Aintree
Date of Review: 6th November 2026
Address: Ormskirk Rd, Aintree, Liverpool, L9 5AS, United Kingdom
Website: https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/aintree/
Phone: 0151 523 2600
Hotel Accommodation: https://www.trivago.co.uk/en-GB/opr/hotels-near-aintree-racecourse?search=500-4317074
Course Information:
Aerial View – Aintree Racecourse (Image credited to Google Earth)
Aintree Racecourse is located just five miles outside of Liverpool city centre. It has two courses. The world-famous Grand National Course and the smaller Mildmay course.
The Grand National course is triangular and has a circumference of two miles and two furlongs. The National is run over two complete circuits, where horses and jockeys must negotiate 16 spruce fences on the first circuit and 14 on the second. It has some of the world's most famous steeplechase fences, such as Becher’s Brook, The Chair, and The Canal Turn. It is widely accepted as being one of the toughest tests for both horse and rider. The home run after the last fence to the winning post is 494 yards, which includes an elbow.
The Mildmay course has birch fences and is used for most of the races at Aintree. It is pan flat with very few undulations and has sharp left-handed turns at either end of the course. However, it requires horses with stamina that can settle into a nice rhythm and have something left as they approach the home turn and tackle the run home.
The most successful and famous Grand National winner was Red Rum, trained by “Ginger” McCain, who won the race three times in 1973, 1974 and 1977, and finished second twice in 1975 and 1976. He was buried at the winning post of Aintree Racecourse in 1995, and a life-sized statue stands at the course in his honour.
The Racecourse Advisor Guide to Aintree Racecourse:
Location Map – Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse opened in 1829, when Liverpool hotelier William Lynn leased land from Lord Sefton and began flat racing there. A steeplechase followed in 1836, and many people count the 1839 Grand National as the first official running. It grew into Britain's most famous steeplechase through the Victorian era, and the 1970s belonged to Red Rum, who won three times and became a national hero.
In the 1980s, the course was nearly sold for development, until the Jockey Club bought it in 1983 and saved it. It has remained under Jockey Club ownership since and has invested heavily in facilities, while making ongoing changes to the fences and race rules for horse welfare.
In recent years, Tiger Roll won the Grand National twice in 2018 and 2019, and more recently I Am Maximus became the first horse since Red Rum to regain his crown in the Grand National with wins in 2024 and 2026, and Willie Mullins became the first trainer since Vincent O'Brien in the 1950s to win three successive editions in 2026.
Location & Course Access: By Road: Aintree Racecourse is located on the A59, just one mile from the M57 and M58, which link the M62 and M6. Follow the A59 to Liverpool and look for the yellow/tourism signs as you approach the racecourse for directions to the car parks.
By Rail: From Liverpool City Centre: take a Merseyrail train from central underground stations like Liverpool Central, Moorfields, or Lime Street (via a short walk to Central/Moorfields). The journey from central Liverpool to Aintree Station takes about 15 minutes. Aintree Station is directly opposite the main entrance of the racecourse and is less than a five-minute walk across Ormskirk Road. Rating: 9/10.
Parking: The racecourse offers free parking for racegoers for regular fixtures, but charges apply for major meetings such as the Grand National Festival. There are two car parks: the West Tip/Festival Zone, located at the West Tip of the racecourse immediately off the A59. There is also a car park in the centre of the racecourse (near the Aintree Golf Centre), with a shuttle bus running to and from the main entrance, accessed via Melling Road. Rating: 10/10.
Pricing: On the day of our visit, it was a Friday afternoon “Haldon Gold Cup Day” (relocated from Exeter racecourse) with a seven-race National Hunt (jumps) card, including one Class 1 race. Two Class 2 races. Two Class 3 races and two Class 4 races, so a decent level/ quality of racing on the day.
Tickets at the gate for the Grandstand & Paddock were priced at £10.00, with a £5.00 concession for over 65s. However, tickets could also be purchased online in advance for £ 10.00. Because the fixture was relocated late, no hospitality options were available. As stated above, the meeting was relocated at short notice from Exeter Racecourse, and the meeting had a relatively small number of overall runners. However, £10.00 to enter one of the most famous racecourses in the world is absolutely terrific value! Rating: 10/10.
