A day at the races – no experience necessary
Dress codes, complicated bets, knowing your way around a racecard – none of it is compulsory. Here’s why a day at the races might just be the best outing of your spring.
Most people who’ve never been to the races assume it’s not really for them. Too formal, too expensive, or just a bit bewildering if you don’t follow horse racing. It doesn’t have to be any of those things.
Racing is a backdrop as much as it is the point – and the energy of it surprises most people the first time, whether or not you fancy a flutter. Around that, you’ve got food, drink, music and a genuine reason to make a day of it. Some of these events are a brilliant excuse to dress up. Others are just as good in something smart and comfortable.
This spring, there are race days running from Easter weekend through to late May at courses that are, for most of our readers, less than an hour away. Between them they cover just about every type of day out you could want.
For families, several venues have made real effort to build a full day around the racing rather than just alongside it – funfairs, face painting, Easter egg hunts, live music and free entry for under-18s. You could easily spend the whole day without the children once asking when you’re going home.
If you’re going as a group of friends, the social calendar this spring is genuinely strong. There are evening events with live music – including more than one ABBA tribute act across different venues – plus dedicated Ladies Days and a Gents Evening, both of which have a real occasion feel and tend to be just as much about the social as the racing.
For those who just want to watch good racing, the quality on offer from April onwards is high. Several meetings feature horses that will go on to compete at the Derby and Royal Ascot – and seeing them at a smaller spring fixture, at a fraction of the cost, is something racing fans appreciate.
Dress codes across all these spring meetings are relaxed – smart casual covers you almost everywhere. General admission is often comparable to a family cinema trip, while hospitality packages with dining and reserved views make for a more indulgent day if that’s what you’re after.
“I love to go to a race day; it’s the fun of dressing up, meeting with friends in the sun and having a glass or two of bubbles. The speed and elegance of the horses is truly exhilarating!” Kirsten, Crawley Down
Check out our venue guide to find the right race day for you this spring – and visit venue websites for their full summer programme, prices and booking details.
What’s on & where: April–May 2026
LINGFIELD PARK
Lingfield, Surrey – lingfieldpark.co.uk
A Surrey course with flat and all-weather racing, family days, music events and Ladies Day throughout the season. Good Friday’s Vase Day is a full family day out – Easter activities, funfair and live music alongside the racing, with a wet weather guarantee (check website for details). The Derby Trials in May attract serious runners ahead of Epsom.
3 Apr: All-Weather Vase Day (Good Friday)
9 May: Derby & Oaks Trials
BRIGHTON RACECOURSE
Brighton, East Sussex – brighton-racecourse.co.uk
A clifftop course with sea views and a calendar covering family fun days, Ladies Day and evening music events throughout the summer. The April season opener combines racing with an ABBA tribute – come dressed for it.
18 Apr: Season Opener ft. ABBA The Party
29 May: Beer & Cider Raceday
SANDOWN PARK
Esher, Surrey – thejockeyclub.co.uk/sandown
A well-regarded Surrey course with Ladies Day, Gentlemen’s Day and live music events including Ministry of Sound Classical across the season. April brings two big days back-to-back – the flat season opener on Friday with live music after racing, and a jump finale on Saturday.
24 Apr: Flat Season Opener
25 Apr: Jump Finale
28 May: Night at the Races
FONTWELL PARK
Nr Arundel, West Sussex – fontwellpark.co.uk
A friendly course near Arundel with family days, Ladies Evening and themed racedays across the season – and one of only two figure-of-eight tracks in the country. April and May bring a good mix of daytime and evening events.
8 Apr: Easter Raceday
24 Apr: Gents Evening
14 May: Figure of 8 Raceday
24 May: Family Festival Raceday
PLUMPTON
Nr Lewes, East Sussex – plumptonracecourse.co.uk
A well-loved National Hunt course in the Sussex countryside with a genuinely local feel, including family festivals, Ladies Day and jump racing throughout the season. The two-day Easter Festival has family entertainment throughout – under-18s free. Ladies Day in May is popular if you fancy an excuse to dress up.
5-6 Apr: Easter Festival
19 Apr: Sussex Raceday
10 May: Ladies Day
EPSOM DOWNS
Epsom, Surrey – thejockeyclub.co.uk/epsom
Home of the Derby with all the history that it brings, Epsom offers a full season of racing and events including summer evening meetings, music nights and a family bank holiday race day. The Spring Meeting in April is a chance to experience the course in a quieter, more accessible setting well before the summer crowds arrive.
21 Apr: The Spring Meeting
GOODWOOD
Chichester, West Sussex – goodwood.com
One of Britain’s most celebrated courses on the South Downs, with a season running from relaxed spring fixtures through to the prestigious Qatar Goodwood Festival. May’s Season Opener has free trips to the start line and live music between races.
1-2 May: Season Opener
22-23 May: May Festival
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