Epsom Downs
Date of Review: 9th July 2026
RCA Reviewers: Dave & Ray
Address: Epsom Downs Racecourse, Epsom, Surrey KT18 5LQ
Website: https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/epsom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EpsomDownsRacecourse/
X: https://x.com/EpsomRacecourse
Email: epsom.reception@thejockeyclub.co.uk
Phone: 0137 2726311
Accommodation: https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/epsom/visitor-info/accommodation-where-to-stay/
Course Information: Epsom Downs Racecourse is a left-handed, undulating, turf flat-racing track in the shape of an extended horseshoe.
Aerial View – Epsom Downs Racecourse (Image credited to Google Earth)
The Derby and Oaks races, run over a mile and a half, are widely considered to be the ultimate test of both horse and jockey. There is a steep uphill climb at the start of the race, then a challenging downhill section as the horses turn into the home straight, with a pronounced camber leading to a tough uphill final furlong to the finish. The straight five-furlong sprint course is recognised as the fastest in the world because it is virtually all downhill from the start to the finish. It has chutes for races of over five, six and seven furlongs. Due to the downhill nature of the shorter sprint races, out-and-out speedsters generally come out on top. An excellent video flyover view of the racecourse can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqMVrxCsDdM
The Racecourse Advisor Guide to Epsom Downs Racecourse: Epsom Racecourse is located in the south of England in the county of Surrey, situated on a range of hills commonly known as the North Downs.
Location Map – Epsom Downs Racecourse
Very few, if any, racecourses anywhere in the world have the historic significance of Epsom Downs. Records show that horse racing has taken place in this area of Surrey since 1661, making it one of the oldest sporting venues in Great Britain. In 1779, the first Oaks race for 3-year-old fillies was held, named after the estate of the Earl of Derby. The following year, a race for 3-year-old colts was added, named the Derby, and it has since become the benchmark worldwide for flat racing in all its forms. Originally, the Derby was over a straight mile, and Tattenham Corner, the downhill turn into the home straight, was added in 1784, and the race was extended to its current distance of a mile and a half. It has since become the most recognised horse race in history and has resulted in similar races around the world, such as the Irish Derby, the Kentucky Derby and the Australian Derby.
In its heyday during the Victorian and Edwardian eras, it regularly attracted tens of thousands of spectators from all walks of life, and the government suspended Parliament so its members could attend the meeting. The 1913 Epsom Derby is also synonymous with the death of the suffragette Emily Davidson, who was killed when she threw herself in front of the King's horse Anmer at Tattenham Corner and died of her injuries four days later in hospital.
Over the years, the Derby has declined sharply in popularity, with only 22,312 paying customers attending the meeting in 2025. The good news is that the Jockey Club has launched a five-year plan this year (2026) to revive the famous race and has made a £6 million investment to support this aim.
Course Access:
By Road: The racecourse is situated a few minutes from Epsom Town Centre on the B290 Epsom Downs Road, or alternatively just off junction 9 of the M25. During the racing season, signs will mark all major approach routes. If you are using satellite navigation, use the postcode: KT18 5LQ.
By Rail: Epsom Station is served by both South West Trains and Southern Trains. Connections from London Waterloo & London Victoria. Take a 10-minute taxi or bus ride from the station. Please note that during the Investec Derby Festival, a shuttle bus service runs from Epsom station. Tattenham Corner Station is approximately a 1/2-mile walk to the racecourse, and Epsom Downs Station is approximately a 1-mile walk to the racecourse.
By Air: Heathrow Airport (LHR) is approximately 27 miles from the racecourse. Gatwick Airport (LGW) is 19 miles from the racecourse. It is also possible to land a helicopter on the Downs, subject to prior approval. Rating: 7/10.
Parking: There is a large, grassed area with free parking a short walk from the main entrance. Rating: 10/10.
Pricing: On the day of our visit, it was a Thursday night meeting with an “Abba Revival” tribute band after the races had finished. It was a six-race card with one Class 6 Race. Three Class 5 races and two Class 4 races. So, undeniably low-level/grade racing.
Tickets on the turnstiles for “The Stands” were £30.00. This gave access to all areas of the racecourse, including both the Premier Grandstand and the Paddock enclosures. However, considerably cheaper if booked online in advance at £18.00. If a group of six or more people booked in advance, tickets could be purchased for £16.20 each. Children up to the age of 17 go free if accompanied by an adult. Concessions of £5.00 were available for those over the age of 65. 18-24-year-olds can sign up for a “Race Pass,” which gives half-price admission to selected meetings at all Jockey Club-owned racecourses.
