FEATURE TRAVEL
budgets and requirements. When you find somewhere you love, be prepared to rebook as you leave, because the Cheltenham Festival is an annual pilgrimage. There is no shortage of Festival frenzy in the surrounding Cotswold towns and villages, as the Cheltenham Festival atmosphere sweeps through the whole area for miles. If you choose carefully the area you stay in, you may even find you are rubbing shoulders with racing celebrities in some of the local establishments. There is a plethora of trainers in the Cotswolds, including Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainers Jonjo O’Neill and Nigel Twiston-Davies, as well as other top trainers such as Fergal O’Brien and Martin Keighley, to name a few. So, you could just find yourself sitting on the next table to one of these Jump racing greats.
The Cotswolds is famed for its fantastic local produce and the
restaurants and pubs in the area are among some of the best in the country. The range of options is vast, so you are sure to find a favourite or two. Several pubs in the Cotswold villages do a breakfast and bus package, which usually consists of a hearty breakfast followed by a lift to the greatest Jump racing event on earth. It is the perfect way to both start your day and travel to the races, joining in the bus banter with like-minded racing fans and debating which horses you think will join the star-studded roll call of Cheltenham Festival winners. The Gloucestershire Warwickshire steam train departs from Toddington and arrives at the Cheltenham Racecourse station, meaning it is only a short walk to the entrance, as the station is located in the grounds of the racecourse. The journey will give you time to have a final glance over your selections for the day or just sit back, relax and enjoy the beautiful
scenery on the way to the Home of Jump Racing. Arriving by train couldn’t be easier. Cheltenham Spa has links from all over the country, including direct trains from London, Bristol and Birmingham. From the station, there is a dedicated bus service that will take you to and from the racecourse, providing a smooth and seamless journey. Coach, taxi, minbus and limo hire are other options, with designated pick- up and drop-off areas for all modes of transport. Ideal for travelling in a group, you can choose your own times, and start and end your day, your way. Finally, why not truly arrive in style at the Cheltenham Festival? Travelling by helicopter is the ultimate way to get to four days of extraordinary Jump racing. During the Cheltenham Festival, the fully licensed, temporary ACS Helipad
becomes the biggest of its kind in the UK, receiving over 400 flights over the four days. There is no better way to arrive at the greatest four days of Jump racing during the year. Wherever you decide to stay and however you decide to travel, one thing is guaranteed – there is nothing quite like the Cheltenham Festival.
“There is no shortage of Festival frenzy in the surrounding Cotswold towns and villages”
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