | 3.5 | @lingfieldpark | 7,310 | #Lingfieldraces | 4,775 | @LingfieldPark | 30,700 | 66 | 2% | Ladies Evening | £21 | Lingfield | 17 | 5.33 |
| 21 | Uttoxeter | Uttoxeter races | 221,200 | 4.3 | 4 | @uttoxeterraces | 7,320 | #Uttoxeterraces | 3,621 | @UttoxeterRaces | 20,600 | 24 | 0% | Ladies Day | £12 | Uttoxeter | 20 | 5.21 |
| 22 | Plumpton | Plumpton races | 102,500 | 4.6 | 4.5 | @plumptonracecourse | 4,765 | #Plumptonraces | 1,043 | @plumptonraces | 18,200 | 17 | 0% | Easter Festival | £15 | Plumpton | 13 | 5.10 |
| 23 | Catterick Bridge | Catterick races | 93,000 | 4.4 | 4.5 | @catterickracecourse | 3,810 | #Catterickeraces | 1,445 | @CatterickRaces | 18,400 | 26 | 100% | Ladies Day | £8 | Darlington | 290 | 5.01 |
| 24 | Market Rasen | Market Rasen races | 428,200 | 4.4 | 4 | @market_rasen_racecourse | 5,254 | #MarketRasenraces | 2,702 | @MarketRasenRace | 20,400 | 20 | 1% | Ladies Day | £15 | Market Rasen | 30 | 4.99 |
| 25 | Sandown Park | Sandown Park races | 56,000 | 4.4 | 4 | @sandownparkracecourse | 12,000 | #SandownParkraces | 112 | @Sandownpark | 48,100 | 23 | 67% | Ladies Day | £22 | Esher | 15 | 4.92 |
| 26 | Royal Windsor | Royal Windsor races | 770 | 4.2 | 4 | @royalwindsorracecourse | 12,100 | #Windsorraces | 5,906 | @WindsorRaces | 23,400 | 26 | 100% | Ladies Day | £30 | Windsor and Eton Central | 27 | 4.91 |
| 27 | Warwick | Warwick races | 190,300 | 4.4 | 3.5 | @warwickraces | 5,721 | #Warwickraces | 3,405 | @WarwickRaces | 21,300 | 19 | 19% | Kingmaker Chase Day | £29 | Warwick | 26 | 4.60 |
| 28 | Perth | Perth races | 121,300 | 4.5 | 4.5 | @perthracecourse | 5,411 | #Perthraces | 9,004 | @PerthRacecourse | 14,600 | 13 | 79% | Ladies Day | £40 | Perth | 87 | 4.59 |
| 29 | Salisbury | Salisbury races | 118,400 | 4.5 | 4.5 | @salisburyracecourse | 4,232 | #Salisburyraces | 2,922 | @salisburyraces | 12,100 | 15 | 64% | Ladies Evening | £14 | Salisbury | 94 | 4.58 |
| 30 | Wincanton | Wincanton races | 160,700 | 4.5 | 4 | @wincantonraces | 4,951 | #Wincantonraces | 1,697 | @wincantonraces | 20,300 | 16 | 87% | BetMGM Kingwell Hurdle Day | £20 | Templecombe | 132 | 4.55 |
| 31 | Wetherby | Wetherby races | 179,700 | 4.3 | 4 | @wetherbyraces | 4,350 | #Wetherbyraces | 2,348 | @WetherbyRaces | 19,200 | 18 | 100% | Ladies Evening | £7 | Harrogate | 208 | 4.50 |
| 32 | Hexham | Hexham races | 93,100 | 4.5 | 4.5 | @hexhamraces | 3,085 | #Hexhamraces | 1,529 | @HexhamRaces | 15,000 | 15 | 97% | Ladies Day | £12 | Hexham | 63 | 4.49 |
| 33 | Stratford-upon-Avon | Stratford races | 126,600 | 4.4 | 4 | @stratfordracecourse | 3,588 | #Stratfordraces | 1,531 | @stratfordraces | 12,700 | 16 | 100% | Ladies Day | £11 | Stratford-upon-Avon | 28 | 4.40 |
