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Exciting races, plenty of refreshment options, easy access to bookies, and outstanding entertainment between the races — that’s what the Cheltenham festival is all about. The event will be taking place in March, and you should start making travel plans and learn how to get to the Cheltenham racecourse.
To get to Cheltenham Festival, from Cheltenham Spa train station you can catch a taxi, the racecourse bus and a great option are to walk or cycle along the Honeybourne Line which takes around 40 minutes. You can catch a special racecourse bus from outside WH Smith on Cheltenham High Street during The Open and The Festival.
In our guide, we provide detailed instructions that will help you learn how to get to Cheltenham Festival hassle-free.
How to obtain tickets for Cheltenham Festival
Before you make travel plans for the pinnacle Jump racing event of the year, you must inform yourself on how to get tickets for Cheltenham. The most reliable way to purchase them is to get in touch with Jockey Club channels.
The Jockey Club
On the Jockey Club website, you can find the ticket pricing and the details of scheduled price increases. Furthermore, you should be aware that buying tickets from third parties can be risky, and you could end up missing your favourite horse racing event.
How to get to Cheltenham racecourse by bus
Bus transport is one of the most dependable ways to get to the festival on time. Explore your travel options and learn how to get to Cheltenham racecourse by bus. You don’t want to be running late for your important race!
National Express
National Express is a public transport company that provides bus, coach, and train service all across the UK. Their buses can get you to the festival from various locations in the UK, and their ticket prices are quite reasonable. You can order a ticket online, and the company will send you their e-ticket within 24 hours.
Local buses
Stagecoach service D and E organises regular transport from Monday to Sunday evenings. The buses run every 10 minutes from Monday to Saturday and every 20 minutes on Sundays. During the biggest events, their bus lines will run every 15 minutes instead of regular 10. You can also download the Stagecoach Bus app to make travel arrangements more easily.
Getting to the Festival by plane
The fastest way to get to the Cheltenham Festival is, without a doubt, by plane or by helicopter. If the money is not an obstacle, then you could arrive in style directly into the Cheltenham helifield and avoid traffic jams. Check your flight options below and see how to get to the Cheltenham racecourse on time.
Helicopter Arrivals
Cheltenham Racecourse has one of the busiest airfields in the UK, receiving hundreds of flights during the Festival week alone. The licensed heliport is located near the northeast corner of Cheltenham Racecourse. When you arrive at the helifield, you can catch a shuttle directly to the Racecourse.
If you want to book a flight, you must get in touch with Helipad, the company that operates heliports during the event. You can go to their official website and find the briefings on confirmation of booking.
Plane arrivals
Racegoers can book a flight from the Birmingham and Bristol’s airports. Also, you can schedule a private flight at the Gloucestershire Airport, located in Staverton.
Train arrivals to the Cheltenham festival
You can certainly get to the Cheltenham festival in many ways. But nothing beats the good old fashioned rail travel. It’s safe, quick, and cost-effective, and there is a train station near the Racecourse. You can catch a train from Birmingham every half an hour, and the ETA is around 35 minutes. If you are trying to find a cost-effective way of getting to the Cheltenham racecourse, then a train ride should be your pick.
Trains run every hour from Bristol, and it takes about half an hour to reach Cheltenham station. When you arrive at the station, you can catch a taxi and get to the racecourse in 10 minutes.
Departures from London
Trains from London to Cheltenham leave every hour, and it takes about two hours to get to the Cheltenham Spa. If you are travelling with a group, you can reserve an entire carriage.
Parking at the Racecourse
Parking is an important thing to take into account when making travel arrangements and exploring ways of how to get to the Cheltenham racecourse. You need to follow the route maps that will lead you to your final parking destination. After you reach the Racecourse, you need to follow the temporary yellow signs that are put there to guide you to the racing event. You can find the whole parking scheme at the Jockey Club official site.
Parking costs
If you book the parking ticket for the Festival in advance, it will cost you £12. During the Festival, the limos are charged the same price as cars, and coach buses are free of charge. You can find the details of the location of car parks in Cheltenham at the Jockey Club website.
Find other tips on cheltenhamguides.com.