There was a good selection of hospitality options available, including The Premier Restaurant Experience in the Derby Suite. This costs £145.00 per person and includes admission, a three-course meal, tea and coffee, a racecard, and a free car park pass. At £165.00 per person, the Classic Box Experience could have been had, which included admission to a private box, a two-course buffet meal, tea and coffee, a racecard, and a car park pass. For the same price, there was the VIP Restaurant in the Derby Suite, which was the same as above but with the addition of a Champagne reception.
If you really wanted to go the whole hog, then the VIP Box Experience is the one for you. At a mere £315.00 per head, you get the same as the Classic Box Experience but with a Champagne reception and an afternoon tea/cheese board selection. In our opinion, the turnstile price of £30.00 on the day was a tad on the steep side, but the online, booked-in-advance tickets are a bargain! Rating: 7/10.
Racecard: The racecard had a very flimsy feel, with just 32 pages to give it any substance. The welcome from the General Manager was so brief and lacking in warmth that it might as well have been non-existent. It simply read: “Welcome to Epsom Downs Racecourse… we hope you enjoy your visit.”
It did include the old-style Jockey Club map, spread across two pages, but this was mostly black print with very small text. There was a single page on the Epsom Trainers’ Trophy, but little else apart from the usual Timeform runners and riders. The remainder of the card consisted largely of advertisements.
Our top tip is to keep your £3.50 in your pocket.
Viewing: The viewing at Epsom is genuinely superb, no matter where you are located. The racecourse is in a natural amphitheatre in the spectacular rolling downs, and you can see everything from start to finish in every race.
The Queen Elizabeth II & The Duchess Stands – Epsom Racecourse
The two main viewing stands at Epsom Racecourse are the Queen Elizabeth II and the Duchess stands. The imposing Queen Elizabeth II Stand is positioned immediately in front of the winning post and is six levels high.
The Queen Elizabeth Stand – Epsom Racecourse
This stand is primarily for corporate hospitality, with several restaurants and private boxes, including the Royal Box. The public is allowed to stand at the front of the stand; however, there is no roof or cover, so there is no protection from the elements whatsoever. There is a large, turfed area directly in front of it with numerous wooden picnic-style tables and benches.
The Queen Elizabeth II Stand at night – Epsom Racecourse
The Duchess stand is the larger of the two, set on two levels and is the most popular with racegoers.
The Duchess Stand – Epsom Racecourse
It has around 30 concrete terraced steps and, at the rear, 4 rows of white plastic flip-up seats (see picture below).
The Duchess Stand – Epsom Racecourse
It has an impressively large cantilever roof, but it only covers around 10 steps, so if it rains, you are going to get wet. There is a small third stand, The Prince's Stand, situated just past the winning post. It is a historic Grade II-listed building, built in 1879, making it one of the oldest grandstands in Britain.
It was from here that in 1913 the suffragette Emily Davidson stepped onto the course in front of King Georges V’s horse named Anmer. In 2018, it was recognised as a building of historical importance.
These days, it is mainly used as a corporate area and by racehorse owners and trainers on racedays. Overall, the viewing experience at Epsom Downs racecourse is excellent and among the best we have experienced at any racecourse in Britain. Rating: 10/10.
Parade Ring & Winners’ Enclosure: Is positioned immediately behind the main entrance to the Queen Elizabeth II Stand.
The Parade Ring - Epsom Racecourse
It’s more than a decent size, with access available around 60% of its perimeter because the saddling enclosures are at the rear. It turfed with two large trees in the centre. It has several elevated viewing stands at the far end. In our opinion, it was a bit underwhelming. We expected a little more colour and verve from the racecourse that only a couple of weeks earlier hosted the most famous and iconic horse race in the world: The Derby. A few shrubs, plant boxes and/or hanging baskets would do the trick very easily.
The Winners’ Enclosure is located in a totally different area of the racecourse immediately in front of the Queen Elizabeth II Stand. And it is exactly what it says it is: the winner's enclosure, as only the winning horse gets to enter it. The horses that finish second, third and fourth are positioned along the running rail of the racecourse next to it.
The Winners Enclosure – Epsom Racecourse
To be fair, this was a bit more like it with trees, shrubs and potted plants making it a small but very colourful and pretty enclosure. The presentation area is elevated and at the rear of the area. Rating: 7/10.
Bookmakers: The main on-course bookmakers’ area is located on a large sloping concourse in front of the Duchess Stand.
The On-Course Bookmakers – Epsom Racecourse
On the day of our visit, there were around 15 or so bookies plying their trade. There are also William Hill concessions and Tote counters in both stands. Rating: 10/10.
