Racecourses with Hotels on Site
If you are looking to stay at a hotel located on the grounds of a racecourse, then look no further. Here we take a look at all the hotels in the UK that are physically on the grounds of a racecourse – literally just a furlong away from the action! You’ll notice that on-site racecourse hotels are relatively uncommon and, when you do manage to find one, getting a room on a race day can prove rather difficult given their prime location.
Our suggestion would be to book incredibly early, especially if you are going to a particularly famous race, such as the Grand National or the Oaks, and you should expect to pay well above the usual rate. But, if you cannot find availability at these on-course hotels, be sure to check out our racecourse guides for tips on where else to look.
On Course Hotels
Holiday Inn Wolverhampton - Racecourse
Wolverhampton Racecourse is situated approximately 1.7 miles from the town centre of Wolverhampton, which is around a 10-minute drive. The course is located at Dunstall Park and offers flat all-weather racing. Notable racing events include the Lady Wulfruna Stakes Day, which takes place in March and is open for horses over the age of four years old and is 7 furlongs and 36 yards long.
The Holiday Inn Wolverhampton - Racecourse is connected to the racecourse and is perfect for the punter who wants to roll out of bed and be ready for the racing action without the hassle of having to travel anywhere. There is a bar and restaurant at the hotel, which serves a continental breakfast with full English options, as well as lunch and dinner. There is a play area outside for kids, a helipad for those who wish to arrive in style, as well as acres of grassland to enjoy the fresh air.
In terms of what the hotel charges on race days, for the dates where rooms were still available for upcoming races, there was around a 50-75% increase in the room rate. As the rooms are quite modestly priced throughout the year, however, it still seems rather affordable for the average person and certainly is not as dramatic as hotel prices around some of the most popular UK racing festivals, such as the Cheltenham Festival and the Aintree Grand National.
The Lodge at Perth Racecourse
Perth Racecourse is located in Scotland, adjacent to the ancient Scone Palace on the countryside outskirts of Perth. Horse racing has taken place at Perth since 1613 with National Hunt jumps racing offered at the racecourse. The right-handed 10-furlong racecourse has 8 fences per circuit with the water jump situated in front of the grandstand. Famous meetings include the April Festival, the Summer Carnival in mid-August and the Glorious Finale at the end of September.
The Lodge at Perth Racecourse is technically located to the side of the racecourse rather than being "on course", however, due to the fact that the racecourse is in its title, that they are practically neighbours, and it's just a 4-minute walk to the entrance gates, we're including it in our on-course guide. The Lodge offers a restaurant that serves evening meals with a kid-friendly menu and they also have a garden and terrace for guests to enjoy the great outdoors on a sunny day. There is also a bar that is well stocked with gin and Scottish whiskies, along with a range of other drinks. The hotel is just a 10 to 15 minute drive from the centre of Perth where you will find a myriad of food and drink options.
In terms of securing a room on a race day, you'll want to book early for the more popular racing dates. Luckily, prices aren't too inflated around race weekends, as there are plenty of other options in town, however, you'll see an increase of about 50-60% for popular races with those rooms going quickly. When the cost of the room is already incredibly reasonable, it is still quite affordable to stay even when the price is increased over a racing period, which the hotels in the centre of town are bound to do as well.
Lingfield Park Marriott Hotel & Country Club
Lingfield Park Racecourse offers National Hunt, Flat and All-Weather racing throughout the year and are most well known for their Winter Derby, Derby & Oak Trials, All Weather Vase Day and their Winter Million Meeting. Established in 1890, for the first four years of being open, Lingfield Park was jumps racing only until it opened up to flat racing. The racecourse is around 1 hour and 16 minutes to London Waterloo with the nearest airport being Gatwick just a 21-minute drive away.
The Lingfield Park Marriott Hotel & Country Club is located on course and takes just a one-minute walk to get to the racecourse gates as the hotel is located directly on the racecourse next to the entrance. The hotel features a shared lounge, terrace and restaurant and offers guests a buffet / continental breakfast each morning. There is a small gym, an indoor pool, a sauna and a hot tub. Additionally, guests can use the business centre and there is also an in-house bar. Getting to the Lingfield train station takes 17-minutes walking and the town centre is approximately 21-minutes walking. Lingfield has a Thai restaurant, Indian restaurant, a pub that serves food, and there are an array of small convenience shops, including a Co-Op, Tesco Express and Morrisons Daily.
The hotel is normally quite reasonable in price, but you can expect to pay around 50% more on a race day. Luckily though, there doesn't seem to be many availability issues with the upcoming races having plenty of rooms available, which is relatively unheard of when it comes to on-course hotels with little else available in town.
The Lodge at Newbury Racecourse
Newbury is a market town located in Berkshire south of Oxford. The racecourse is walking distance to the centre of town (approximately 20-minutes) and benefits from a train station that goes directly to the racecourse. The racecourse offers both jumps and flat racing with the racecourse having been established in 1905 with racing in Newbury at another location since 1805. Major meetings include the Locking Stakes Day in mid-May, the Winter Carnival in late November, and the Chadlow Hurdle Day in late December.