| 34 | Wolverhampton | Wolverhampton races | 53,900 | 4.3 | 4 | @wolvesraces | 5,282 | #Wolverhamptonraces | 1,428 | @WolvesRaces | 26,600 | 83 | 54% | Ladies Evening | £20 | Wolverhampton | 40 | 4.34 |
| 35 | Worcester | Worcester races | 138,100 | 4.1 | 4 | @worcesterraces | 4,468 | #Worcesterraces | 2,306 | @WorcesterRaces | 15,600 | 18 | 84% | Ladies Day | £20 | Worcester Foregate Street | 17 | 4.32 |
| 36 | Pontefract | Pontefract races | 136,300 | 4.4 | 4 | @ponteraces | 3,010 | #Pontefractraces | 2,437 | @ponteraces | 18,900 | 16 | 33% | Ladies Day | £17 | Pontefract Tanshelf | 13 | 4.23 |
| 37 | Kelso | Kelso races | 101,600 | 4.5 | 4.5 | @kelsoracecourse | 5,184 | #Kelsoraces | 3,169 | @KelsoRacecourse | 17,400 | 15 | 74% | Ladies Day | £30 | Tweedbank | 307 | 4.14 |
| 38 | Leicester | Leicester races | 146,700 | 4.3 | 4 | @leicesterraces | 6,400 | #Leicesterraces | 2,377 | @LeicesterRaces | 19,600 | 29 | 48% | Ladies Day | £45 | Leicester | 55 | 4.00 |
| 38 | Newton Abbot | Newton Abbot races | 115,800 | 4.3 | 4 | @newtonabbotraces | 3,755 | #NewtonAbbotraces | 2,644 | @NewtonAbbotRace | 19,000 | 18 | 29% | Ladies Day | £13 | Newton Abbot | 26 | 4.00 |
| 40 | Bangor-on-Dee | Bangor races | 55,300 | 4.6 | 4.5 | @bangorraces | 3,375 | #Bangorraces | 1,403 | @BangorRaces | 14,800 | 14 | 50% | Ladies Day | £11 | Wrexham General | 137 | 3.97 |
| 40 | Carlisle | Carlisle races | 77,400 | 4.3 | 4 | @carlisleracecourse | 5,439 | #Carlisleraces | 2,540 | @CarlisleRaces | 18,900 | 23 | 86% | Ladies Night | £29 | Carlisle | 55 | 3.97 |
| 42 | Redcar | Redcar races | 109,300 | 4.3 | 4 | @redcarracecourse | 2,881 | #Redcarraces | 2,744 | @Redcarracing | 9,513 | 18 | 62% | Ladies Day | £7 | Redcar Central | 19 | 3.95 |
| 43 | Cartmel | Cartmel races | 167,700 | 4.6 | 4 | @cartmelracecourse | 4,011 | #Cartmelraces | 5,315 | @Cartmelrace | 6,607 | 9 | 31% | Cartmel Cup Day | £23 | Cark and Cartmel | 46 | 3.88 |
| 44 | Huntingdon | Huntingdon races | 130,900 | 4.4 | 4 | @huntingdon_race | 3,746 | #Huntingdonraces | 582 | @Huntingdon_Race | 14,500 | 18 | 100% | Peterborough Chase Raceday | £20 | Huntingdon | 53 | 3.81 |
| 45 | Hamilton Park | Hamilton races | 85,800 | 4.5 | 4 | @hamiltonparkrc | 4,644 | #Hamiltonraces | 3,701 | @HamiltonParkRC | 15,400 | 18 | 17% | Ladies Night | £33 | Hamilton West | 27 | 3.77 |
| 45 | Exeter | Exeter races | 145,900 | 4.3 | 4 | @exeterraces | 4,635 | #Exeterraces | 979 | @ExeterRaces | 22,400 | 17 | 88% | Ladies Night | £20 | Exeter St Davids | 175 | 3.77 |
| 47 | Newcastle | Newcastle races | 103,900 | 4.3 | 3.5 | @newcastleraces | 8,967 | #Newcastleraces | 9,366 | @NewcastleRaces | 2,526 | 85 | 44% | Ladies Day | £36 | Newcastle | 127 | 3.62 |
| 48 | Taunton | Taunton races | 53,000 | 4.5 | N/A | @tauntonracecourse | 616 | #Tauntonraces | 597 | @TauntonRacing | 17,800 | 14 | 97% | Ladies Day | £17 | Taunton | 62 | 3.57 |