Catering: Here at Racecourse Advisor, we enjoy doing “racecourse reviews” rather than restaurant reviews, and we do not pretend to be food critics. Our aim is to provide you with an overview of the culinary options and prices available at the racecourse on race days.
On the day of our visit to Epsom, the bars were plentiful, but the food options were not. The first bar we encountered after entering the racecourse was The Mezzanine Bar on the first floor of the Queen Elizabeth II Stand, and we were impressed!
The Mezzanine Bar – Epsom Racecourse
The area runs across the full length of the stand, so it is large. A very contemporary and smart area with a tiled floor, high, round tables and padded bar stools. In the centre, there are large patio doors that lead to a large viewing area overlooking the racecourse and the North Downs. It really is top-notch. At the rear of the patio area, there are tables and chairs so you can sit outside to enjoy the sunshine and soak up the scenery. We really do recommend it.
Here they were serving pints of Carling for £7.50 and draught Guinness, Aspall Cider, Madri and Alpaca Lipse IPA for £7.99 each. Wine was £9.00 a glass, and bottles of Champagne ranged from £82.00 to £139.00 a bottle, depending on your choice. In the middle of the area, there is also a small outlet selling a range of freshly made baguettes and sandwiches for £6.95 each, along with teas, coffees and soft drinks.
On the second floor of the stand is the Blue Riband Restaurant. Which must be booked in advance.
- The Blue Riband Restaurant – Epsom Racecourse
Our next stop was the Oaks Hall area, which is situated on the ground floor of the Duchess Stand.
The Oaks Hall – Epsom Racecourse
A huge area of bars and catering outlets. Once again, tiled floors with round tables and padded bar stools in the bar area selling the same beers at the same prices as the Mezzanine Bar.
The Oaks Hall Bars – Epsom Racecourse
There were also a number of other bars, such as the Prahva Bar, a Pimm’s bar, a cocktail bar and a Champagne and Prosecco bar, so getting a drink and whetting your whistle will be the least of your problems.
The Food Outlets in Oaks Hall – Epsom Racecourse
Also, in this area, there are several catering outlets, including a chicken joint that sells various chicken burgers for £8.95 each. A “Loaded Fries” outlet, which was knocking out various versions of the same and either a BBQ pulled pork dish or a wild Venison chilli con carne for £8.95 a pop. There was also the Coffee House, which was selling a range of drinks and sandwiches.
Outside at the back of the Duchess Stand, there are a couple of vendors selling classic “Street Food” options such as burgers and fries.
Street Food Vendors – Epsom Racecourse
The burger joint was knocking out beef burgers for £12.00. A cheeseburger was £13.00, and a smashed double cheeseburger or pulled pork burger would set you back £14.00. A hot dog was £10.00, and a portion of chips could be had for a fiver. We did try the smashed double cheeseburger and a portion of chips, and to be fair, they were pretty good!
The Street Fries stall was doing cheesy chips or curry and chips for £8.00 a portion. Sausage and chips for £10.00 and chicken tenders and chips for £12.00.
So overall, in our opinion, a very good range of bars, but a very limited range of food options and prices that hurt your pocket. However, this was Epsom, and the one thing we have learnt during our travels visiting racecourses the length and breadth of Britain is that the North/South divide is very much alive and well. But it is what it is. Rating: 6/10.
Guinness Standard: Draft Guinness was available at most of the bars for £7.99 per pint, which is the most expensive we have ever come across on any racecourse we have visited, and we have visited a fair few. That said, it was a pretty good pint of the black stuff. Served in thick plastic pint pots, nice and chilled with a firm creamy head. Bliss! However, due to the price, we have to deduct a couple of points. Rating: 7/10.
Friendliness of Course Staff: All of the staff we met and interacted with at Epsom Racecourse were friendly, polite and very helpful. Rating: 9/10.
Pros & Cons: The pros are the access, the parking, the viewing, which really is superb, and the winners' enclosure. For us, the cons were the limited range of food and catering options and their pricing. Rating: 8/10
As always, here at Racecourse Advisor, we ask ourselves at the end of each review: would we return? The answer is most definitely yes. Without a doubt. It was one of the best and most enjoyable days racing we have had for a long time. If you are down south and in this neck of the woods and fancy a day out at the races, then look no further. Epsom Downs ticks the box.
Overall Racecourse Advisor Rating: 8.2/10.
Wi-Fi/Internet Connection: A reliable, free Wi-Fi connection is available at the racecourse.
The entire day's racing results can be found here: https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/meeting/2026-07-09/epsom-downs/119992
Facilities & Location Map of Epsom Downs Racecourse (image acknowledged and credited to the Jockey Club)
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