The highlight of the jump racing calendar is fast approaching, with the 2024 Cheltenham Festival taking place between 12 and 15 March, so if you’re considering going to the home of jump racing, here is everything you need to know about how to get to Cheltenham Racecourse.
How to get to Cheltenham racecourse
By car
The address for the racecourse is: Cheltenham Racecourse, Evesham Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 4SH. Car parking is available at the racecourse.
Parking is free at all of Cheltenham’s meetings except the Friday and Saturday of The November Meeting and all four days of The Festival. On these days, limos are charged the same prices as cars, and coaches (16+ seaters) are free of charge, but must have applied for parking in advance. Car parking for the Cheltenham Festival costs £20 per day.
Racegoers who have not pre-purchased car parking will be parked in the best possible position but may be some distance from the racecourse, so you will need to allow extra time to walk from the car parks to the racecourse entrances.
Racecourse bus
There is a dedicated shuttle bus service for The Cheltenham Festival, provided by Stagecoach. The shuttle bus service will operate between:
- Cheltenham Spa Railway Station
- Cheltenham town centre and
- The racecourse (south car park)
Stagecoach pricing is set at £6 for an all day ticket and £4 for a single in the afternoon.
Please check the Stagecoach website for further information.
By coach
If you are planning a coach/minibus trip to the racecourse, ensure you purchase a car parking pass or apply for a coach pass in advance.
Minibuses up to 15 seats, coaches of 16 seats or more and limousines will need to purchase a coach parking pass prior to the Festival.
Minibus parking passes can be purchased for £30 and coach and limousines parking passes for £75.
Coach drivers are entitled to a complimentary ticket to attend the races but are required to show valid ID/job card to confirm working.
By Taxi
Hackney Carriage Taxi drop off and collection point is located on the main drive of the racecourse, which is signed Taxis.
For Private Taxi drop off and collection please follow the signage for pick up and drop off.
Pick up and drop off
If you’re planning to be dropped off and/or picked up from the racecourse at The November Meeting and/or The Festival, please follow the specified route, which will allow you to be dropped off in the West Car Park. It is then a five-minute walk to the entrances.
By steam train
Classic Hospitality puts on a dedicated steam train service to Cheltenham Racecourse for both the Festival and November Meeting each year. Tickets start from £55 for the November Meeting and £80 for the Festival with a range of packages available.
By air
Cheltenham Racecourse welcomes arrivals on racedays by helicopter, and operates the busiest temporary airfield in the UK, receiving 400 flights over The Festival week alone. The heliport is a temporary, licensed, surface-level heliport, located just outside the north-east corner of Cheltenham Racecourse. If arriving via helicopter, a shuttle service is available between the heliport and the racecourse. All visiting aircraft must pre-book landings with Cheltenham Racecourse’s partners. They will provide full pilot briefings on confirmation of booking. On racedays, Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Service Category H2 is provided at Cheltenham Heliport, as are two fuelling spots.
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