October Flat racing
Seven races; gates open at 12:05, the first race is at 13:30 and the last at 16:55.
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Britain’s highest Flat racecourse, 780 feet above sea level on Lansdown Hill, two miles north of Bath city centre. Racing moved here in 1811. Free parking and a raceday shuttle from Bath Spa connect the hilltop venue with the city.
Photo: John Winder, CC BY-SA 2.0, cropped
Bath’s final three Flat meetings of 2026 are on 8, 19 and 29 October. The official pages publish gates-open and race times for each fixture.
Seven races; gates open at 12:05, the first race is at 13:30 and the last at 16:55.
Seven races; gates open at 11:47, the first race is at 13:47 and the last at 16:50.
Gates open at 11:12, the first race is at 13:12 and the last at 16:12.
Tickets can be upgraded to another enclosure on the day if there’s space.
Racing on the hill, then the Georgian city.
Any October raceday.
Bath has hosted big-name live music after racing in summer.
Family fun days, when picnics are allowed.
Bath sells general admission, Centre Course tickets and hospitality.
Picnic enclosure
On selected fixtures, drive into the centre of the track to park, picnic and watch.
Roof Garden
A separately ticketed, canopied viewing area above the crowd, with its own bar.
Compare every enclosure side by side: prices, views, bars and food, dress codes and entrances.
Bath’s dress guidance emphasises comfort and an enjoyable outdoor day. It excludes sports team shirts and offensive fancy dress, and suggests collared shirts with trousers, smart jeans or tailored shorts for men. Ripped jeans and worn training shoes should be avoided. Dressing up is encouraged for Ladies Day and special events, but the Roof Garden has no additional dress requirement. Check the forecast because meetings are mainly outdoors and a summer date can still call for waterproof layers.
Official clothing advice — checked 14 October 2026.
A quick estimate for your group. Where we have confirmed a ticket price it’s filled in; otherwise add the price from the racecourse’s booking page. Change any figure to match your plans.
Bath Racecourse sits on Lansdown Hill, two miles north of the city centre and six miles south of M4 junction 18. The course is reached by a dedicated bus on racedays, local buses and road routes.
First Bus runs a special service before and after each racing fixture. The stop is on Avon Street outside Bath Spa station; the 2026 return fare is £6. Children aged 15 and under travel free with a fare-paying adult.
Bath Spa is on the Great Western Main Line, with direct services from London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads. From the station, use the raceday shuttle rather than relying on the steep uphill walk to Lansdown.
The racecourse is signposted from main routes to Lansdown Hill. Free parking is available on site. You may leave a car overnight if you tell the parking stewards; the course says this is at your own risk and caravans cannot be left overnight.
Bath’s service 31 links Lansdown Park & Ride with Milsom Street in the city centre. The raceday shuttle is the direct public transport link to the course. The racecourse estimates a city-centre taxi journey at about 20–30 minutes, depending on traffic.
Bath provides free car parking and a separate signposted area for visiting coaches. Staff can help drivers find the correct place on arrival. Cars may remain overnight, but visitors must tell the parking stewards when arriving and leave their vehicle at their own risk. Caravans cannot be left overnight. Because overnight arrangements require staff notification, make this part of your arrival plan rather than simply leaving the car behind after racing without speaking to anyone.
Official parking advice — checked 14 October 2026.
Book trains to Bath Spa.
Bath’s compact centre has accommodation from practical city hotels to historic Georgian townhouses and spa properties. These are town stays, with Bath Spa station, restaurants and major sights nearby; the raceday shuttle leaves from Avon Street outside the station.
Useful bases for rail arrivals, the Roman Baths and central restaurants.
Stay around Queen Square or Great Pulteney Street for historic architecture and walkable attractions.
Compare hotels in Bath.
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Bath has live music, theatre and comedy within the city centre, so an evening can be built around a gig, a show or a pub rather than staying on Lansdown Hill.
Set inside the former Green Park railway station, this city-centre restaurant and bar hosts live jazz. Visit Bath describes its programme as free, making it an easy option for an evening without a ticketed show.
Visit Bath lists gigs at The Bell Inn on most nights and Irish folk sessions at The Grapes. Both are central pub options; check the venue’s current listings for the specific night.
The venue stages comedy, music and other entertainment, including its Krater Comedy Club. It is a useful choice when you want a booked evening event close to central hotels and restaurants.
Bath’s Roman and Georgian sights are close together in the centre. A second day lets you add a museum, the thermal spa or a walk beyond the streets around the Abbey.
The city’s best-known historic site preserves the spring-fed bathing complex and museum beside Bath Abbey. Visit Bath says the spring water still fills the site every day.
A contemporary spa where visitors can bathe in Bath’s natural thermal waters; its rooftop pool looks over the city skyline.
Walk the curved Georgian terrace and the nearby Circus to see two defining pieces of Bath’s eighteenth-century architecture. The exterior streets are free to explore.
Cross the bridge over the River Avon, then continue along Great Pulteney Street to the Holburne Museum, whose collections include fine and decorative art.
The following timetable is from Bath Racecourse’s published October 2026 fixture pages. The racecourse says timings can change, so its date-specific page is the source for any later updates.
Source: Bath Racecourse fixture pages for 8, 19 and 29 October 2026, checked 3 October 2026.
The course is about 780 feet above sea level on an exposed hill. Bring an extra layer for the outdoor viewing areas, especially for an autumn afternoon.
Keep your admission ticket ready for the turnstiles. The racecourse’s free digital racecard is published on the morning of the fixture and lists the runners, riders and race times.
Bars and food stalls operate at fixtures, with the available outlets varying by meeting. Bath Racecourse says there are no cash machines on site; bars and catering take card payments, while bookmakers accept cash and some accept debit cards.
You can follow the races without betting. If you choose to have a bet, set a limit and remember that betting is for people aged 18 and over.
Children are welcome at Bath’s race meetings, with free admission at most fixtures.
Bath’s October 2026 fixture pages say children aged 17 and under go free when accompanied by an adult, although exclusions may apply. No child ticket needs to be booked in advance; a free ticket is issued on the day. On the racecourse shuttle, children aged 15 and under travel free with a fare-paying adult.
Call 999 and give the address, Bath Racecourse, Lansdown, Bath. Then tell a member of staff.
A personal assistant can claim free entry at the turnstiles when accompanying a paying guest with access needs. The racecourse accepts supporting proof such as DLA, PIP or a signed GP letter with photo ID.
Official results are on the BHA results page.
Prices, dates and travel details were checked on 3 October 2026. The racecourse can change prices, times and arrangements, so check your booking page before you pay. This is an independent guide, not connected to Bath Racecourse or Arena Racing Company. Some links may earn us a small commission if you book, at no extra cost to you; this never decides what we recommend.