Centre Course & Picnic Enclosure at Bath

Who it suits

• Families and groups who want to bring picnic food and sit together beside their car.
• Visitors who prefer a relaxed infield spot instead of the busier Grandstand enclosure.
• Drivers who want to park within the middle of the circuit on a fixture when Centre Course tickets are offered.

Ticket prices

Bath says Centre Course opens only on selected fixtures. Its remaining 2026 October event pages list Grandstand admission, Roof Garden and dining options, not a Centre Course ticket; a general Centre Course price is therefore not published for those dates.

Check availability on the official site

Where your ticket takes you

• The infield area in the middle of the circuit, reached by driving past the main entrance and stables.
• Parking within the enclosure, where you can choose a place to park and watch the racing.
• A limited betting service, a bar and a snack service in the Centre Course building.
• The separate infield enclosure only; Bath says a Centre Course ticket does not include live music or family entertainment when those are part of a fixture.

Not included

• Live music concerts or family entertainment when listed as part of that event.
• The public Grandstand areas and their food and betting facilities; Bath sells Centre Course as a separate ticket.
• Admission to restaurant, Roof Garden or private-suite hospitality areas.

The view

The Centre Course places you inside the oval track, with your car parked in the infield so you can watch the horses pass around the course. It is a different perspective from the Grandstand: you are in the centre rather than beside the outside rail and main stands. Bath describes a bar and snack service and limited betting in this enclosure. There is no published guarantee of a covered viewing stand or a direct view of the finish from every parking space, so choose your parking position on arrival and expect much of the experience to be outdoors.

Food and drink

The infield is the one ticket area where Bath explicitly describes picnicking; its on-site service is limited.

Facilities

Dress code

Bath does not give a separate dress code for Centre Course ticket holders. Its general public rule prohibits sports team shirts and offensive fancy dress; the main enclosure guidance also rules out ripped jeans and old training shoes. Centre Course viewing is largely outdoors in an exposed infield, so choose comfortable shoes and bring clothing for wind, rain or sun. Picnic blankets are allowed for family days and Easter Sunday, but Bath says chairs are not allowed at those events.

Getting in

With a Centre Course ticket, drive past the main entrance and stables, then follow signs into the centre of the track to park. Bath says walkers use the same direction. It is not the main turnstile route used by Grandstand, restaurant and Roof Garden visitors. Gates usually open about two hours before the first race; the actual opening is shown on the event page. Tickets are scanned from a phone or printout. Security may search bags, alcohol cannot be brought in and barbecues are not allowed.

Accessibility

Bath’s venue information identifies an accessible toilet in the Centre Course building. Its main wheelchair viewing platform is by the winning post in the Grandstand enclosure and is not described as an infield feature. Designated Blue Badge parking close to the main entrance is separate from the infield parking arrangement; tell stewards when you arrive if you need a designated accessible bay. Free personal-assistant entry is available with a paying guest’s full-price ticket and supporting evidence; email the course at least 24 hours in advance to arrange it, subject to availability. Contact Bath before booking to discuss the infield surface and access from a vehicle if you need step-free details.

Full accessibility guide for Bath

Children and families

Children aged 17 and under go free with a paying adult at most Bath fixtures, up to three children per adult, although special event exclusions apply. A child ticket may need to be selected during booking; the course’s October 2026 event pages say children can instead collect a free ticket on the day. Centre Course tickets do not include family entertainment when that is part of the event, so a child’s free admission does not add those activities to the infield ticket.

Tips

• Only choose Centre Course when it is listed on the fixture’s ticket page; it is not open at every meeting.
• Follow the car route past the main entrance and stables rather than joining the main Grandstand entrance queue.
• Bring a picnic for a family fixture, but leave alcohol, a barbecue and (on the family-day rule) chairs at home.
• The infield ticket does not include live music or family entertainment when those are part of the fixture; budget for a different admission if those activities matter to your group.

Questions people ask