Centre Course Enclosure at Stratford

Who it suits

• Families and groups who want to bring their own picnic food and drink rather than buy everything on site.
• Visitors looking for Stratford’s lower-priced public ticket: its 2026 FAQ lists £15 at the gate, compared with £23 for the Main Enclosure.
• Dog owners: dogs may enter the Centre Course if kept on a lead, while only guide dogs for blind visitors are permitted in the Main Enclosure.

Ticket prices

The racecourse FAQ lists £15 as the 2026 on-the-day price. It does not state a separate Centre Course advance rate on that page. The Centre Course is closed on Stratford’s 5 and 29 October 2026 fixtures; the 17 October meeting is listed without that closure notice.

Check availability on the official site

Where your ticket takes you

• The Centre Course enclosure, a separate public area from the Main Enclosure.
• Picnic space where food and beverages may be brought in; tables, chairs, crockery and glassware are permitted under the racecourse’s safe-use rules.
• Barbecue use is allowed in the Centre Course, with restrictions on dry grass and hot ashes.
• Dogs may accompany visitors in this enclosure if kept on a lead at all times.

Not included

• The Main Enclosure, Grandstand, Parade Ring or pre-Parade Ring unless you upgrade to that ticket.
• A guaranteed Centre Course option at every meeting: the enclosure closes on some fixtures, including the 5 and 29 October 2026 meetings.
• A separately reserved restaurant table or hospitality box.

The view

The Centre Course is the infield area within Stratford’s circuit and is sold as a separate enclosure ticket. It is set up for picnics and a more informal day: bring your own food and drink, and the racecourse permits barbecues subject to its grass and ash-disposal rules. The official pages do not describe exact trackside viewing points, how close visitors may stand to the running rail, or whether any infield seats are reserved. Limited seating is available across the course, so bring a chair if you need one; the FAQ says tables and chairs may be brought into the Centre Course.

Food and drink

This is the only enclosure where Stratford expressly allows visitors to bring their own food and drinks.

Facilities

Dress code

Stratford has no formal dress code. The raceday page recommends smart casual clothes and comfortable shoes suitable for standing on grass. The Centre Course is an outdoor picnic area, so choose layers and shoes for the weather and ground conditions. The official visitor pages do not publish a Centre Course-specific clothing restriction.

Getting in

The Centre Course is a separate ticket, and the racecourse says visitors can upgrade between it and the Main Enclosure at the gate by paying the price difference. Its current visitor pages do not explain a separate vehicle or pedestrian route into the infield, so follow the Centre Course signs and staff directions once you reach the racecourse entrance rather than assuming the Main Enclosure route continues through. Gates normally open two hours before the first race, though the Centre Course may open earlier at family fixtures. The official pages do not list a Centre Course bag rule.

Accessibility

Stratford states that disabled toilets are available in each enclosure and has free accessible parking near the Luddington and Paddock Lane entrances for vehicles displaying a valid disabled permit; spaces are first come, first served. Its covered wheelchair viewing platform is in the Main Enclosure’s first-floor Warwickshire Stand, not described as a Centre Course facility. The current access page does not describe Centre Course ground surfaces, step-free routes or a wheelchair viewing point in the infield. A complimentary carer’s badge can be collected at the entrance with an Access Card showing +1 or equivalent evidence of a companion need.

Full accessibility guide for Stratford

Children and families

Under-18s enter free with an accompanying adult on all bookings, including walk-up, advance and group tickets. The Centre Course’s picnic setting suits families who want to bring food, and the course allows tables and chairs there. Stratford does not publish a Centre Course child price because children’s admission is free; proof of age may be requested at the gate.

Tips

• Look at the fixture listing before buying: the Centre Course is closed on 5 and 29 October 2026, and Main Enclosure admission is the only public option on those dates.
• The 2026 gate price is £15 per adult. Stratford does not publish a separate advance online rate in its FAQ.
• Bring your picnic and any table or chairs you need; Centre Course is the only enclosure where food and beverages from home are allowed.
• If you bring a barbecue, keep it off dry grass and take hot ash or a disposable barbecue away from general rubbish bins.

Questions people ask