Getting to Cheltenham
Please follow the recommended routes signed by the AA. There are extensive car parks which are free to use, except at The Festival and on the Saturday of The Open in November. If you are travelling by car, check your best route with our AA Road Planner racecourse maps. Nearer the racecourse, you'll find AA signage directing you to the nearest available car park.
For GPS users our postcode is GL50 4SH.
Click here to see large map view
BY AIR
Ryanair is our official airline partner and offers flights to and from three local airports for The Festival. For details visit ryanair.com.
Helicopters at The Festival - For shuttle and charter flights, call RDK Emprise on 01453 821307 or email operations@rdkemprise.co.uk.
To arrange to land your own helicopter, call Helicopter & Aviation Services on 01427 718 800, visit helipad.co.uk or email info@helipad.co.uk.
For aircraft or helicopter charters to The Festival, visit www.execflyer.com, email fly@execflyer.com or call 01926 840057.
BY TRAIN
A bus link runs from Cheltenham Spa Station from 2 hours before racing, returning after racing, for The Festival and The Open. For other meetings, station taxis will deliver passengers direct to the racecourse and collect after racing.
CrossCountry run regular trains to and from Cheltenham Spa to the South West, Wales, Manchester, the Midlands and the North East. For The Festival 2013, you can buy your shuttle bus ticket alongside your train ticket online at crosscountrytrains.co.uk simply by selecting 'Cheltenham Spa' station to 'Chelt Races Bus' in the Find a Train panel. Plan your journey now at CrossCountry trains.
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Alternatively, you can arrive in style by taking a private steam train directly to the racecourse. For more information, please contact Classic Hospitality on 08456 528 888 or visit classichospitality.co.uk. Early booking is advisable.
BY COACH
To Cheltenham
Right to the gates of Cheltenham Racecourse
National Express will be operating special charter coach services from many locations across the UK, for all four days of The Festival this March. All services will operate right to the racecourse entrance, arriving with plenty of time to spare before the races start, with time to celebrate winnings afterwards! Customers can purchase coach travel by clicking here or calling 08717 81 81 81 or visiting their local National Express ticket outlet.
Big Green Coach
Big Green Coach, the specialist event travel company, is providing direct, low cost coach travel for all four days of The Festival in March 2013. Sit back, relax and let Big Green Coach take you to the best events in the world.
No need to worry about finding a parking space or having a glass of champagne (or two), let the Big Green Coach professional drivers transport you to the highlight of the horse racing calendar on one of their executive coaches. All coaches are timetabled to arrive in plenty of time to soak up the legendary Cheltenham atmosphere before the horse racing begins and returning after a full day of racing fun!
Guarantee your low cost coach seat today.
Click here to book your Festival travel.
BY BUS
From Cheltenham
Stagecoach service D runs every 10 minutes during the day and between 10 minutes and every hour on Monday to Saturday evenings. The service runs hourly on Sundays.
Service 527 also provides a regular service from Cheltenham Centre to Bishops Cleeve and Gotherington via the Racecourse Roundabout. For local Stagecoach information please call 0870 6082608.
At The Festival up to 70 buses will be operating, picking up at Cheltenham Spa Railway Station and outside WH Smith in the centre of town before dropping off at the Racecourse. Return buses pick up from the Racecourse with stops at Pitville Street and then the Station. The charge is £5 return or £3 single.
BY BICYCLE
There are 52 secure bicycle parks next to the Centaur and Best Mate enclosure entrances.
SHARE A CAR
We are keen to encourage racegoers to share their journeys and plan to set up our own car sharing network. In the meantime, please visit carsharegloucestershire.com or call 08700 111199 for car sharing information.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Travel Information Boards are provided at the three main entrances offering up-to-date bus and train timetables, cycle routes and car sharing and walking options.