What is Royal Ascot?

Every year thousands of people descended on the small town of Ascot for a five-day horse race that’s one of the biggest social events of the year in the UK.

Royal Ascot, which has been a tradition since around 1711, features the world’s best racehorses, plus the fanciest fashions and food money can buy.

Ascot Racecourse was founded by Queen Anne in 1711 when she came upon an area of open heath that looked, in her words, ‘ideal for horses to gallop at full stretch’. Hence, the founding of the Royal Racecourse. Her Majesty The Queen attends Royal Ascot every year, as do many members of the extended Royal Family.

The Gold Cup is Royal Ascot's oldest and most prestigious race and occurs on the third day of the meeting each year (Thursday). This is the day colloquially known as 'ladies' day'.

Royal Ascot is open to the public within three of the four enclosures. The Queen Anne Enclosure is the premier public enclosure and the Village and Windsor Enclosure are also open to the public. Access to the Royal Enclosure remains by invitation only.

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