The Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival from The Welcombe
The Welcombe to Cheltenham Racecourse for the Cheltenham Festival. From The Welcombe in Stratford upon Avon, the car is brought to the door at the agreed time. It stands on Warwick Road, CV37 0NR. Welcombe Hotel is Grade II* listed. The nearest station by road is Stratford-upon-Avon, about 10 minutes away. The drive is about an hour (34.1 miles), mostly on the A422, A46 and A435. Compared with a Mayfair start, it is 71 minutes less in the car. The 2027 dates are 16–19 March. The Best Mate Enclosure sits opposite the main grandstand beside the finish line.
How the day runs
At The Welcombe the concierge will know the car is outside. You travel in a luxury people-carrier for families and groups. Leaving The Welcombe, the car picks up the A422 and keeps to the main roads. You are set down at the permitted drop-off for your enclosure or ticket. All day the car stays on hand; a message brings it round. After the last of the day, it is about an hour back to The Welcombe.
- The Welcombe to Cheltenham Racecourse1 hr 1 min, 34.1 miles, in clear traffic
- Cheltenham Racecourse to The Welcombe1 hr, 34.2 miles, in clear traffic
Times are for clear roads. Allow longer on event days and at peak hours.
Worth knowing
The Best Mate Enclosure sits opposite the main grandstand beside the finish line.
Source: thejockeyclub.co.ukDrivers follow festival signage to a dedicated Pick up & Drop off car park and are asked not to use local roads or driveways. Hackney carriages use a signed point on the racecourse main drive; private hire follows pick-up/drop-off signs.
Source: thejockeyclub.co.ukNo formal dress code, though many racegoers choose to dress up for the Festival.
Source: thejockeyclub.co.ukThe Welcombe is on Warwick Road, CV37 0NR.
Source: openstreetmap.orgWelcombe Hotel is Grade II* listed.
Source: historicengland.org.ukThe closest National Rail station to The Welcombe by road is Stratford-upon-Avon (SAV), about 10 minutes' drive.
Source: wikidata.orgPublic enclosures are Club, Tattersalls and Best Mate; Club ticket holders can also use Tattersalls areas.
Source: thejockeyclub.co.ukThe racecourse runs what it calls the UK's busiest temporary airfield, handling around 400 helicopter flights in Festival week.
Source: thejockeyclub.co.uk
Price this journey
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Questions
How far is the Cheltenham Festival from The Welcombe?
About an hour and 34.1 miles in clear traffic, via the A422, A46 and A435; allow longer on the day.
Would the train be quicker?
The station for the Cheltenham Festival is Cheltenham Spa. From The Welcombe, a car goes door to door in about an hour.
Can guests fly in for the day?
Birmingham Airport is about an hour and 9 minutes from Cheltenham Racecourse by road; an airport collection can be added.
Our undertaking
- 60 min
of waiting after landing on every airport collection, without charge.
- Nothing
is added after the quote unless you ask for more on the day. Airport fees, parking and tolls are in it.
- 24 hrs
before collection, cancel or move the journey at no cost.
- In full
refunded if we ever cancel a journey, however late the notice.