5Oct 2026
Day Meeting
Gates 11:41am; first race 1:41pm. The Centre Course is closed for this fixture.
From£23
Tickets
Meetings and tickets for 2026/27
Three 2026 National Hunt meetings remain: Monday 5 October, Saturday 17 October and Thursday 29 October. The racecourse has confirmed 17 dates for 2027, starting on 15 March; full fixture details and tickets follow in January.
Stratford fixturesSeason 2026/27
17Oct 2026
Day Meeting
Gates 11:40am; first race 1:39pm.
From£23
Tickets
29Oct 2026
Day Meeting
Main gates 11:50am; first race 1:50pm. The Centre Course is closed for this fixture.
From£23
Tickets
The racecourse FAQ lists 2026 on-the-day admission at £23 for the Main Enclosure and £15 for Centre Course. Accompanied under-18s enter free. The touring park lists grass pitches from £23 a night in 2026; a two- or three-night booking including a raceday can include complimentary Centre Course tickets, subject to its published terms.
A summer evening
An evening meeting in June, July or August.
Camping
Pitch up inside the racecourse.
A Shakespeare weekend
Racing, then the theatre in town.
End of season
The last raceday on 17 October.
Which enclosure should you choose?
Stratford sells Main Enclosure and Centre Course admission, plus separately booked restaurant and private-box hospitality.
Picnic
Centre Course
A separate ticketed enclosure where you may bring food and drink; open on selected fixtures.
Compare every enclosure side by side: prices, views, bars and food, dress codes and entrances.
Dress code at Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse
Stratford has no formal dress code and recommends smart-casual clothing with comfortable shoes suitable for standing on grass. Its visitor list also asks guests to bring clothing suitable for the weather. Check the forecast before choosing your layers and footwear, and think about the time you will spend outdoors during the meeting. If you have booked a specific dining or hospitality package, consult its instructions or ask Stratford for clarification before travelling. This keeps your outfit choice aligned with the area you have actually booked.
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 Stratford
Stratford Racecourse is on Luddington Road, just outside town. The main approaches are from the A46 and A439; the station is roughly two miles away.
Walk from town
The course is on the western edge of Stratford-upon-Avon. It is about two miles from the centre and station; follow Luddington Road to the racecourse entrance.
Train and taxi
Taxis are available at the station. The racecourse gives the station-to-course taxi ride as a short journey; a taxi or drop-off can leave passengers at the top of the main drive.
By car
Follow signs from the A46 or A439. The racecourse says parking is free for raceday visitors; accessible spaces are near both the Luddington and Paddock Lane entrances for vehicles displaying a valid disabled permit.
Parking at Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse
Stratford provides free on-site parking, reached by following signs from the A46 or A439 towards Luddington Road. Accessible parking is close to the Luddington and Paddock Lane entrances for vehicles displaying a valid disability permit. These spaces are allocated on a first-come basis. Taxi or bus passengers can be dropped off at the main entrance before the vehicle continues to the car park. Check your fixture information and follow staff directions for the appropriate arrival area.
Official parking advice — checked 14 October 2026.
Coming by train?
Book trains to Stratford-upon-Avon.
Hotels near Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse
Make the most of Stratford-upon-Avon’s theatre, riverfront and Shakespeare sites by staying in town, or pitch at the course and walk into the centre. The local visitor guide lists hotels, guest houses, inns and self-catering stays.
On the racecourse
The independently run touring park is inside the course and open from March through October. It has 120 grass pitches, including 75 electric hook-up pitches and 45 non-electric pitches, plus heated shower blocks and a launderette.
- Stratford Touring Park, 2026 grass pitches from £23 a night; book two or three nights over a raceday to qualify for the park’s complimentary Centre Course ticket offer, subject to its terms.
Stratford town centre
Stay near Waterside, the RSC theatres and Shakespeare’s historic streets.
- The Arden Hotel, Town-centre hotel directly opposite the Royal Shakespeare Company theatres.
- The Stratford (DoubleTree by Hilton), Central hotel close to Shakespeare’s Birthplace and the Swan Theatre.
- Hotel du Vin Stratford, Hotel in a restored 18th-century town building in the historic centre.
- Mercure Shakespeare Hotel, Traditional central hotel near the Birthplace, theatres and shops.