| 49 | Brighton | brighton racecourse | 127,800 | 4.2 | 4 | @brightonracecourse | 3,901 | #Brightonraces | 1,006 | @BrightonRace | 16,100 | 22 | 47% | Ladies Day | £18 | Brighton | 40 | 3.55 |
| 50 | Bath | Bath races | 42,400 | 4.3 | 3.5 | @bathracecourse | 6,503 | #Bathraces | 4,366 | @BathRacecourse | 17,900 | 19 | 54% | Ladies Day | £27 | Bath Spa | 102 | 3.32 |
| 51 | Ludlow | Ludlow races | 70,900 | 4.4 | 4.5 | @ludlowraceclubltd | 2,792 | #Ludlowraces | 1,492 | @LudlowRaceClub | 8,019 | 15 | N/A | Ladies Day | £20 | Ludlow | 56 | 3.06 |
| 52 | Great Yarmouth | Yarmouth races | 108,900 | 4.4 | 4 | @gtyracecourse | 3,171 | #Yarmouthraces | 573 | @GTYarmouthRaces | 9,194 | 24 | 29% | Ladies Evening | £24 | Great Yarmouth | 35 | 3.02 |
| 53 | Nottingham | Nottingham races | 29,260 | 4.3 | 4 | @nottingham_racecourse | 4,125 | #Nottinghamraces | 1,177 | @NottsRacecourse | 17,800 | 21 | 37% | Ladies Day | £24 | Nottingham | 38 | 2.99 |
| 54 | Chelmsford City | Chelmsford races | 123,800 | 4.3 | 4 | @chelmsfordcityracecourse | 16,700 | #Chelmsfordraces | 643 | @ChelmsfordCRC | 11,000 | 38 | 11% | Ladies Day | £40 | Chelmsford | 178 | 2.93 |
| 55 | Fontwell Park | Fontwell races | 53,100 | 4.3 | 3.5 | @fontwellpark | 4,511 | #Fontwellraces | 1,453 | @FontwellPark | 16,700 | 20 | N/A | Ladies Evening | £25 | Barnham | 48 | 2.90 |
| 56 | Hereford | Hereford races | 74,900 | 4.3 | 4 | @herefordraces | 3,471 | #Herefordraces | 1,050 | @HerefordRaces | 14,100 | 15 | 69% | Ladies Evening | £19 | Hereford | 40 | 2.81 |
| 57 | Sedgefield | Sedgefield races | 48,500 | 4.3 | 4.5 | @sedgefieldracecourse | 2,729 | #Sedgefieldraces | 412 | @SedgefieldRace | 11,400 | 17 | N/A | Ladies Evening | £5 | Darlington | 238 | 2.75 |
| 58 | Down Royal | down royal racecourse | 42,700 | 4.4 | 4 | @downroyalracecourse | 5,437 | #DownRoyalraces | 1,070 | @Downroyal | 11,700 | 14 | 57% | Ladies Day | £25 | Lisburn | 96 | 2.66 |
| 59 | Ffos Las | ffos las racecourse | 37,800 | 4.3 | 3.5 | @ffoslasraces | 3,736 | #FfosLasraces | 283 | @FfosLasRC | 16,000 | 27 | 33% | Spring Ladies Day | £19 | Kidwelly | 101 | 2.53 |
| 60 | Fakenham | Fakenham races | 48,580 | 4.4 | 4.5 | @fakenhamracecourse | 3,537 | #Fakenhamraces | 1,249 | @FakenhamRC | 7,176 | 11 | 7% | Ladies Day | £18 | King's Lynn | 472 | 2.46 |
Ascot - 7.97 out of 10 racecourse score
Topping the list of the best UK racecourses to visit is Ascot, scoring 7.97 out of 10. Located in Berkshire, the racecourse welcomes over 300,000 visitors during its Royal Ascot festival, which takes place over five days in June2. On the Thursday of the festival, Ascot Racecourse holds its Ladies Day event (also known as Gold Cup Day), with tickets starting from £34.
