The Cheltenham Festival returns from Tuesday 16 to Friday 19 March 2027, with the Gold Cup at 4pm on the Friday, according to Cheltenham Racecourse. From Gerrards Cross it is a long day out: around 1 hour 45 minutes each way on the M40 and A40, then a racecourse whose car parks, bus routes and taxi points all run to special Festival rules. This guide sets out those rules so the travel side of race week is settled well before March.
- Gates open at 10.30am each day; racing runs from 1.20pm to about 5.20pm (timings subject to change).
- On-site parking needs a pass bought before the day. The racecourse says there are no on-the-day sales and cars without one are turned away.
- Private hire cars follow the signs to the dedicated pick-up and drop-off car park, while Hackney carriages use the taxi point on the main drive.
What happens on each day of the 2027 Festival?
Each of the four days has a headline race at 4pm. Tuesday 16 March is Champion Day, built around the Champion Hurdle. Wednesday 17 March is Ladies Day, with the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Thursday 18 March is St Patrick's Thursday, featuring the Stayers' Hurdle. Friday 19 March is Gold Cup Day, the one most people want tickets for, and the busiest on the roads.
The racecourse lists seven races a day, from 1.20pm to 5.20pm. If you want to see the whole card and have lunch first, being through the gates by around noon is a sensible target.
How long does the journey from South Bucks take?
Allow around 1 hour 45 minutes from Gerrards Cross to Cheltenham Racecourse, via the M40 and the A40 past Oxford and over the Cotswolds. The course is on Evesham Road, north of the town centre (GL50 4SH). On Festival mornings the last stretch into Cheltenham is slow, so we add a margin on top of the normal drive time and plan to leave the Chilterns in the early part of the morning.
The return is the longer leg in practice. The last race is at about 5.20pm, and the road closures around the course stay in place for up to an hour afterwards. Groups who stay for a drink after racing often reach home no later than those who dash for the car park.
Do you need to book parking at the Cheltenham Festival?
Yes, if you plan to drive. Cheltenham's Festival travel page says anyone parking on site needs a car or coach parking pass bought in advance, with no passes sold on the day. Car parks are colour coded, and the approach route for each colour is signed with temporary yellow road signs that may not match the shortest route on a sat nav.
There is also a detail for yellow pass holders: because of road closures, cars leaving up to an hour after racing can only turn right, northbound onto Evesham Road. That is fine if you are heading for the M5, less so if you are aiming back towards the A40 and home.
What are the alternatives to parking on site?
The racecourse runs several options, and each suits a different kind of racegoer.
| Option | How it works | Points to note |
|---|---|---|
| Park & Ride | Arle Court, just off Junction 11 of the M5, with buses to the Festival transport hub | Book ahead; buses in from 9.15am to 2.30pm, back from 4pm to 7.30pm |
| Train and shuttle | Cheltenham Spa is the nearest station; Stagecoach shuttles run to the course | The walk from the station takes 30–40 minutes; no cash machine at the station |
| Coach, minibus or limousine | Needs a coach parking pass bought before the Festival | No inbound access to the coach parks between 3.30pm and 7pm |
| Private hire car | Follow the signs to the dedicated pick-up and drop-off car park | Agree a collection time and spot before you go in |
| Hackney carriage | Taxi point on the main drive, signed Taxis | Queues form quickly after the last race |
From Gerrards Cross, the train is the awkward one (journey planners such as National Rail show the options): it usually means going into London or across to a mainline station first, then a long walk or a shuttle at the Cheltenham end. The park and ride works well for those driving themselves who would rather avoid the on-site car parks.
Why do so many racegoers from the Chilterns go by chauffeur?
Because it is roughly three and a half hours of driving in a day that also involves standing outside in March and, for most, a drink or two. A long-distance car removes the parking pass, the one-way exit rules and the question of who drives home. Your driver sets you down at the pick-up and drop-off car park, and meets you there at the agreed time after racing.
It also changes the shape of the trip for groups. Four friends travel in a BMW 5 Series; a party of seven fits in a Mercedes-Benz V-Class, with space for coats and boots. Our guide to long-distance taxis from Gerrards Cross explains when a car makes more sense than the train for trips of this length.
What should you pack for a March day at Cheltenham?
Dress for cold and wet, then hope for sun. The racecourse notes that there is no formal dress code at the Festival but that smart clothing is often preferred. Waterproof layers, a warm coat and shoes that cope with damp grass are sensible, and a spare pair can wait in the car for the journey home. The official racecourse app can hold your tickets in your phone wallet, so download them before leaving Buckinghamshire.
Can you combine Cheltenham with a night away?
Yes, and it is a good way to see more than one day. We can take you up on the Tuesday, collect you at the end of racing on a later day, and bring you home, or run separate day trips if you would rather sleep in your own bed. For company hospitality, one corporate account keeps all the journeys on a single invoice. Later in the year, the Epsom Derby and Royal Ascot bring the flat season closer to home.