Royal Ascot 2019 - The most glamorous race meeting in the world.

Event and PP Tour Information

The world's most glamorous race meeting is definitely at Royal Ascot, a fantastic facility set in beautiful Berkshire. Described by critics and pundits alike as 'The Greatest Race Meeting in the World', the five day Royal meeting held in June each year is definitely one of the premier race meetings on the planet and certainly the most important flat race meeting in the UK.

The three key days are "Ladies Day", the Gold Cup meeting on the Thursday, the Coronation Stakes meeting on the Friday and the Finale Day on the Saturday with the running of the Diamond Jubilee stakes.

Outstanding fashions and high stakes make these meetings a great day out. They are one of the major events on the British social calendar. Look at the value inclusions in the PP Travel day tour packages:

• Return coach transport to Royal Ascot from London.
• Large buffet lunch upon arrival, served with excellent varities of quality red and white wine - and of course, bubbly!
• BBQ sausage and bacon rolls also provided
• Entrance provided to the Windsor Enclosure (formerly known as Silver Ring)
• Queen Anne Enclosure (formerly known as Grandstand upgrade options and meet there packages
• Tour leader for the day.
• Typically great fun and organisation.

Queen Anne Stakes: Tuesday 18th of June 2019
Prince Of Wales Stakes: Wednesday 19th of June 2019
Ladies Day: Thursday 20th of June 2019
Coronation Stakes: Friday 21st of June 2019
Finale Day: Saturday 22nd of June 2019

Ascot's racetrack is one of the most modern and spectacular in the world since being totally rebuilt in 2006. It is only during the 5-day June meeting that the huge Berkshire racetrack becomes officially known as "Royal" - and a regal stamp on this occasion is clearly defined by the magnificent horse drawn procession at the beginning of each day that brings members of the family from Windsor Castle down the main straight to their own "Royal Enclosure".

The meeting is steeped in history dating back to 1711 when it was begun by Queen Anne. Now well over 300,000 people make the annual visit to Berkshire during Royal Ascot week, making it Europe's best-attended race meeting. With 16 Group races on offer and with at least one Group One event on each of the five days, it is an amazing sporting event. However it is arguably more famous for its amazing 300 years of social tradition and pageantry - something that continues to this very day.

Queen Anne Enclosure
The Queen Anne offers viewing from ground and lawn levels and allows you access to the main parade ring as well as it's excellent facilities. Your lunch and drinks will be served in the coach park along with all our guests. Please note, a strict dress code applies to all Queen Anne ticket holders. Please check out our FAQ section on PP Royal Ascot tours for further infomation on the difference areas at Royal Ascot.

Meet at Ascot Option:
If you are travelling from other parts of the UK or not from central London, it may be easier for you to make your own way to Ascot and join us at our lunch/party zone before entering the races. We offer a no transport option - you get everything that a normal package includes, except the journey from central London to Ascot and back.

At Royal Ascot our large cold buffet lunch is served in the very social parking area, inside the straight six home straight. PP Travel has the largest marquee area in this coach park, an ideal place for a picnic before the races. The Royal Procession travels past this area about a half an hour before the first race which is usually around 2:30pm. Either cross over into the main course proper beforehand or give the Royals a wave from here.

Windsor Enclosure. There is a more relaxed atmosphere here than the Queen Anne. The Windsor Enclosure (formerly Silver Ring) also has excellent facilities. There are free seats on in its stand or cheer the horses as they enter the home straight by the rails. While the racing is undeniably first class, it is often the action off the track that is the main attraction. The colourful style, pageantry and range of outfits on display at this amazingly social outing make the whole event much more than just an amazing race meeting.

Lunch is provided in the Coach Park 10 (Red) upon arrival for all PP passengers. As you will be allocated your entry ticket on the coach journey to Ascot, you are then free to make your own way into the course proper at your leisure after lunch.

Click here for a map of the Royal Ascot enclosures

Frequently Asked Questions about Royal Ascot

The PP Royal Ascot Experience

Royal Ascot is one of the most important race meetings in the world and PP Travel have been successfully running tours to Royal Ascot for well over two decades, making us one of the most experienced and largest operators to the event.

