The Smartest Way to Park Near Cheltenham Racecourse on Race Day
Plan your visit with ease — find the best parking spots near Cheltenham Racecourse for every raceday throughout the year.
Cheltenham Racecourse Parking
Cheltenham Racecourse hosts some of the most celebrated jump racing in the world, and parking is one of those things that can make or break your day. Plan it well and you'll breeze in. Leave it to chance and you'll spend the best part of an hour crawling around the Cotswolds.
Here's everything you need to know about parking near Cheltenham Racecourse.
About Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse sits at the foot of Cleeve Hill in Gloucestershire, around 9 miles from Gloucester and 45 miles from Bristol. It's one of Britain's most iconic and beloved jump racing venues, famed for hosting the greatest National Hunt festival in the calendar, with a racing programme that runs from October through to April. The postcode for sat nav is GL50 4SH.
The racecourse runs events throughout the year, with the biggest race meetings including:
The Cheltenham Festival — four days in March, headlined by the Champion Hurdle, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, and the Cheltenham Gold Cup, attracting over 250,000 visitors across the week
Gold Cup Day — the pinnacle of the National Hunt season and the most attended single day in jump racing
Champion Day — the electric opening day of the Festival, featuring the Champion Hurdle
November Meeting — the traditional curtain-raiser to the winter jumping season, including the Paddy Power Gold Cup
New Year's Day Racing — a popular festive fixture ideal for families and casual racegoers
April Meeting — the final fixture of the jump season, offering a more relaxed atmosphere
Each event brings different levels of crowd and traffic, with the Cheltenham Festival — and Gold Cup Day in particular — being by far the busiest days of the year.
Getting to Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse is well connected by road and rail from Bristol, Birmingham, London, and the wider South West and Midlands. The postcode for sat nav is GL50 4SH.
By car:
From London: Take the M40 westbound, join the A40 towards Cheltenham, then follow signs for the racecourse
From Bristol: Take the M5 northbound to Junction 11, then follow the A40 towards Cheltenham town centre and the racecourse
From Birmingham: Take the M5 southbound to Junction 10, then follow the A4019 directly into Cheltenham
From the South West: Use the M5 northbound, exiting at Junction 11 for Cheltenham
Traffic around Cheltenham town centre and the approach roads can build significantly on Festival days, with queues forming as early as 7am on Gold Cup Day. Arriving early — ideally before gates open — makes a considerable difference to journey times.
By public transport:
Train: Great Western Railway and CrossCountry both serve Cheltenham Spa, with direct trains from London Paddington taking approximately 2 hours and services from Bristol taking around 45 minutes. A dedicated race shuttle bus runs from Cheltenham Spa station to the racecourse on all racedays.
Bus: Regular shuttle services operate between Cheltenham town centre and the racecourse on racedays. Check local timetables ahead of travel.
Taxi or rideshare: Pre-booking is strongly recommended during Festival week due to extremely high demand. Designated drop-off and pick-up points are available near the racecourse entrance.
Smart Parking Near Cheltenham Racecourse
Never leave parking to chance on raceday. With JustPark, you can reserve a space in advance near Cheltenham Racecourse, choosing from private driveways and independent parking spaces in Cheltenham, Prestbury, Bishops Cleeve, Pittville, and the surrounding area — often at a fraction of the cost of official car parks.
JustPark spaces start from as little as £2/hour, with Cheltenham and Prestbury offering particularly good availability close to the course. You can compare prices, read reviews from other racegoers, and secure your booking in seconds. Add parking insurance for extra peace of mind on a busy raceday.
Advance booking gives you certainty: know your exact location, cost, and walking distance to the gates before you leave home. Pre-book your parking for the best rates and a smooth arrival.
Make the Most of Your Cheltenham Trip
Cheltenham and the surrounding Cotswolds have plenty to offer beyond the racing. Cheltenham town centre is just a short drive from the racecourse, with a vibrant selection of restaurants, independent cafés, and boutique shops perfect for extending your day. The Promenade is one of England's finest shopping streets, and the town's Regency architecture makes it well worth a wander.
For a longer day out, Broadway, Bourton-on-the-Water, and Burford are all popular Cotswolds destinations within easy reach. The Malvern Hills offer excellent walking, and Sudeley Castle near Winchcombe is a popular choice for visitors exploring the area.
Planning to attend on multiple days? JustPark lets you book Cheltenham parking across several days at once, so you can secure the same space for the full Festival week and avoid the hassle of rebooking each morning.
Parking FAQs for Cheltenham Racecourse
How early should I book parking? For the Cheltenham Festival — especially Gold Cup Day — as early as possible. Popular spaces go weeks, and sometimes months, in advance. For smaller racedays, a few days ahead is usually sufficient, but earlier always means more choice and better prices.
Is there disabled parking? Yes, but it must be pre-booked and requires a valid Blue Badge. Contact Cheltenham Racecourse directly to arrange accessible parking or a suitable drop-off point ahead of your visit.
Are there EV charging points? A limited number of EV charging points are available at the racecourse, but availability cannot be guaranteed on busy racedays. It's worth arriving with a full charge.
Can I leave my car overnight? No. Official racecourse car parks require all vehicles to be removed at the end of each raceday.
Are there taxi drop-off points? Yes — designated drop-off and pick-up points for taxis and private hire vehicles are available near the racecourse entrance.
Do You Live Near Cheltenham Racecourse?
If you have a driveway or parking space in Cheltenham, Prestbury, Bishops Cleeve, Pittville, or nearby, you can earn extra income by listing it on JustPark on racedays. With fixtures throughout the autumn and winter jumping season — and one of the biggest weeks in British sport on your doorstep — there are regular opportunities to make the most of local demand, not just during Festival week.
Listing takes a few minutes and you stay in full control of when your space is available and what you charge.
Arrive at the Races With Confidence
However often you visit Cheltenham Racecourse, parking sorted in advance means one less thing to think about on the day. Search for spaces near GL50 4SH on JustPark, book early, and arrive knowing exactly where you're headed.
