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Horse racing remains one of the most popular sports in the UK and one that people all over the country love to get involved with. This is certainly true in London, where residents of the capital love their racing. In addition, tourists who visit London also like the glamour and elegance a day at the races brings.

Of course, if you want to have fun at the races here, there are some things to consider first. Although you could do this at on-track bookies, nowadays due to emerging mobile technologies, Bet Uk online sportsbooks not only allow users to bet on the go , but also provide lots of information on each race, including the runners, riders and course information.

The other major thing to take into account is which racecourses you should pay a visit to. Although there are no racecourses in London itself, there are plenty close by in the Greater London area. But which are the best ones to know about? 

Kempton Park

When you begin to look at what’s on in London, you start to see just how much the capital offers to keep you entertained. A trip to the races is certainly one of the best things to do, and Kempton Park is a top course close to London.

As one of the UK’s premier courses, it always attracts the best jockeys and most talented horses. Located a little out of central London in Surrey, Kempton Park is owned by the Jockey Club and offers both flat racing and jumps.

The most famous race held at this iconic track is the Grade 1 King George VI Chase, held around Christmas time each year. Even better, it has a direct rail connection from London’s Waterloo train station and free on-site parking if you drive there. 

Sandown Park

Another Jockey Club-owned horse racing track close to London itself is Sandown Park. While it might not be in the centre of the capital, it is within the M25 London Orbital and easy to get to. As with Kempton Park, this is a versatile course that offers jump and flat racing.

With a number of Grade 1 races held here each year, it is another course that always attracts big crowds and top trainers. Of all the races held at Sandown, the Tingle Creek Chase and the Eclipse Stakes stand out the most. As with all the other courses in and around London we look at, a day out here always makes for a memorable occasion.

Epsom Downs

Overlooking the amazing North Downs, Epsom is a course that has a big reputation. This track holds some very prestigious events each year, attracting famous Royal Family spectators such as Prince William. This makes it a popular choice for both visitors and locals in London who fancy a trip to the races. Getting to Epsom from London is easy by train, and the course usually provides a shuttle bus to get fans from Epsom station to the track.

The racing here is exclusively flat, so this is worth bearing in mind before visiting. With a spectator capacity of up to 13,000 horse racing fans, the big-name race here each year is the Epsom Derby. This is one of the five classics in UK horse racing and always makes for an exciting watch.

Royal Windsor

Although we could mention Ascot as a top track close to London to visit, it is perhaps a little too far out to make the cut. Royal Windsor, however, is nearby and is a good alternative to consider. This picturesque course is located on the banks of the river Thames and has connections with the Royal Family. Indeed, it is thought that horse racing on this site dates back to the time of King Henry VIII!

While it was once a jumps course, flat racing is now the order of the day at Royal Windsor. The course itself boasts an unusual figure-of-eight design that is only seen in one other UK racecourse. With the Winter Hill Stakes to enjoy each year and a truly elegant atmosphere, this is a great course close to London.

Awesome racecourses in and around London

As we have already noted, it is impossible to find the very best racecourses to visit in the heart of London itself. The lack of space to put such tracks, plus the hustle and bustle of city life, would make this very challenging. For residents and tourists, though, there are some superb racecourses close to London to spend time at. All offer a fabulous day out and some really exciting races to enjoy.