The racecourse is one of the most popular in the UK, not just with the Royal Family. Ascot Racecourse has around 303,900 followers across Instagram and X and generated over 1.13 million Google searches last year. It also receives a rating of 4.6 on Google and 4.5 on Tripadvisor, with visitors commending the venue for its vast array of bars and restaurants and its distance to the nearest train station, just a 10-minute walk away.
Beverley - 6.83 out of 10 racecourse score
Beverley Racecourse places second with a racecourse score of 6.83 out of 10. The venue has an impressive review score of 4.5 out of 5 on Google and Tripadvisor, with attendees praising its friendly and helpful staff, efficient service, and clean facilities. Beverley Racecourse has almost 25,600 followers across its official Instagram and X accounts.
The venue’s Ladies Day is held in August, with ticket prices starting from just £10. Those visiting Beverley Racecourse and travelling by train can expect a 34-minute walk to and from the venue. There are almost 20 events to be held at the racecourse in 2025, providing plenty of opportunities to visit with your family and friends.
Musselburgh - 6.47 out of 10 racecourse score
Next is Musselburgh Racecourse, scoring 6.47 out of 10. Located in the East Lothian area, Musselburgh is the second-biggest racecourse in Scotland. Its Ladies Day event, held in August, is an annual sell-out, with ticket prices starting from £57. The venue has 25 race days planned for this year.
Musselburgh Racecourse has a 4.5-star rating on Google and Tripadvisor, with previous attendees commending the “first class” service, hospitality packages, and “terrific atmosphere.” The venue has around 46,200 followers across Instagram and X and gained over 186,100 Google searches over the last year.
Newcastle Racecourse has the most race days planned for 2025, with 85 scheduled events
| Rank | Racecourse | Count |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newcastle | 85 |
| 2 | Wolverhampton | 83 |
| 3 | Southwell | 79 |
| 4 | Lingfield | 66 |
| 5 | Kempton | 61 |
| 6 | Chelmsford | 38 |
| 7 | Doncaster | 37 |
| 8 | Newmarket | 36 |
| 9 | Newbury | 31 |
| 10 | Haydock | 30 |
| 10 | Chepstow | 30 |
| 10 | Ayr | 30 |
| 13 | Leicester | 29 |
| 14 | Ffos | 27 |
| 15 | Windsor | 26 |
| 15 | Catterick | 26 |
| 15 | Ascot | 26 |
| 18 | Musselburgh | 25 |
| 19 | Yarmouth | 24 |
| 19 | Uttoxeter | 24 |
| 21 | Sandown | 23 |
| 21 | Carlisle | 23 |
| 23 | Brighton | 22 |
| 24 | Nottingham | 21 |
| 25 | Rasen | 20 |
| 25 | Market | 20 |
| 25 | Fontwell | 20 |
| 28 | Warwick | 19 |
| 28 | Goodwood | 19 |
| 28 | Beverley | 19 |
| 28 | Bath | 19 |
| 32 | York | 18 |
| 32 | Worcester | 18 |
| 32 | Wetherby | 18 |
| 32 | Redcar | 18 |
| 32 | Newton | 18 |
| 32 | Huntingdon | 18 |
| 32 | Hamilton | 18 |
| 39 | Sedgefield | 17 |
| 39 | Plumpton | 17 |
| 39 | Exeter | 17 |
| 42 | Wincanton | 16 |
| 42 | Stratford | 16 |
| 42 | Ripon | 16 |
| 42 | Pontefract | 16 |
| 42 | Cheltenham | 16 |
| 47 | Thirsk | 15 |
| 47 | Salisbury | 15 |
| 47 | Ludlow | 15 |
| 47 | Kelso | 15 |
| 47 | Hexham | 15 |
| 47 | Hereford | 15 |
| 47 | Chester | 15 |
| 54 | Taunton | 14 |
| 54 | Bangor | 14 |
| 56 | Perth | 13 |
| 57 | Fakenham | 11 |
| 57 | Epsom | 11 |
| 59 | Cartmel | 9 |
| 60 | Aintree | 8 |
Newcastle - 85 race days
Newcastle Racecourse has a variety of events planned throughout 2025, meaning there are plenty of opportunities to visit the venue with family and friends. The racecourse’s Ladies Day event is scheduled for 26 July and features a Bongo’s Bingo party. There are also multiple student events taking place throughout the year for those attending local universities.