PP Travel has the largest exclusive picnic area inside the main coach park (no 10), for all to enjoy upon arriving at Royal Ascot. Situated inside the main 1 mile straight, this is our lunch/party zone for your to enjoy before crossing underneath the main straight at your leisure to enter either the Windsor Enclosure (previously Silver Ring) or Queen Anne Enclosure (previously Grandstand Enclosure). We are the largest operator in our field to Royal Ascot. We took over 1200 passengers over the 3 days in 2015.

Our buffet lunch has over 20 different choices of food from meats and cheeses to salads, bread, freshly made sandwiches, cakes and fruits, there are options to suit everyone. We also operate a BBQ to provide bacon and sausage rolls, ideal after a glass or two of bubbly. The lunch is served with an excellent choice of red or white wine which has been carefully selected for its quality. We provide plenty of bubbly onboard our coaches for the journey from London to Berkshire - and there is always plenty more to go around during lunch, along with a selection of lagers, beers and cider. And like our buffet lunch, the PP bar at Royal Ascot is renowned for its very generous drink proportions!

Naturally entrance to Royal Ascot is included and you can make your way to the Windsor Enclosure (previously Silver Ring) or Queen Anne Enclosure (previously Grandstand Enclosure) at your leisure any time from the very social car park area, where your luncheon is served.

At the time of booking you are able to choose which entrance ticket you would like for your day at Royal Ascot. Choose from either the Windsor Enclosure (previously Silver Ring) or Queen Anne Enclosure (previously Grandstand Enclosure) plus the option to add on a Furlong Club badge to your Queen Anne Enclosure ticket.

Windsor Enclosure (previously known as The Silver Ring)
Enjoy close-up views of the Royal Procession as it journeys past the stylish lawns of the Windsor Enclosure. This is the enclosure the horses past first on their way down the home straight when racing begins. It is here that the roar of the crowd starts in earnest, creating an unforgettable atmosphere. The atmosphere in the Windsor Enclosure is always vibrant with guests enjoying betting facilities, artisan food stalls, Champagne and Pimm's bars, and picnics on the lawn. From Thursday onwards, live music plays into the early evening.

Queen Anne Enclosure (previously known as The Grandstand Enclosure)
Grandstand Admission is a premier public enclosure and provides excellent facilities with access to the Pre-Parade Ring, Winners' Enclosure and Parade Ring. On the lawns and terraces of the Queen Anne Enclosure, you can enjoy first-rate views of the day's six races, joining the jubilant crowds as they cheers each winner home. Here you'll be at the heart of the day's activity. Close to the runners and riders in the Pre-Parade and Parade Ring and front row as the Royal Procession passes by the Grandstand.

You will be well served by our tour leaders and staff throughout the lunch as we provide you all with the best information, food, drink and services that will endeavour to make the day as enjoyable as possible for you and all your friends.

Our coaches depart Royal Ascot at 7.00pm - approximately 90 minutes after the last race at 5.30pm - ensuring you can make the most of your day and enjoy the bands, the party and sing-a-longs that continue well after the racing has finished.

We always aim to provide an excellent value tour, that is relaxed and most importantly fun. We look forward to have you on board with us for Royal Ascot 2019.

History

You would be hard pressed to find a sporting venue that can come close to matching the history and rich heritage of Ascot Racecourse. For almost 300 years Royal Ascot, with it's indebted links to the monarchy, has been at the centre of Britain's social calendar and has proved to be one of the highest stages for the test of the worlds greatest race horses.

Ascot Racecourse and races were founded by Queen Anne in 1711 after she identified an area of open heath that looked an ideal place for "horses to gallop at full stretch" during an afternoon ride on the open heath outside Windsor Castle.

The very first race at the venue was held on the 11th of August 1711 with the feature race being named as "Her Majesty's Plate".

The racecourse proper itself was not laid out until around 1790 by William Lowen with the first building being erected on the site in 1794 through a joint venture of works by builder - George Slingsby, carpenter - William Erlybrown, painter - Benjamin Clichett and official Royal Ascot race administrator - John Grape. The original building at Ascot was used up until 1838.

Although Ascot Heath itself was, and still is, property of the Crown, a sitting of Parliament in 1813 passed an "Act of Enclosure" bill ensuring that Ascot racing was secure and available to the entire British pubic and remains so until today.

