There is no shortage of things to look forward to this summer in London. But some who live in the capital could well be tempted to travel out for a day or two at the races.
June saw thousands head to Royal Ascot for several days of racing in Berkshire, but the Flat season is set to continue into midsummer. Multiple festivals are scheduled for hardcore and casual fans alike as July and August draw into view.
Some will look to stay in the loop about developments regarding the runners and riders for each race by checking the latest horse racing news in the coming weeks. But for Londoners who might want to spend a day at a racecourse but aren’t sure where to look, here are the dates to circle in your calendar.
The July Festival, Newmarket
From Thursday 9th until Saturday 11th July, Newmarket’s ‘Summer Course’ will be hosting the July Festival. Made up of the Cesarewitch course and the famous Bunbury Mile, the right-handed two-mile track offers elite racing and entertainment, which lasts beyond the final race of each day.
Many will make the journey to the home of British racing, particularly for the July Cup on the final day of the festival. In a race first held in 1876, horses will compete over six furlongs for the right to be crowned the best sprinter in Europe. The drive to Suffolk from London will take just under two hours, or just over if travelling by train, but it’s a stunning event to behold and well worth the journey.
King George Weekend, Ascot
If you’re looking closer to home, the King George Weekend is a potential alternative for Londoners. Many will have done the hour-long train ride for Royal Ascot in June, with direct services available from Waterloo and Paddington.
The majority of races are held over middle distances, with four Class One events slated for Friday 24th and Saturday 25th July. Headlined by the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the one-mile, four-furlong race is now Britain’s richest, boasting a record total prize fund of £2 million for 2026!
Goodwood Festival, Goodwood
July racing comes to an end in Sussex, as ‘Glorious Goodwood’ takes the season into August. The course is a two-hour drive from London, or you’ll need to catch a train to Chichester from London Victoria, but with the South Downs in your eyeline throughout the festival, it’s one of the year’s most picturesque events.
Five days of racing run from Tuesday 28th July until Saturday 1st August, with the big highlight of the week, the Sussex Stakes, taking place on the second day. The ‘Duel on the Downs’ is just one of several Group 1 races throughout the week, drawing some of the best sprinters and middle-distance runners to Goodwood.
York Ebor Festival, August
First held in 1843, the York Ebor Festival has become one of the oldest events in the summer calendar for horse racing fans. Across four days, the racecourse hosts a mix of events, ranging from the Juddmonte International on the opening day to the thrilling five-furlong Nunthorpe Stakes and concluding with the Ebor, the most valuable flat handicap in Europe.
This year, the event runs from Wednesday 19th to Saturday 22nd August. And while many Londoners will be put off by the distance, a two-hour direct train from King’s Cross to York Station helps to make it more accessible than the four-and-a-half-hour drive from the capital.