Sedgefield Racecourse offers the most affordable ticket price at just £5 for a single adult ticket
A day at the races can be expensive, especially with food, drink and travel costs included, so it helps to save money where you can. We’ve revealed the racecourses with the cheapest price for an adult single ticket.
| Rank | Racecourse | UK Search Term | Adult Single Ticket Price (From / Cheapest area) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sedgefield | Sedgefield races | £5 |
| 2 | Wetherby | Wetherby races | £7 |
| 3 | Ripon | Ripon races | £7 |
| 4 | Redcar | Redcar races | £7 |
| 5 | Catterick Bridge | Catterick races | £8 |
| 6 | Beverley | Beverley races | £10 |
| 7 | Chester | Chester races | £10 |
| 8 | Bangor-on-Dee | Bangor races | £11 |
| 9 | Stratford-upon-Avon | Stratford races | £11 |
| 10 | Uttoxeter | Uttoxeter races | £12 |
| 11 | Hexham | Hexham races | £12 |
| 12 | Newton Abbot | Newton Abbot races | £13 |
| 13 | Salisbury | Salisbury races | £14 |
| 14 | York | York races | £15 |
| 15 | Plumpton | Plumpton races | £15 |
| 16 | Market Rasen | Market Rasen races | £15 |
| 17 | Kempton Park | Kempton races | £16 |
| 18 | Pontefract | Pontefract races | £17 |
| 19 | Taunton | Taunton races | £17 |
| 20 | Fakenham | Fakenham races | £18 |
| 21 | Thirsk | Thirsk races | £18 |
| 22 | Brighton | brighton racecourse | £18 |
| 23 | Hereford | Hereford races | £19 |
| 24 | Ffos Las | ffos las racecourse | £19 |
| 25 | Worcester | Worcester races | £20 |
| 26 | Wincanton | Wincanton races | £20 |
| 27 | Huntingdon | Huntingdon races | £20 |
| 28 | Exeter | Exeter races | £20 |
| 29 | Wolverhampton | Wolverhampton races | £20 |
| 30 | Ludlow | Ludlow races | £20 |
| 31 | Goodwood | Goodwood races | £21 |
| 32 | Lingfield Park | Lingfield races | £21 |
| 33 | Sandown Park | Sandown Park races | £22 |
| 34 | Cartmel | Cartmel races | £23 |
| 35 | Newbury | Newbury races | £24 |
| 36 | Chepstow | Chepstow races | £24 |
| 37 | Great Yarmouth | Yarmouth races | £24 |
| 38 | Nottingham | Nottingham races | £24 |
| 39 | Newmarket | Newmarket races | £25 |
| 40 | Fontwell Park | Fontwell races | £25 |
| 41 | Down Royal | down royal racecourse | £25 |
| 42 | Bath | Bath races | £27 |
| 43 | Epsom Downs | epsom racecourse | £28 |
| 44 | Haydock Park | Haydock races | £28 |
| 45 | Ayr | Ayr races | £28 |
| 46 | Carlisle | Carlisle races | £29 |
| 47 | Warwick | Warwick races | £29 |
| 48 | Royal Windsor | Royal Windsor races | £30 |
| 49 | Kelso | Kelso races | £30 |
| 50 | Hamilton Park | Hamilton races | £33 |
| 51 | Southwell | Southwell races | £33 |
| 52 | Ascot | Ascot | £34 |
| 53 | Newcastle | Newcastle races | £36 |
| 54 | Doncaster | Doncaster races | £36 |
| 55 | Perth | Perth races | £40 |
| 56 | Chelmsford City | Chelmsford races | £40 |
| 57 | Leicester | Leicester races | £45 |
| 58 | Aintree | Aintree races | £55 |
| 59 | Musselburgh | Musselburgh races | £57 |
| 60 | Cheltenham | Cheltenham races | £57 |
Sedgefield - £5 cheapest ticket price
For those wanting an affordable but fun day out at the races, Sedgefield Racecourse is the place to visit. The venue, located in Stockton-on-Tees, will host its Ladies Evening event on the 11th of April, and ticket prices start from just £5. This ticket grants attendees access to all public bars, restaurants, betting outlets, and views of the pre-parade and parade ring.
