Cheltenham Festival 2027: Tickets, Dates and the Easy Way to Get Your Group There
The Cheltenham Festival returns to Prestbury Park from Tuesday 16 to Friday 19 March 2027, finishing with the Cheltenham Gold Cup on the Friday. Hundreds of thousands of racegoers attend across the four days, and the roads into Cheltenham are among the busiest in the racing calendar. For pub syndicates, stag groups and corporate parties, Cheltenham Festival coach hire gets everyone to the racecourse together and home safely after the last race.
Cheltenham Festival 2027 dates
Estephanie Domingo
2026-07-24
We booked Bus Route for our group of 35 passengers travelling from London to Ipswich return trio and the experience was excellent from start to finish.On our way to the venue, the road was unexpectedly closed when we were only about 15 minutes away. Our driver remained calm, patient, and professional throughout, finding an alternative route without any stress or delay on our part. We really appreciated how composed and experienced he was in handling the situation.The coach was clean, comfortable, and the air conditioning worked perfectly, which made a huge difference as we were travelling during an extremely hot day. Everyone in our group was able to relax and enjoy the journey.Overall, we had a fantastic experience on both the outbound and return trips. The service was reliable, comfortable, and well-organised. I would highly recommend Bus Route to anyone looking for coach transport for a large group. Thank you for helping make our trip so enjoyable!
Day | Date | Feature race |
| Champion Day | Tue 16 Mar | Champion Hurdle |
| Style Wednesday | Wed 17 Mar | Queen Mother Champion Chase |
| St Patrick's Thursday | Thu 18 Mar | Stayers' Hurdle |
| Gold Cup Day | Fri 19 Mar | Cheltenham Gold Cup |
Dates are confirmed on the Cheltenham Racecourse season guide.
How Much are Cheltenham Festival Tickets?
Tickets are sold by enclosure. Prices rise for Gold Cup Day and as the Festival gets closer, so early booking is the best way to save.
Enclosure | What you get | Guide price (Tue–Thu) | Gold Cup Day guide price |
| Best Mate | Views opposite the finish, lively group atmosphere | from about £42 | from about £58 |
| Tattersalls | Parade Ring, Guinness Village, covered grandstand | from about £60 | from about £74 |
| Club | All premium public areas, view of the winning post | from about £90 | from about £105 |
| Hospitality | Restaurants and private boxes | Panoramic Restaurant from £1,194 | POA |
Guide prices are 2026 figures reported by Eventmasters; Panoramic Restaurant price from Cheltenham Racecourse. Children aged 5 and over need a half-price ticket. In October 2026, priority tickets for Gold Cup Day had already sold out in Club, Tattersalls and Best Mate, with early bird pricing live for the remaining days.
How to Book Cheltenham Festival Tickets
- Go to the official Cheltenham Racecourse tickets page.
- Choose your day and enclosure. Best Mate is popular with large groups for its atmosphere and value.
- Buy for the whole group in one order when you can, so everyone can stand together.
- For 10+ people, ask the racecourse about group rates or packages.
- Book your coach the same week. Coaches for Gold Cup Day and St Patrick's Thursday sell out first.
Why Coach Hire is the Smart Way to do Cheltenham
Cheltenham is a small town hosting a huge crowd. Queues on the A435 and A40 can add hours, and taxis vanish after the last race. A private coach solves this:
- Dedicated coach parking: The racecourse provides designated coach parking near the entrances.
- Door to door: Pickup from your pub, office or hotel.
- Nobody draws the short straw: No designated driver means the whole syndicate enjoys the day.
- Great value: Split the cost of one vehicle between the group.
- Multi-day options: Staying for the full Festival? Book one coach for daily return runs from your hotel, even from Birmingham or Bristol where rooms are easier to find.
Coaches and Minibuses for Every Cheltenham Group
- Pub syndicates (16–33): a minibus hire or midi coach.
- Stag and hen groups: minibuses keep the group together between hotel, races and night out.
- Corporate days (20–57): executive coaches with reclining seats, USB charging and Wi-Fi on request.
- Racing clubs and coach tours: full size 49–57 seat coach hire.
Cheltenham coach Hire Tips
- Aim to arrive by 11 am. Gates open late morning, well before the first race in the early afternoon.
- Agree a fixed return time, usually 30–45 minutes after the last race.
- Pick one meeting point in the coach park and share it with the group.
- Check the racecourse's latest list of prohibited items before you travel.
Get your Cheltenham Festival coach quote today!
