Royal Ascot marks the peak of British summer racing and there’s nowhere quite like it for enjoying elite-level Flat races. The Royals are watching over their subjects, so it’s time to dress up and be on your best behaviour!
Or maybe you can let your hair down a little bit. Royal Ascot is all about relaxing in the glorious sunshine, sipping champagne and watching your selections come in.
Here at Paddy Power we know all about Ascot races and the special place it has in the heart of the UK and Irish racing calendar. If you’re thinking of attending this year then you’re in luck! We’ve created the ultimate Royal Ascot betting guide so you can find your way around, place your bets, and get the best view of the action.
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Royal Ascot 2024 Date
Royal Ascot 2024 takes place over five days, from Tuesday 18 June to Saturday 22 June.
Royal Ascot Biggest Races
It all kicks off on Tuesday with the Queen Anne Stakes, a Group 1 race over one mile that is dominated by four-year-old horses. Wednesday’s big race is the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, before attention turns to Thursday’s Ascot Gold Cup.
The 2024 Ascot Gold Cup could be a showdown between the much-fancied Kyprios and rivals Courage Mon Ami and Vauban. The race has a £600,000 purse and is the one everyone wants to watch.
The big races then keep coming. Friday has two Group 1 races – the Commonwealth Cup and the Coronation Stakes – while Saturday sees the running of the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
Royal Ascot Map
Here’s a map of Royal Ascot. As you can see, The Queen Anne enclosure is situated to the right of the main stand, and holds the shop, parade ring, various bars, and left luggage. The royal enclosure is to the left of the grandstand and is directly in front of the grandstand, and includes the gardens, a number of private clubs, and a lot of champagne bars.
Toilets are situated across the back of the grandstand, in the pavilion restaurant, and near the pre-parade ring. There is a breast feeding area by The Lawns, while the grass sprawls in front of the grandstand to the racecourse itself.
If you’re looking for a good view at Royal Ascot that’s out of the way from the crowds then grabbing an early spot at the picnic area is your best bet.
How to get to Royal Ascot
Travelling to Royal Ascot isn’t too difficult but you may need to be up and out early if you’re heading there on public transport. Here are your options:
- By Car: Royal Ascot is a 50 mile drive from London down the M3 or M4. There are a lot of car parks available at the racecourse but pre-paying for a ticket is advised. If you get a taxi, you should be dropped off at Car Park 3.
- By Train: Trains run from London Waterloo, Reading and Guildford to Ascot. It takes 52 minutes to travel from Waterloo. It’s then a seven-minute walk when you get to Ascot station.
- By Helicopter: Yes, by helicopter. There’s a heliport close to Ascot Racecourse called the Flexjet Heliport. Email ascot@freshair-uk.com for more info.
Best Place at Royal Ascot
There are a lot of good places to stop and watch the world go by at Royal Ascot. Whether you’re a people watcher, someone who needs a bit of quiet, or plan to follow all the racing action, here are the best places at Royal Ascot to be:
Picnic Zone – Best for relaxing and race watching
The Royal Ascot picnic zone is pretty massive and ideal for lounging around. You won’t get the best view of the races because the finish post comes before the picnic area, but you can still look down the course and see the runners in action.
Village Enclosure – Best for dancing
Opened in 2017, the Village Enclosure is a less formal area of Royal Ascot where live music plays until 9pm and you can mingle and have a drink. This part of the racecourse is not pretentious.
Queen Anne Enclosure – Best for style
Marrying inclusivity with style, the Queen Anne Enclosure is a step up from general ground admission and gives badge holders a stunning view of the racecourse and of the parade ring. Dress codes aren’t as strict as the Royal Enclosure but the view is just as good.
What to look for at Royal Ascot
Royal Ascot is a social event for thousands of people. While you might be solely interested in the races, be assured that plenty of racegoers won’t even look at the action unfolding on the course. Instead, they’ll be sitting back and quaffing whatever champagne is in their hand at the time.
Here are some other things to spot at Royal Ascot this year:
1. A Royal
The clue’s in the name. The British royal family love Ascot and trundle up the course in carriages every day. The King might be there one day out of five, or perhaps not at all. Binoculars are a must if you want to do some proper snooping.
2. Betting stalls
The betting gets fiercely competitive at Royal Ascot, so finding a bookmaker that is out of the way and offers good odds is ideal. This might take a little time but it’s worth it. Remember, you can always bet on Royal Ascot at Paddy Power too!
3. Data scramblers
Betting on your phone is more easily done when you have data. It’s best to find a secure wifi area in the Ascot racecourse to join and place your bets. Otherwise you’ll join the hoards of data scramblers who are seeking a pocket on reception to load their apps!
4. Cash queuers
It’s worth bringing cash to Ascot. Why? Because the bookies generally deal in cash and you don’t want to get stuck in an ATM queue for the whole day.
- Royal Ascot dress code
- Who attends the Royal Procession at Royal Ascot?
- Royal Ascot 2024 race times and schedules
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