Cheltenham Racecourse is also the most-searched racing venue on Google, with over 1.2 million searches
A great way of seeing how popular a racecourse is is by looking at how often it is searched. We’ve delved into Google search data to find the racecourses with the most searches in 2023.
| Rank | Racecourse | UK Search Term | Google Searches (January - December 2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cheltenham | Cheltenham races | 1,244,000 |
| 2 | Ascot | Ascot | 1,130,000 |
| 3 | Haydock Park | Haydock races | 557,900 |
| 4 | Doncaster | Doncaster races | 519,900 |
| 5 | York | York races | 505,700 |
| 6 | Chester | Chester races | 499,500 |
| 7 | Newmarket | Newmarket races | 494,000 |
| 8 | Aintree | Aintree races | 480,100 |
| 9 | Market Rasen | Market Rasen races | 428,200 |
| 10 | Epsom Downs | epsom racecourse | 389,700 |
| 11 | Chepstow | Chepstow races | 373,200 |
| 12 | Goodwood | Goodwood races | 351,400 |
| 13 | Uttoxeter | Uttoxeter races | 221,200 |
| 14 | Lingfield Park | Lingfield races | 204,300 |
| 15 | Southwell | Southwell races | 204,000 |
| 16 | Warwick | Warwick races | 190,300 |
| 17 | Beverley | Beverley races | 189,300 |
| 18 | Musselburgh | Musselburgh races | 186,100 |
| 19 | Wetherby | Wetherby races | 179,700 |
| 20 | Ayr | Ayr races | 178,700 |
| 21 | Ripon | Ripon races | 170,700 |
| 22 | Cartmel | Cartmel races | 167,700 |
| 23 | Wincanton | Wincanton races | 160,700 |
| 24 | Thirsk | Thirsk races | 156,300 |
| 25 | Leicester | Leicester races | 146,700 |
| 26 | Exeter | Exeter races | 145,900 |
| 27 | Worcester | Worcester races | 138,100 |
| 28 | Pontefract | Pontefract races | 136,300 |
| 29 | Huntingdon | Huntingdon races | 130,900 |
| 30 | Brighton | brighton racecourse | 127,800 |
| 31 | Stratford-upon-Avon | Stratford races | 126,600 |
| 32 | Chelmsford City | Chelmsford races | 123,800 |
| 33 | Perth | Perth races | 121,300 |
| 34 | Newbury | Newbury races | 121,100 |
| 35 | Salisbury | Salisbury races | 118,400 |
| 36 | Newton Abbot | Newton Abbot races | 115,800 |
| 37 | Redcar | Redcar races | 109,300 |
| 38 | Great Yarmouth | Yarmouth races | 108,900 |
| 39 | Newcastle | Newcastle races | 103,900 |
| 40 | Plumpton | Plumpton races | 102,500 |
| 41 | Kelso | Kelso races | 101,600 |
| 42 | Hexham | Hexham races | 93,100 |
| 43 | Catterick Bridge | Catterick races | 93,000 |
| 44 | Hamilton Park | Hamilton races | 85,800 |
| 45 | Carlisle | Carlisle races | 77,400 |
| 46 | Kempton Park | Kempton races | 76,700 |
| 47 | Hereford | Hereford races | 74,900 |
| 48 | Ludlow | Ludlow races | 70,900 |
| 49 | Sandown Park | Sandown Park races | 56,000 |
| 50 | Bangor-on-Dee | Bangor races | 55,300 |
| 51 | Wolverhampton | Wolverhampton races | 53,900 |
| 52 | Fontwell Park | Fontwell races | 53,100 |
| 53 | Taunton | Taunton races | 53,000 |
| 54 | Fakenham | Fakenham races | 48,580 |
| 55 | Sedgefield | Sedgefield races | 48,500 |
| 56 | Down Royal | down royal racecourse | 42,700 |
| 57 | Bath | Bath races | 42,400 |
| 58 | Ffos Las | ffos las racecourse | 37,800 |
| 59 | Nottingham | Nottingham races | 29,260 |
