From Barnsley to Royal Ascot

For the perfect blend of summer sun and sophistication, look no further than the historic Royal Ascot, Britain’s most prestigious and most valuable equine race meeting with more than £6.5 million in prize money at stake. Spaced across five days jam packed with races and entertainment, Royal Ascot plays host to the world’s finest racehorses and is broadcast around the globe to millions of people.

But experiencing the meeting at Ascot first hand is a different beast altogether, and one you should not miss out on. Royal Ascot is world-renowned for not only its races but also its style and fashion flair, and as such is one of the social highlights of the year. But if you’re going to head down there, you’ll need to get to grips with how the week is laid out and what you can expect from each enclosure in order to plan your time best and get the most out of your visit to Royal Ascot. So without further ado, let’s get to it.

The Races

There are six races each day of Royal Ascot, with it all kicking off this year on Tuesday the 14th of June and ending on Saturday the 18th.

The ones to watch out for in particular are the Group One Prince of Wales’s Stakes (held by many to be the most important race of modern times) on Wednesday, the Gold Cup on Thursday, and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes on Saturday to close out the meeting.

The Enclosures

The enclosures are the areas in which the crowds can congregate at Royal Ascot, and each are slightly different in formality and dress code, views of the races and the entertainment on offer throughout the days.

The three enclosures at Ascot are:

The Royal

An enclosure that has by invitation only membership and serves as the historic heart of the race meeting. The dress code is highly formal, with ladies required to wear hats, modestly cut dresses or skirts and tops, or trouser suits, and gentlemen a waistcoat, tie, black or grey top hat, and black shoes. Those in the Royal Enclosure can enjoy all on offer throughout Royal Ascot, but have the added bonus of exclusive access to the fourth floor of the grandstand and the best vantagepoint of the racecourse, as well as the idyllic Royal Enclosure Gardens and its champagne bars and fine dining restaurants.

The Queen Anne

Where spectators can see the dramatic final furlongs of the racetrack and also boast of a prime view of the Royal Procession as it comes into the Parade Ring, the same area in which the horses are paraded before and after each race. Visitors can comply with the Royal Enclosure’s dress code here if they wish, or men can go for a suit with shirt and tie, but ladies are still required to wear hats and dress for a formal occasion. In the evenings be sure to get stuck in with the communal singing taking place on the bandstand.

The Windsor

The enclosure which the horses dart past first on their dash down the home straight and the one most people visit. Dress is less formal than in the other two enclosures, with the recommendation being to dress smartly but only actually restricting the wearing of replica sports shirts. There is live entertainment in the evenings from Thursday to Saturday and a plethora of bars and foods on offer to whet your palette.

Tickets are highly sought after, so book now for the enclosure of your preference to avoid missing out.

How to get there

The Ascot Racecourse is picturesquely situated in beautiful wooded countryside in Berkshire, just to the west of Windsor Great Park. It is located close to the M3, M4, M40 and M25, making it easily accessible by car or coach. Rail connections from London are also frequent, while the motorways make getting to and from Heathrow a breeze.

Travelling to and from Royal Ascot, however, can be a bit of a drain on the senses, particularly when you take into consideration how busy the days all are. We recommend a chauffeur service to fully appreciate and enjoy the spectacle of the race meeting.

Our team at Wyatt Coaches offer quality minibus hire with experienced and qualified drivers from our base in Barnsley, perfect for travel to Royal Ascot. For more information or for a free quote, contact our friendly team today. We are on hand to make sure you get where you’re going.