- Church Street Townhouse, Hotel and restaurant around 200 metres from the RSC.
Quieter stays near town
Choose a country-house setting or a hotel with more space outside the centre.
- The Welcombe, Neo-Jacobean country-house hotel about one mile from the town centre.
- The Stratford Park Hotel & Golf Club, Hotel in a 14th-century farmhouse with an 18-hole golf course.
Find a hotel
Compare hotels in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
Evenings in Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford’s town-centre evenings revolve around theatre, restaurants and pubs. The RSC is on Waterside by the Avon; dinner and bars on Sheep Street and around the market area are within a short walk.
- Theatre
Royal Shakespeare Company
The RSC regularly stages Shakespeare and other plays at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Swan Theatre. Its venues are on Waterside and the theatre building also has a Riverside Café and rooftop restaurant and bar.
- Pubs and dinner
Sheep Street and Ely Street
The town’s visitor directory lists pubs including the Rose and Crown on Sheep Street and the Queen’s Head on Ely Street. Stratford’s restaurants cater for pre-theatre dining, so a meal and a performance fit easily into one evening.
- Live events
Town-centre shows and music
The Bear Pit Theatre, Cox’s Yard and other local venues host plays, live music and events. The town’s official calendar lists dated performances and evening events; for example, a Bear Pit Theatre performance was listed for 17 October 2026.
Things to do while you are here
Stratford-upon-Avon pairs its Shakespeare heritage with a walkable riverfront, gardens and boat trips. The Royal Shakespeare Company and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust keep the town’s theatrical and literary history in view.
Shakespeare’s Birthplace
The historic Henley Street house where William Shakespeare was born in 1564. It is run by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust as a museum about his early life.
Holy Trinity Church
The church beside the Avon where Shakespeare was baptised and buried; the chancel also contains the graves of Anne Hathaway and other members of his family.
Bancroft Gardens and the Avon
Walk by the river and canal basin in front of the RSC. In summer, local operators run river cruises and hire rowing boats, canoes and electric boats.
Royal Shakespeare Company
The RSC’s riverside site brings together the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Swan Theatre and The Other Place. You can see a performance, take a guided theatre tour or visit the building and Riverside Café.
On the day
Fixture pages give the exact gate and first-race times. Three October 2026 meetings are scheduled; at the Saturday 17 October meeting, gates open at 11:40am and the first race is at 1:39pm.
Monday 5 October 2026Gates 11:41am; first race 1:41pm. Centre Course closed; Main Enclosure tickets only.
Saturday 17 October 2026Gates 11:40am; first race 1:39pm.
Thursday 29 October 2026Main gates 11:50am; first race 1:50pm. Centre Course closed; Main Enclosure tickets only.
Stratford Racecourse’s 2026 fixtures page and individual fixture pages, checked 3 October 2026. Exact gates and first-race times are listed for the 5, 17 and 29 October meetings.
Children
Under-18s enter free with an accompanying adult, including walk-up, advance and group bookings.
Picnics and barbecues
Food and drink picnics are allowed in Centre Course only. The FAQ also permits barbecues there, with care around dry grass and disposal of hot ashes.
Dogs
Only guide dogs for blind visitors are permitted in the Main Enclosure. Dogs are allowed in Centre Course if kept on a lead.
Money and seating
There is no cash machine on site, but cashback is available at some locations. Cash and cards are both accepted in several places, and seating is limited in all enclosures.
Families and groups
Children can attend Stratford’s meetings free when accompanied by an adult. The annual Family Day adds entertainment for younger racegoers.
Under-18 entry and Family Day
Under-18s enter free with an adult at all bookings. Stratford’s 2026 Family Day featured bouncy castles, quoits and fairground games; the confirmed 2027 Family Day is Sunday 11 July.
Racecourse FAQs and children’s admission · 2027 fixture list
Help on the day and afterwards
In an emergency
Call 999 and give the address, Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse, Luddington Road, Stratford-upon-Avon. Then tell a member of staff.
Touring park
Call 01789 201063.
After your visit
Official results are on the BHA results page.
A little history
- 1755Stratford Racecourse states it has been open since 1755.
More Stratford 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 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 Stratford-on-Avon Racecourse or Stratford Racecourse. Some links may earn us a small commission if you book, at no extra cost to you; this never decides what we recommend.