Originally Posted by
CokeandTaco
In April, I would like to attend a horse racing "fixture" while in London. I missed an opportunity to visit Ayr during my last visit to Scotland. Ascot (Sunday) or Royal Windsor (Monday night) are available for my trip. Which location would provide the best "day" trip from central London. Ascot would be great to visit with all the history, facilities, and fancy dress codes (although this is not a Royal Ascot fixture). Royal Windsor could be visited after a visit to Windsor, and the castle (with the changing of the guard 11am, tour of castle etc.). Both sound fantastic but I need some expert advice. Price is not the main concern....ease of travel and "once in a lifetime experiences" are important. I have done some research and here are some things I learned:
Ascot shows less availability for direct trains and would require changes/higher fares from London. Taxi or long walk from station to racecourse.
Royal Windsor "seems" easier to visit....direct trains to/from London/Windsor (available), and boat/taxi to racecourse.
Thanks for your help.
I had good times at both; Ascot is probably the premier racing venue in the UK, with one of the most impressive racing plants anywhere. The racing is of a much higher class at Ascot.
Windsor is one of the best towns in the world for a tourist; Windsor Castle is one of the best tourist attractions in Europe, not just the UK. After you tour Windsor, you walk down to the landings on the Thames, and you take a boat down to a landing just outside the entrance to the race course.
The courses are vastly different. Ascot is a tri-oval of about 1.75 miles in circumference--there is also a flat chute that starts seven furlongs from the finish line, and joins the main course three furlongs or so out (horses run in a straight line).
Windsor is a figure 8, on a long and narrow piece of property. The stretch is quite long by USA standards, about 5 furlongs.
Both tracks are served by trains originating at Waterloo--the trains to Ascot go on to Reading; the trains to Windsor terminate at Windsor and Eton Riverside; you can also travel on the Paddington line west to Slough, and then change for the shuttle train that serves Windsor Central. At Ascot, there is a paved path that you walk on for 600-700 yards or so until you reach the street that runs in front of the racecourse.
Ascot is more formal than Windsor (during the Royal Meeting in June, you can't get in most places without morning coat and top hat).
If you are on your way to Scotland, why not check to see if places like Doncaster or York are running. Those are both outstanding venues (I've been to Doncaster and would like to attend York).