Viewing: Aintree Racecourse has five different enclosures: The Princess Royal, Lord Daresbury, Queen Mother, Earl of Derby, and Lord Sefton.
The Lord Sefton Stand – Aintree Racecourse
The Earl of Derby Stand – Aintree Racecourse
The Lord Sefton and Earl of Derby stands are joint stands, located past the finishing post so you effectively have a head-on view as the horse comes down the home straight. Both are five-floor affairs, with rows of concrete terracing on the lower level, hospitality boxes on the second level, and plastic seating on the third level. To say they are large is somewhat of an understatement. They are genuinely huge!
The Lord Daresbury Stand – Aintree Racecourse
The Lord Daresbury Stand is a more traditional/conventional affair and is situated directly in front of the winning post. It has three levels. Standing is on the first and third levels, and seating is on the second level.
The Queen Mother Stand – Aintree Racecourse
Immediately to the right of the Lord Daresbury Stand is the Queen Mother Stand. Again, three floors with the same standing/seating configuration. In both the Lord Daresbury and Queen Mother stands, only the second tier is covered. The lower and third tiers are open to the elements, so if it rains, there is no shelter or cover whatsoever.
Furthest from the winning post is the imposing Princess Royal Stand. Once again, it is on three levels. It has seating on the lower level and standing concrete terracing on the second level. The third level is an area for hospitality and private boxes. The roof is an impressive cantilever design; however, it offers only minimal shelter from the elements.
The Princess Royal Stand – Aintree Racecourse
The overall viewing experience at Aintree Racecourse is somewhat of a curate’s egg. That said, the viewing from the stands for races on the Mildmay course is genuinely outstanding. Regardless of your vantage point, you can see the horses 100% of the time in all races over any distance. However, the overall viewing experience of the Grand National course is somewhat different. Because of the course's sheer size, the horses are out of sight for long stretches as they travel up the back straight and around the turn, which is a tad disappointing. A large TV screen sits in front of the winning post. Rating: 7/10.
Parade Ring / Winners’ Enclosure: Here at Racecourse Advisor, we do like a good Parade Ring, and the one at Aintree is up there with the best of them.
The Parade Ring – Aintree Racecourse
The winners' enclosure is oval-shaped and large. It is located at the back of the stands, which is ideal. Access is available around the full perimeter, and it is surrounded by wooden stools. Several raised viewing platforms give a genuinely excellent view of the horses while they parade.
The Weighing Room – Aintree Racecourse
You can also climb the steps at the back of the weighing room to a large viewing balcony, and the view from here is spectacular. It really is worth the effort. The winners' enclosure sits under a canopy at the front of the parade ring, and once again, the viewing is very good. Rating: 10/10.
Bookmakers / Betting Facilities: The main bookmakers' pitch sits on a concourse directly in front of the Lord Daresbury and the Queen Mother stands.
Example Text
The Bookmakers’ Concourse - Aintree Racecourse
On the day of our visit, at least thirty bookies were plying their trade, which was more than ample. Tote concessions are literally all over the racecourse, and a large William Hill concession is located in the Aldaniti Bar. Getting a bet on is the least of your problems here. Rating: 10/10.
Catering: Here at Racecourse Advisor, we enjoy doing “racecourse reviews” rather than restaurant reviews. We do not pretend to be food critics. We aim to provide you with an overview of the culinary options and prices available at the racecourse on race days.
It has to be said that on the day of our visit, the catering options were somewhat limited. As stated previously, the race meeting was moved from Exeter Racecourse at relatively short notice, so there are some mitigating circumstances, but we can only review and rate what we find on the day. The first bar we encountered was the Aldaniti Bar, which is located on the ground floor of the Earl of Derby Stand.