The Lodge is perfect for racegoers who want to be close to the action with the hotel located on the grounds of the racecourse with just a one-minute amble to get to the gates on a race day. The hotel offers 36 rooms in total, so you'll want to be sure to book early should you hope for a room on a race day. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour front desk, along with a breakfast each morning that includes continental and full English options. There is also a coffee shop on-site with a bar that sells hot meals, snacks and drinks.
In terms of room prices on popular race days, you can expect an increase of around 125% in prices. Whilst this may sound drastic, the room rate is rather affordable to begin with so it's not extortionate compared to some on course hotels. You also have a decent chance of securing a room if you book early - this is because there are plenty of walking distance options in town so racegoers have a wider spread of choices.
Hampton By Hilton Hamilton Park
Hamilton Park Racecourse is located to the south of Glasgow in Hamilton, Scotland. The track offers flat racing with just under twenty fixtures a year with the track shape resembling that of a badminton racket. Famous racing includes the Glasgow Stakes Day in mid July, the Lanark Silver Bell in late August and Ladies Night in late July. In terms of getting to the racecourse, the Hampton By Hilton Hamilton Park is located on the course, so it just a 5-minute stroll from the hotel doors to the racecourse entrance. You can see the racecourse from the hotel, as it is located along the track.
The popular hotel chain provides a wonderful option for punters wanting to be as close to the racing action as possible with the hotel offering free parking, a small fitness centre, as well as a business centre. In terms of dining, the hotel provides a continental breakfast each morning that you can enjoy there and then or take away with you if you're in a hurry. There is also the option to order food at their casual bar/lounge.
In terms of cost of accommodation on racing days, you can expect to pay around double the normal rate or just over. The hotel is likely to sell out on more popular race days as it is extremely popular amongst punters. Be sure to book early to avoid disappointment.
Holiday Inn Huntingdon Racecourse
Huntingdon Racecourse is located in Cambridgeshire and offers racing throughout the year with the Peterborough Chase in December being their most popular race. Other races of note include the Boxing Day race and the Easter Family Fun Day. The track is right-handed and oval shaped and has been welcoming punters since 1886. In terms of getting to the racecourse, the Holiday Inn Huntingdon Racecourse is a mere 190 yards away, or a one-minute walk. In fact, you can see the track from the outdoor terrace, so it makes an excellent option for punters who want to roll out of bed and head straight to the track.
As part of the popular hotel chain, the Holiday Inn Huntingdon Racecourse is a comfortable and convenient option for racegoers. The hotel offers a restaurant with popular options, such as burgers, pizzas, salads, sandwiches, and more, as well as a small bar. There is also a 24-hour mini gym with a small selection of cardio machines and a few free weights. Each morning, the hotel provides a continental breakfast with a decent selection and also has a To-Go option for those in a rush to get to the races.
In terms of pricing, we are pleasantly surprised to find that the cost seems to stay consistent and fairly priced even around the most popular race day - the Peterborough Chase. This is relatively unheard of these days as hotels (especially ones like this that provide the only real walking-distance option!) usually like to increase the rate by a fair bit over a racing weekend.
Hilton Garden Inn Doncaster Racecourse
Located in the South Yorkshire town of Doncaster, Doncaster Racecourse has been around since the 16th century, hosting famous races, such as the St. Leger Stakes and the Doncaster Cup in September. The racecourse offers both flat racing and National Hunt and is a a left-handed, pear-shaped track. Given its location not far from the town centre, finding a hotel that is walking distance is relatively easy, especially with the Hilton Garden Inn Doncaster Racecourse hotel right on the doorstep, just a mere 160 yards from the entrance of the racecourse.
The Hilton Garden Inn Doncaster Racecourse has 154 rooms, many that offer views of the racecourse given its location on course. The hotel has a fitness centre, business centre, a 24-hour shop for snacks and drinks, and there is also a restaurant and bar within the hotel. There are also a number of restaurants within walking distance, including a few popular chains and some local independent options, as well.
In terms of pricing, the hotel is quite reasonable (on a non race day, that is). For an especially popular race day though, such as the famous St. Leger Stakes, there is quite a price jump. In 2023, for example, there is a 514% increase in cost from the standard pricing. This is quite normal for on-course race hotels as the hotels know that the influx of people will need rooms and are able to charge whatever they like!
Holiday Inn Express, Chester Racecourse
Chester Racecourse is known as the Roodee, because in the centre of the track there is a small mound with a cross, also known as a "rood". It is the oldest racecourse in the United Kingdom, dating back to its inaugural race in 1512 and is quite unique in that its location is in the centre of Chester, making it very easy for punters to find somewhere to stay near the racecourse. The famous meetings include the May Festival, featuring the famous Chester Cup, as well as City Plate Day in the summer months and the Season Finale before the racecourse closes its doors for the winter months.