Whilst the Ascot Racecourse and Races were founded by the Queen and located on Crown property, all administration has always been handled on behalf of the Crown through a representative appointed by the Monarchy. The Master of the Royal Buckhounds was the appointed representative on behalf of the Sovereign until 1901 when Lord Churchill was appointed and made responsible for the running of the course and security of the Royal Enclosure.

Another ACT of Parliament in 1913, formed the Ascot Authority and proclaimed that His Majesty's Representative become the Chairman of the Authority. He or she has always been assisted in the Ascot Racecourse administration by the Clerk of the Course. Today the racing body at Ascot is named the Ascot Authority (Holdings) Limited and continues to retain both of those original positions, however they themselves are now assisted by the extra appointments of trustees, a Chief Executive, non-executive directors and departmental directors. The Clerk of the Course and the Racing Director are now one in the same position.

Right up until 2001 Ascot Racecourse was a private company thus no accounts were ever required to be were published. In January 2002, during redevelopment of the racecourse, the company was incorporated and renamed Ascot Racecourse Ltd and is now firmly established as the official organisation responsible for running Ascot Racecourse and its associated race meetings including the Royal Ascot Race meeting.

Up until 1939 the Royal Ascot meeting was the only race meeting held at Ascot Racecourse. Although the exact origin of the Royal Meeting is unclear it is generally accepted that it evolved over time with the first recorded Royal Ascot meeting taking place in 1768. It has been suggested by some historians, however, that it was not really considered a Royal Ascot race meeting until 1807 when the Gold Cup was introduced.

Other race meetings held in the Berkshire racecourse through the year are known as just "Ascot". The 5-day June meeting is the only time it is known as "Royal Ascot".

The Gold Cup still remains the feature race of the now extended, five day Royal Ascot Race meeting and is traditionally run on Ladies Day which is always held on the Thursday of the Royal Ascot race meeting and is 'colloquially' known as "Ladies Day at Royal Ascot" It has always been the day of the race meeting that has attracted the largest crowds and although Ascot Racecourse Limited have, in recent years, tried to distance themselves from a 'Ladies Day' as such, it has remained the most popular of the race days at the Royal Ascot meeting.

Her Majesty, the Queen, traditionally presents the Gold Cup each Ladies Day at Royal Ascot. The trophy is uniquely designed and produced each year and is not perpetual but is kept by the Gold Cup race winning connections. This is also the case with Saturday's Golden Jubilee states, the Royal Hunt Cup and The Queen's Vase. There are 27 races at the Royal Ascot race meeting have perpetual trophies, many of them now valuable antiques, and are required to be returned after each year to be re-presented to the new winning race connections.

Saturday's Finale Day is the other major day of the meeting, with the group 1 Jubilee States run. This race is the UK's leg of the world horse racing challenge. Being on the weekend this day is always hugely attended.

The Queen, as an avid owner and breeder of racehorse takes a keen interest in the Royal Ascot race meeting and has indeed, had great success with her own horses in recent years. The Jockeys riding Her Majesty's horses have worn the same colours as those of King Edward the 7th and Prince Regent George the 4th. They are purple body, gold braid, scarlet sleeves and a black velvet cap with gold fringe.

In memory of the founder, the Queen Anne Stakes is also run at the meeting although this is not held on Ladies Day of the Royal Ascot race meeting and is usually run on the first day of the Royal meeting.

In a strictly adhered to tradition, members of the Royal Family usually attend the Royal Ascot race meeting on all five days arriving by horse and carriage procession from Windsor Castle itself. The Royal Enclosure has a strict dress code were male attendees must wear full morning dress including a top hat, whilst ladies must not show bare midriffs or shoulders and must wear hats. Outside the Royal Enclosure the dress code is less severe, but many people choose to wear formal dress anyway. To be admitted to the Royal Enclosure for the first time one must either be a guest of a member or be sponsored for membership by a member who has attended at least four times. This continues to maintain a socially exclusive character to the Enclosure.

Royal Ascot, Ladies Day and Finale Day in particular, continues to be a magnificent spectacle of fashion, tradition and pageantry that one should not miss.