The Aldaniti Bar – Aintree Racecourse
A large modern bar with wooden tables and bar stools. Here, they were serving pints of Carling for £7.70 and pints of Guinness, Aspall Suffolk cider and Carling Black Fruits for £7.95. A glass of red, white or rosé wine was £9.50 each (ouch!). Spirits were £7.00, and a bottle of Prosecco was £46.00. They also had a selection of bottled and canned beers. In our opinion, these prices are very high compared with the many racecourses we have visited, and we have visited a lot recently. This bar also hosts a large William Hill betting concession.
The Lawn Bar, on the ground floor of the 1750 Suite area, is another modern, spacious area.
The Lawn Bar – Aintree Racecourse
This has wooden floors, tables, and bar stools. It served the same drinks at the same prices as the Aldaniti Bar. The Moët & Chandon Champagne bar is also on the ground floor of the 1750 Suite area, and along with the bubbles and fizz, it offered a selection of pies and sausage rolls, teas, coffees, and sweets.
The Champagne Bar – Aintree Racecourse
Our next stop was Blackmores, which is an alcohol-free area offering coffee and snacks. It is named after Rachael Blackmore, who became the first female jockey to ride the winner of the Grand National, on Minella Times, in 2021.
Blackmores – Aintree Racecourse
Here, they were selling a selection of sandwiches for £5.00 each. They also sold snacks such as crisps and chocolate bars, along with teas, coffees, and hot chocolate. The two main food outlets on the racecourse were outside “street food” vans. There was a burger van and a “Filthy Fries van.
Street Food Vendors – Aintree Racecourse
The burger van was knocking out the classics, such as a hot roast pork roll with stuffing and apple sauce for £11.95. A “classic burger” with cheese, lettuce and onions was £11.45, and a sausage bap with onions was £8.95 each. We sampled the sausage baps, and we have to say they were excellent! The Filthy Fries van was serving up fries with chicken and Katsu curry, and a salt & pepper version with chicken for £14.95 each. A basic serving of chicken and fries was £14.45, and a portion of “naked fries” could be had for £5.95. So, in our opinion, there were a limited number of catering outlets available on the day, and the drinks were expensive. Rating: 6/10.
Guinness Standard: Draught Guinness was served at all of the bars, and we did partake. To be fair, it was an excellent serving of the black stuff. Nicely chilled with a creamy head in a thick plastic pint pot. However, at £7.95, it was the most expensive pint of Guinness we have ever had on any racecourse in Britain, and it is more expensive than the Cheltenham Festival; therefore, we have no choice but to rate accordingly. Rating 7/10.
Friendliness of Course Staff: We didn’t have much interaction with the course staff, but when we did, they were friendly, helpful, and polite. Rating: 9/10.
Pros & Cons: Aintree Racecourse has plenty of pros, that is for sure. The £10.00 pricing was genuinely excellent value. The free parking was a doddle. All five stands are modern, clean and well looked after. The parade ring really is excellent. As stated previously, viewing the horses when racing is superb on the Mildmay course, but not so clever over the Grand National Course. For us, the only cons were the lack of food and catering options available on the day and the eye-watering price of the drinks.
As always, here at Racecourse Advisor, we ask ourselves at the end of each review: would we return? The answer is very easy: yes, we would. Aintree Racecourse is a genuine Premier League racing venue, and it’s everything it’s cracked up to be. If you are in the north west of England and looking for a good day of racing, check the Aintree fixture list. You won’t regret it. Rating: 8/10.
Overall Racecourse Advisor Rating: 8.6/10.
Wi-Fi/Internet Connection: A free Jockey Club Wi-Fi connection was available and connected seamlessly. No issues here.
The entire day's racing results can be found here: https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/2026-11-06/aintree/122418
Facilities & Location Map – Aintree Racecourse: (Image acknowledged & credited to the Jockey Club)
Disclaimer: The reviews contained in this website's content are just the authors' opinions. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the authors and not necessarily to any other group or individual. Any content or opinion provided in our reviews is not intended to malign any party, group, club, organisation, company, individual, or anything whatsoever.
