Centre Course (Trackside Parking) at Fontwell Park

Who it suits

• Drivers who want to park in the middle of the course, close to the racing action.
• Groups who want to bring picnic food and eat at their vehicle or in the Centre Course area.
• Racegoers prepared for an outdoor day who have separately bought valid admission tickets for everyone in the car.

Ticket prices

Prices are for the Trackside/Centre Course parking permit, not admission. The official 21 October 2026 fixture page displayed a £10 parking product; the FAQ lists the standard published rates above. Centre Course is only available on some fixtures and parking amounts may be higher for major meetings.

Check availability on the official site

Where your ticket takes you

• Entry to the Centre Course car park only; each occupant must also have a valid race admission ticket.
• A central trackside position close to the racing. The parking entrance is at Denmans Lane off the A27, postcode BN18 0SX.
• Permission to bring a picnic, which Fontwell restricts to this area; no alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks may be brought into the racecourse.
• Free standard public parking remains available by the main entrance for visitors without a Centre Course permit.

Not included

• Admission to the racecourse. This is a per-car parking permit and every person needs a separate valid race ticket.
• Permission to bring drinks or alcohol; Fontwell prohibits drinks brought into all parts of the racecourse.
• A covered grandstand seat, restaurant table or full access benefit beyond what each person’s admission ticket allows.

The view

Centre Course puts your vehicle in the middle of the circuit, close to the action, and offers an open-air place to watch while using your own car as a base. The racecourse describes its figure-of-eight chase course as crossing in the centre, so the location gives a distinctive view of runners passing through the course. This is sold as parking, not a separate admission enclosure; to visit the Grandstand, parade ring, bars or hospitality areas, everyone needs the relevant admission ticket and must follow the open pedestrian routes and steward instructions.

Food and drink

You may take picnic food into Centre Course, but drinks are not allowed to be brought into any Fontwell area.

Facilities

Dress code

There is no strict dress code at Fontwell, and Centre Course is an outdoor area. Wear practical shoes and clothing for the weather, and be prepared for wet or cold conditions in the racing season. If you plan to watch from outside the vehicle, bring layers. Sporting team shirts and offensive fancy dress are not allowed under the course-wide guidance.

Getting in

Use the Denmans Lane entrance off the A27, postcode BN18 0SX, if you have a pre-paid Centre Course pass; do not go to the main car park off Fontwell Avenue. Parking must be booked online for fixtures where it is available, and the permit is per car. Standard gates usually open two hours before the first race, but check the chosen fixture’s schedule. Everyone in the car must also have an admission ticket; e-tickets can be scanned from a phone.

Accessibility

The dedicated accessible parking bays described by Fontwell are in the Main Car Park, close to the main entrance; the racecourse says these grass-surfaced spaces are allocated first come and subject to availability. Centre Course is also an outdoor central area, and the published access page does not detail a separate accessible route or accessible parking allocation there. Wheelchair platforms are located beyond the Nickle Coin Grandstand and at the Premier Grandstand. Contact Fontwell on 01243 543335 or info@fontwellpark.co.uk before selecting this option to discuss a specific access need; free personal assistant admission is available with proof of accessibility needs.

Full accessibility guide for Fontwell Park

Children and families

Under-17s go free with a paying adult, with up to three children per adult, except some Festival and Live After Racing fixtures. This parking permit is per car and does not replace a child’s free admission ticket; Fontwell says child tickets should be collected at the ticketing office or turnstile on the day. Children must stay with their responsible adult in the parking area.

Tips

• Buy admission tickets for every person before you book the Centre Course permit; a parking ticket by itself is not race admission.
• Use BN18 0SX and the Denmans Lane entrance for the pre-paid permit, not the main Fontwell Avenue entrance.
• Pack picnic food if useful, but leave all drinks at home; the racecourse prohibits bringing any drinks into the venue.
• Compare the fee for your meeting: the FAQ lists £7 advance and £10 on the day for standard dates, rising to £15/£20 on major fixtures.

Upgrading

If you want free parking rather than the central paid car park, use the main public car park off Fontwell Avenue, BN18 0SY. Your admission ticket determines access to public and hospitality areas.

Questions people ask