York Racecourse
ENTRY
from £10
WHERE
York
What it’s like
Kids get in free to watch horses thunder past, with the cheapest enclosure at £10 for the accompanying adult.
This is a proper day at the races, not a soft play or a farm park. What your kids actually get is the spectacle: horses cantering down to the start, the noise and colour of a big field going past at speed, and in the Parade Ring you can get right up close to the horses before they head out. That close-up bit is the one worth saving for last, when the crowds have thinned a little and you can actually get to the rail.
Under-18s go in free with a supervising adult, up to two kids per adult, so the cost is really just your own ticket. The Clocktower Enclosure at £10 is the sensible entry point for a family, and it's also the one with a food court and picnics allowed, though they draw the line at glass. Spend more and you're into the Grandstand, County Stand or the hospitality lounges, which is money better saved for a grown-up day out without the pushchair.
Gates open from 11.15am on a normal raceday, with the first race usually between 1.30 and 2pm, so you've got time to get settled, find food and let the kids get bored of standing still before the racing actually starts. Evening meetings run later, gates at 4pm and first race at 5.30. Parking's free and plentiful, which for a York attraction is not nothing, and there's a shuttle bus from the train station if you've come by rail.
The catch is the crowds. May, August and Saturdays get busy enough that queuing for tickets on the day is a real risk, so turning up early or booking ahead matters more than it would on a quiet Tuesday. Cash machines are limited too, with a £2 charge per withdrawal and queues at busy times.
What’s on here
Facilities
Need to know
- Booking
- Walk-ups accepted. Advance booking recommended for party discounts and busy periods (May, August, Saturdays)
- Parking
- Free car parking on all racedays
- Food
- Multiple food and drink outlets across enclosures
- Picnics
- Welcome in car parks and Clocktower Enclosure, no glass allowed in Clocktower Enclosure
- Wheelchairs
- Accessible environment. Buggy available to assist access to/from car parks and taxi rank
- Getting there by bus or train
- York train station 1 mile away
- Cash machines are limited and charge £2 a withdrawal, so bring some cash with you
- Some enclosures are food and drink free zones to protect the view of the racing
- Overnight parking is allowed if you clear the car by 11am the next day
- Shuttle buses from the train station run around £4 return or £2.50 single
Plan your visit
Do children go free?
Under-18s are free with a supervising adult, up to two children per adult. On music racedays there are extra terms and conditions.
What's the cheapest way in?
The Clocktower Enclosure at £10 for an adult, with kids free alongside you.
Do we need to book ahead?
Walk-ups are fine most of the time. Book ahead for busy periods like May, August and Saturdays, or if you want party discounts.
What time should we arrive?
Gates open 11.15am on a normal raceday with the first race between 1.30 and 2pm. Evening meetings open at 4pm with the first race at 5.30.
Can we bring a picnic?
Yes, in the car parks and the Clocktower Enclosure, just no glass in the Clocktower.
Is there parking?
Free parking on all racedays, and you can even leave a car overnight as long as it's out by 11am the next day.
How do we get there without a car?
York train station is a mile away, with shuttle buses and taxis running on racedays.
Is it buggy and wheelchair friendly?
The site's described as an accessible environment, and there's a buggy to help people get between the car parks and the taxi rank.
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