Britain's sporting season

From pomp and pageantry at Royal Ascot to breath-taking speed at Silverstone, you can experience Britain’s sporting pedigree all year-round. Delve into the sporting season with our ‘don’t miss’ guide below.

The annual British sporting calendar is bursting with events throughout the year. Some require dress-codes and etiquette while others are crammed with spectators lining river banks, streets and anywhere else there’s a spot to grab.

Discover Britain's sporting prowess

From pomp and pageantry at Royal Ascot to breath-taking speed at Silverstone and crunching tackles during the Six Nations, you can experience a taste of Britain’s sporting pedigree all year-round. It’s time to delve into our sporting season and discover the events you won’t want to miss.

What you need to know before attending Royal Ascot

Royal Ascot takes place over five days in June and is among the most famous of horse-racing events. Happening in the heart of Berkshire, the race meeting is often attended by members of the Royal family.

The Royal Procession
The Royals arrive at 2pm each day in horse-drawn carriages which follow the Straight Mile section of the course, passing all enclosures and the parade ring, before the Royal party enter their own box at the top of the Grandstand.

Tickets
The Saturday, and Ladies Day on the Thursday, are the hottest tickets, so booking early through the Royal Ascot website is always a good idea. Enclosure upgrades and add-ons include access to private bars and fine-dining packages.

Dress codes

Royal Ascot 

Dress codes differ wildly depending on which enclosure you choose. In the Royal Enclosure, men must wear a waistcoat and tie, a top hat and black shoes. Dresses worn by ladies must fall just above the knee. Hat-wearing here almost becomes its own sporting event, and has its own rules. The Grandstand has all men wearing suits, and all women in hats, while the Silver Ring is much more relaxed with no formal dress code.

Dining options
Pack a picnic or enquire about a range of hospitality and fine dining options, ranging from Michelin-starred food in the Royal Enclosure to The Villiers Club - a private garden at the heart of the Village Enclosure featuring live bands, sandwiches and sweet treats.

Travelling to Ascot Racecourse
Less that a ten-minute walk gets you from Ascot station to Royal Ascot. London Waterloo is under an hour away by train and Reading station is under 30 minutes away. By car, Ascot is within 10 miles of the M4, M3 and M25 motorways.

British ticketed annual sporting events

Whether you’re raising a glass of Pimms at Wimbledon or you fancy a bet on the Grand National, Britain is home to a range of exciting ticketed sporting events.

Six Nations Rugby Championship
Catch a game in West London’s Twickenham, BT Murrayfield in Edinburgh or the Principality Stadium in Cardiff to see England, Scotland and Wales battle it out for the Triple Crown rugby trophy. Hospitality packages are available from a range of official providers.

The Championships, Wimbledon
Join the thousands of Brits who will be glued to the world’s oldest tennis tournament. A ballot for Wimbledon tickets opens in September through the All England Lawn Tennis Championships. Or join ‘The Queue’ for a chance to grab a ticket returned by spectators leaving early.

The Grand National

The Grand National
Home to Europe’s richest racecourse, Aintree near Liverpool, sees horses battle it out in this uniquely challenging 7km-long course. Experience three days of horse racing, including the showcase event on the Saturday during The Randox Grand National.

British Grand Prix
High octane F1 motor racing at the home of British motorsport. Head to the ‘Home of British Motorsport’ at Silverstone in Northamptonshire for an unrivaled weekend of high-octane fun. General admission ticket holders get to roam around the Formula 1 circuit, while Grandstand and Enclosure tickets offer allocated seating and giant screens. Get tickets for F1 racing at Silverstone

World Darts Championship
Head to North London’s Alexandra Palace to see the world’s best players battling it out. The world’s top players descend on Alexandra Palace in North London during the festive period for one of the biggest competitions in darts, often accompanied by raucous crowds donning an array of eye-catching fancy dress. Buy your tickets for World Darts

Free to watch, mass participation sports

Arrive early, bag the best spots and enjoy these free British sporting events.

Henley Royal Regatta
Grab a picnic and a Pimms and settle by the water’s edge at this pretty Thames riverside town. The Henley Royal Regatta is one of the biggest meetings in rowing, with crews from around the world competing in various Challenge Trophies.

London Marathon

London Marathon

Come and cheer on anyone from a guy in a gorilla suit to world-class athletes as they wind their way around England’s capital in this grueling 26.2-mile road race. Watch them pound past the historic Cutty Sark in Greenwich at mile six, pant past Tower Bridge at mile 12, puff their way to the London Eye and hopefully keep going on past Big Ben at mile 25, before the London Marathon finishes in front of Buckingham Palace.

The Boat Race
Watch the competitive annual boat race along a four-mile stretch of the River Thames between Oxford and Cambridge Universities in a sporting institution that dates all the way back to 1829. Take in the views from a Riverside pub or find a spot along the West London tow paths and cheer on the crews.

Great North Run
This half marathon in North East England sees participants run between Newcastle-upon- Tyne and South Shields. Crammed with spectator activities, entertainment and vantage points right along its 13.1-mile route, the Tyne Bridge is a particularly popular viewing spot for the Great North Run.

Source: Amelia, VisitBritain Australia's Press Team, amelia.robertson@visitbritain.org