| 60 | Royal Windsor | Royal Windsor races | 770 |
Cheltenham - 1,244,000 Google searches
Cheltenham Racecourse also takes the top spot as the most-searched UK racecourse. Over 1.2 million Google searches were made for the venue last year, showing how well-loved it is. Its most popular event is the Cheltenham Festival, which will occur between the 11th and 14th of March this year. The festival includes Champion Day, Style Wednesday, St Patrick’s Thursday, and Gold Cup Day.
Cheltenham is the most Instagrammable racecourse, with almost 100,000 posts
| Rank | Racecourse | UK Search Term | Instagram "Races" Hashtags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cheltenham | Cheltenham races | 99,700 |
| 2 | Chester | Chester races | 72,500 |
| 3 | York | York races | 70,000 |
| 4 | Ascot | Ascot | 56,400 |
| 5 | Newmarket | Newmarket races | 34,700 |
| 6 | Aintree | Aintree races | 31,600 |
| 7 | Doncaster | Doncaster races | 20,500 |
| 8 | Goodwood | Goodwood races | 18,200 |
| 9 | Newbury | Newbury races | 15,800 |
| 10 | Haydock Park | Haydock races | 11,100 |
| 11 | Newcastle | Newcastle races | 9,366 |
| 12 | Perth | Perth races | 9,004 |
| 13 | Ayr | Ayr races | 8,102 |
| 14 | Musselburgh | Musselburgh races | 6,362 |
| 15 | Beverley | Beverley races | 6,234 |
| 16 | Royal Windsor | Royal Windsor races | 5,906 |
| 17 | Cartmel | Cartmel races | 5,315 |
| 18 | Epsom Downs | epsom racecourse | 5,257 |
| 19 | Chepstow | Chepstow races | 5,074 |
| 20 | Lingfield Park | Lingfield races | 4,775 |
| 21 | Bath | Bath races | 4,366 |
| 22 | Southwell | Southwell races | 3,735 |
| 23 | Ripon | Ripon races | 3,731 |
| 24 | Hamilton Park | Hamilton races | 3,701 |
| 25 | Uttoxeter | Uttoxeter races | 3,621 |
| 26 | Warwick | Warwick races | 3,405 |
| 27 | Kelso | Kelso races | 3,169 |
| 28 | Thirsk | Thirsk races | 3,154 |
| 29 | Salisbury | Salisbury races | 2,922 |
| 30 | Redcar | Redcar races | 2,744 |
| 31 | Market Rasen | Market Rasen races | 2,702 |
| 32 | Newton Abbot | Newton Abbot races | 2,644 |
| 33 | Carlisle | Carlisle races | 2,540 |
| 34 | Pontefract | Pontefract races | 2,437 |
| 35 | Leicester | Leicester races | 2,377 |
| 36 | Wetherby | Wetherby races | 2,348 |
| 37 | Worcester | Worcester races | 2,306 |
| 38 | Kempton Park | Kempton races | 1,884 |
| 39 | Wincanton | Wincanton races | 1,697 |
| 40 | Stratford-upon-Avon | Stratford races | 1,531 |
| 41 | Hexham | Hexham races | 1,529 |
| 42 | Ludlow | Ludlow races | 1,492 |
| 43 | Fontwell Park | Fontwell races | 1,453 |
| 44 | Catterick Bridge | Catterick races | 1,445 |
| 45 | Wolverhampton | Wolverhampton races | 1,428 |
| 46 | Bangor-on-Dee | Bangor races | 1,403 |
| 47 | Fakenham | Fakenham races | 1,249 |
| 48 | Nottingham | Nottingham races | 1,177 |
| 49 | Down Royal | down royal racecourse | 1,070 |
| 50 | Hereford | Hereford races | 1,050 |
| 51 | Plumpton | Plumpton races | 1,043 |
| 52 | Brighton | brighton racecourse | 1,006 |
| 53 | Exeter | Exeter races | 979 |
| 54 | Chelmsford City | Chelmsford races | 643 |
| 55 | Taunton | Taunton races | 597 |
| 56 | Huntingdon | Huntingdon races | 582 |
