5Oct 2026
Floodlit racing
Floodlit all-weather Flat racing.
From£16
Tickets
Meetings and tickets for 2026/27
Kempton’s big meeting is the two-day Christmas Festival. It races more than 70 times a year, including floodlit all-weather evenings; here are its racedays from October to Christmas, with the racecourse’s starting prices.
Kempton Park fixturesSeason 2026/27
7Oct 2026
Floodlit racing
Floodlit Flat racing; gates about 2:30pm, first race about 4pm.
From£16
Tickets
9Oct 2026
Floodlit racing
Floodlit all-weather Flat racing.
From£16
Tickets
12Oct 2026
Floodlit racing
Floodlit all-weather Flat racing.
From£16
Tickets
14Oct 2026
Floodlit racing
Floodlit all-weather Flat racing.
From£16
Tickets
18Oct 2026
Jump Sunday
The start of Kempton’s jumps season, with a Listed hurdle.
From£10
Tickets
7Nov 2026
Fireworks Night
Racing followed by fireworks.
From£10
Tickets
26Dec 2026
King George VI Chase Day
Boxing Day: the King George VI Chase, one of the most prestigious chases in Britain, with the Christmas Hurdle.
From£16
Tickets
27Dec 2026
Kauto Star Chase Day
Day two of the Christmas Festival. For 2026 the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase moves to this day as part of a new four-day Christmas racing schedule.
Christmas Festival tickets start from £16 on the Jockey Club site; the better enclosures cost more on Boxing Day. Under-18s go free with a paying adult at most Jockey Club racedays.
A Christmas tradition
Boxing Day and the King George VI Chase.
Two Grade 1s in two days
Day two of the Christmas Festival now has the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase.
After work
A floodlit evening meeting on the all-weather track.
Flying in or out
Kempton is about 25 minutes from Heathrow by car.
Which enclosure should you choose?
Most racedays have a single general admission ticket. The Christmas Festival adds three options: the Festival Enclosure (Boxing Day only), the Paddock Enclosure and the Premier Enclosure, each including the cheaper areas except the Festival Enclosure.
Boxing Day only
Festival Enclosure
The best-value way to see the King George: views of the home straight and the last fence, with its own food and bars, but no access to the grandstand or Parade Ring.
Main enclosure
Paddock Enclosure
The ground floor of the grandstand, views from the grandstand apron, betting, and the Pre-Parade Ring, Parade Ring and Winners’ Enclosure. This is the general admission ticket on most racedays.
Premium
Premier Enclosure
Exclusive access to the first floor of the grandstand, viewing closest to the winning post, and premium bars, plus everything in the Paddock Enclosure.
Compare every enclosure side by side: prices, views, bars and food, dress codes and entrances.
Dress code at Kempton Park Racecourse
Kempton encourages racegoers to choose comfortable clothes suited to their own style. Its official guidance gives jeans, sweatshirts and clean trainers as examples, as well as suits and dresses for those who prefer a smarter occasion. Fancy dress should be appropriate and non-offensive because unsuitable outfits can lead to refusal of entry. Much of a raceday is spent in uncovered areas, so check the forecast and bring layers or an umbrella when needed.
Official clothing advice — checked 14 October 2026.
What will the trip cost?
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.
Getting to Kempton Park
Kempton has its own station, but on Boxing Day there are no trains, so plan ahead for the King George.
By train
Trains run from London Waterloo, usually every half hour, to Kempton Park station, 200 yards from the North Entrance. There are normally no trains on Boxing Day.
On Boxing Day
Check the racecourse travel page for Boxing Day arrangements before you set off.
By car
Kempton is close to the M3 and M25; Gatwick is about 45 minutes away.
By helicopter
Call the racecourse on 01932 782292 to arrange a landing.
Parking at Kempton Park Racecourse
Kempton normally offers free raceday parking, with signs on the approach directing visitors to the appropriate area. The Christmas Festival is an exception where parking charges may apply, so check that meeting’s arrangements before setting off. Blue Badge holders can use designated bays while displaying their badge. Priority parking for owners, trainers and badge holders is reached through Gate 1 in Park Road. The course is on the A308 near M3 junction 1.
Official parking advice — checked 14 October 2026.
Coming by train?
Book trains to Kempton Park from London Waterloo (not on Boxing Day).
Hotels near Kempton Park Racecourse
Kempton is an easy day trip from London, but there are hotels right by the course in Sunbury and along the Thames towards Hampton Court.
Boxing Day
There are normally no trains to Kempton Park on Boxing Day, so staying nearby, or booking a taxi in advance, makes the King George much easier.
Next to the course
In Sunbury, a short walk or drive.