The Holiday Inn Express - Chester Racecourse is a mere 150 yards from the entrance of the racecourse gates. The hotel seems newly renovated and offers all the usual amenities you would expect from a Holiday Inn Express. Whilst there is no restaurant, there is a bar to enjoy some post-race bevvies, not to mention an ample choice of restaurants and other bars just a short stroll away in the historic centre of Chester. There is also a breakfast buffet to get you going each morning with all of the usual offerings.
In terms of pricing, the rates seem rather steady in comparison to other on-course hotels who massively spike their room prices around race days. This is likely due to the fact that the racecourse is located in the centre of town, so punters have quite a lot of choice when it comes to finding accommodation. The cheapest rates are, of course, in the winter months when no racing action is taking place with maybe just a 50% increase in the usual rates over festivals.
Holiday Inn Express London - Epsom Downs
Epsom Downs is another Surrey based racecourse on the outskirts of London. The 'Downs' part of the name actually refers to the North Downs, which are a ridge of chalk hills stretching from Farnham to the White Cliffs of Dover. Famous meetings include the Derby, which features the famous Oaks race in early April, the Spring Meeting later that month, and the Season Finale in September. In terms of walking to the racecourse, the Holiday Inn Express London - Epsom Downs is really as close as you are going to get when it comes to accommodation in the area with it being on the grounds of the racecourse.
The Holiday Inn Express London - Epsom Downs offers comfortable accommodation with more modern features than some of these racecourse hotels and even has a bar for punters to grab a drink after the races. There is no restaurant, but the hotel offers a breakfast buffet each morning. It is really the only walkable option when it comes to getting to the racecourse, as other hotels in the Epsom area are about a 10-minute drive from the racecourse. In terms of food in the area, there is a pub opposite the hotel called the Rubbing House, as well as another just at the top of the road called the Derby Arms Epsom. Additionally, on the other side of the racecourse near Tattenham Corner station, there are a number of restaurants, which are about a 20-minute walk, or a 4-minute drive.
In terms of pricing, the hotel's location makes it an incredibly popular choice so when it comes to the very famous races, such as the Oaks, you can expect the price to skyrocket, whereas less popular races seem to be more stable in price. For the April 2024 Spring Meeting, for example, prices are showing a 636% increase from the average room price. At least you will save money on taxis!
Sandown Park Lodge
Sandown is a racecourse located in the suburbs of London in the delightful Surrey village of Esher. It regularly holds meetings throughout the year, as well as wedding fairs, toy fairs, car shows, concerts, etc. The racecourse was officially opened in 1875 and was one of the first to charge an entry fee, which at the time was just half a crown (equivalent to about 12 pence in today's world). There are a number of popular races throughout the year, including the Tingle Creek Festival in December, the Bet365 Gold Cup in April, and the Coral Summer Festival in June. Punters coming to these festivals will be keen to grab a place at the Sandown Park Lodge, seeing as how the hotel sits just 350 yards from the entrance to the racecourse.
Sandown Park Lodge does not need to offer all the bells and whistles to customers seeing as how their location gives them the upper edge when it comes to bookings. The hotel is very basic, but offers comfortable accommodation on the doorstep of the racing action. There is no bar or restaurant at this particular hotel, however, the hotel does offer a continental breakfast buffet each day to keep you going. There are also a number of restaurants a close walk away, including local a local pub, restaurants and a number of well-known chains.
The hotel is reasonable in cost, however, if you do manage to somehow secure a room for a race day, you can expect to pay a bit more. We cannot actually confirm exactly how much more though, as the hotel is completely booked out for any race periods the remainder of the year!
Stables Inn, Aintree
Home of the famous Grand National, which takes place every April, Liverpool's Aintree Racecourse in the borough of Sefton, holds meetings throughout the year. The racecourse itself was established in 1829 by a man named William Lynn where the first variation of the 'National' took place in 1839 under the title, the 'Liverpool Grand Steeplechase'. Today, the National is watched by approximately 600 million people and it attracts 70,000 people to the racecourse itself. With such an influx of people for this famous race, the hotels in Liverpool book up like hot cakes with the Stables Inn, Aintree located on the racecourse being one of the most popular options.
The Stables Inn, Aintree states "you can bet on a good nights sleep" being "less than a furlong" away from the racing action. A mere 450 yards from the entrance, punters will not have to travel far to get back to their accommodation following a long day at the races. The hotel offers basic accommodation, reminiscent of a Premier Inn given their purple colour choice, only offering a vending machine for crisps and water, but not much else. It does, however, have a breakfast buffet each morning with a full English/Irish option, but there is no restaurant or bar on site. Luckily, there are a number of restaurants within walking distance, including a Toby Carvery should you fancy a roast dinner post race, as well as local Indian, Turkish, Chinese and Italian options, and major chains, such as KFC & Nando's, within a short stroll.
The hotel is normally quite reasonable in price, but you can expect over a 233% increase on the regular price around popular race days, such as the Grand National, with most rooms selling out within moments of race dates being announced. If you managed to score a room here for the National, you can consider yourself very lucky!