| 57 | Great Yarmouth | Yarmouth races | 573 |
| 58 | Sedgefield | Sedgefield races | 412 |
| 59 | Ffos Las | ffos las racecourse | 283 |
| 60 | Sandown Park | Sandown Park races | 112 |
Cheltenham - 99,700 Instagram posts
One of the biggest parts of race day events is fashion, providing attendees the perfect opportunity to snap photos in their finest outfits. Cheltenham Racecourse is the most Instagrammable racing venue, with over 99,700 posts under the hashtag #cheltenhamraces.
The venue runs a “dressed to feel your best” policy, meaning attendees can wear whatever they feel the most confident in, whether this is a sophisticated sweatshirt, pair of jeans and smart trainers, or a sharp suit or glamorous dress and heels.
How popular are UK racecourses on social media platforms?
Below, we’ve also considered each racecourse's following on a selection of social media sites such as Instagram and X. Unsurprisingly, Cheltenham and Ascot battle it out to be named winners of the social stables - but which other racecourses are appealing to audiences online?
The racecourse with the most Instagram followers is… Ascot
Ascot retains its title as the most followed UK racecourse on Instagram. However, over the past year, its account has seen an increase of more than 26,000 followers. This is similar growth to that of Cheltenham, and the online presence of these two venues is substantial compared to the rest!
The racecourse with the most X followers is… Cheltenham
Originally known as Twitter, X has always been a popular platform in the UK. However, this is less so now, with platforms such as BlueSky also building up interest in the past few months. Cheltenham beats Ascot in this category, and York follows in third.
Methodology
We used Instagram to find the number of hashtags for each racecourse (e.g. #ascotraces) and the number of followers for each racecourse’s official account.
We used X to find the number of followers for each racecourse’s official account.
We used Buzzsumo to gather the article sentiment for each racecourse, taking the percentage of love reactions.
We used Google Keyword Planner to gather the number of searches made for each racecourse between January and December 2024.
We collected each racecourse’s average review score from Google and Tripadvisor.
We recorded the number of race days throughout 2025 at each racecourse from the British Horseracing Authority. The number of race days held at Down Royal Racecourse was sourced from Horse Racing Ireland.
We used each racecourse’s individual website to discover the cheapest ticket available on their Ladies Day/Evening event. If an event of this type wasn’t listed, we used the cheapest ticket price for the racecourse's biggest event.
We used Google Maps to record the number of minutes it would take to walk from the nearest train station to each racecourse.
Finally, we gave each factor a normalised score out of 10 before taking an average across all factors to form our overall score. Each racecourse has a lower score than our 2024 guide due to different factors being analysed.
All data is correct as of 5 February 2025.