- Premier Inn Sunbury (Kempton Park), a budget hotel close to the racecourse
- Travelodge Sunbury M3, about a kilometre from the course, by Sunbury Cross
- The Flower Pot, a pub with rooms in Sunbury, handy for the racecourse
- Holiday Inn London – Shepperton, one of the closest larger hotels to the course
By the Thames
A short drive, with the river and Hampton Court on the doorstep.
- The Mitre, Hampton Court, on the Thames opposite Hampton Court Palace, about 2.7 miles away, with a riverside restaurant
- Oatlands Park Hotel, a country-house hotel in Weybridge, about 3.3 miles away
London and Heathrow
More choice, with trains from Waterloo (except Boxing Day).
- Near Waterloo, for direct trains to Kempton Park
- Heathrow hotels, about 25 minutes by car
Find a hotel
Compare hotels near Kempton, Heathrow and London.
Affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
Evenings in Sunbury-on-Thames
Kempton is surrounded by Thames-side towns, so there’s plenty within a short drive after racing.
- Nearby
The Flower Pot, Sunbury
A pub with rooms in Sunbury, close to the course.
- By the river
The Mitre, Hampton Court
Riverside dining opposite Hampton Court Palace, about 2.7 miles from the course.
- Evening
Kingston upon Thames
A short drive away, with riverside bars and restaurants.
- After racing
Floodlit racing
Kempton’s floodlit evening meetings mean you can make a night of the racing itself.
Things to do while you are here
Kempton sits between Sunbury and Hampton Court, with royal palaces and parks on the doorstep.
Hampton Court Palace
Henry VIII’s Tudor palace on the Thames, with its famous maze, a few miles from the course.
Bushy Park
A huge royal park next to Hampton Court, home to herds of deer.
The Thames Path
Riverside walks between Sunbury, Hampton Court and Kingston.
Chessington and Thorpe Park
Two big theme parks within a short drive, for a family weekend.
On the day
Times vary by meeting: here are the main ones for the season ahead.
10:30Gates open on Boxing Day (King George VI Chase Day); first race about 12.45pm, last race about 3.40pm (2025 timings).
14:30Gates open for a typical floodlit afternoon-into-evening meeting; first race about 4pm.
Under 18Free with a paying adult aged 21 or over at most racedays.
Source: Kempton Park fixture pages and the Jockey Club racecourse terms, checked 4 October 2026. Boxing Day times are from the 2025 meeting.
What to wear
Kempton asks you to come dressed to feel your best: jeans and clean trainers are fine. The only rules are no ripped denim, no football shirts and no offensive fancy dress. People dress up more on Boxing Day.
Boxing Day travel
There are normally no trains to Kempton Park station on Boxing Day, so book a taxi or parking in advance, and arrive early: over 20,000 people go.
Book early for Boxing Day
King George VI Chase Day regularly sells out in advance.
If racing is abandoned
Under the Jockey Club’s policy you get a full refund if racing is abandoned before the first race is completed, and 50% if it is abandoned before the third or feature race.
Betting is optional
You don’t need to bet to enjoy the day. If you do, you must be 18 or over; set a limit before you arrive.
Families and groups
Under-18s go free at most Kempton racedays, and the Fireworks Night and Festival Enclosure are popular with families.
Under-18s free
Children under 18 go free with a paying adult at most Jockey Club racedays. Each adult (aged 21 or over) can bring up to three under-18s, and children aged 15 and under must stay with their adult.
Fireworks Night
Racing followed by fireworks on Saturday 7 November 2026, from £10.
Boxing Day with children
The Festival Enclosure has burgers, hot dogs and sweets for younger racegoers.
Help on the day and afterwards
In an emergency
Call 999 and give the address, Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury-on-Thames, TW16 5AQ, and your enclosure. Then tell a member of staff.
Racecourse office
Call 01932 782292 for carer tickets, accessibility questions and helicopter landings, or email London.CustomerRelations@thejockeyclub.co.uk.
After your visit
Official results are on the BHA results page.
A little history
- 1878Kempton Park opens as a racecourse.
- 1937The King George VI Chase is first run, in February; after the war it moves to Boxing Day.
- 2018The Jockey Club gives housebuilder Redrow (now Barratt Redrow) an option to buy the site if it wins planning permission for housing. The option runs until 2028; racing continues meanwhile, and no application had been decided when we checked.
More Kempton Park guides
Compare the enclosuresPrices, views, dress codes and entrances side by sideAccessibilityParking, viewing areas, toilets and personal assistant ticketsYour first racedayHow a day at the races worksOther racecoursesPlan a trip to another course
Prices, dates and travel details were checked on 4 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 Kempton Park Racecourse or The Jockey Club. Some links may earn us a small commission if you book, at no extra cost to you; this never decides what we recommend.