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The Grand National at Aintree is the biggest single sporting event in Liverpool’s calendar — a three-day Festival of horse racing every April that culminates in the most watched horse race in the world, run over four and a quarter miles and thirty fences just outside the city. The 2026 Randox Grand National Festival runs from Thursday 9 April to Saturday 11 April, with the Grand National itself on Saturday afternoon. For visitors, the Festival is part sporting event, part fashion spectacle, part full-on Liverpool weekend — and worth planning carefully because the city books out, the racecourse demands more logistical attention than people expect, and the experience differs hugely depending on which day, which enclosure, and which transport approach you pick. This Aintree Grand National guide covers everything you need to know: the dates and races, the ticket types and what they actually mean, how to get there, the dress code (looser than people think), what to do for the rest of the weekend, and how to handle Aintree if it’s your first time.
The honest top-line: the Grand National Festival is the most photographed and the most expensive racing fixture in the UK, with Ladies Day on the Friday driving the spectacle and Grand National Day on the Saturday driving the racing prestige. Tickets are not cheap. Hotels are not cheap. Liverpool’s restaurants, bars, and taxis are all stretched. But if you’ve never seen the National in person — and you can manage the logistics — it is a genuinely extraordinary day out, and the city does an excellent job of absorbing the crowds for a long weekend that has become a fixture in the British sporting and social calendar.
Grand National Festival 2026: dates, days, and the races
The 2026 Randox Grand National Festival runs across three days: Thursday 9 April (Grand Opening Day), Friday 10 April (Ladies Day) and Saturday 11 April (Grand National Day). The Festival meeting features 21 races over the three days, climaxing with the Grand National itself at around 5.15pm on Saturday afternoon.
Each day has a distinct character. Thursday Opening Day is the quietest of the three with the smallest crowds, the lowest ticket prices, and the most genuine racing focus. The Aintree Hurdle and Bowl Chase are the highlight races. If you care about the sport and want to see Aintree at its most enjoyable as a racecourse rather than a social occasion, Thursday is the day. Ticket prices start from around £40-£50 in advance for general admission.
Friday Ladies Day is the fashion day. The Style Award has been won by women travelling from across the UK for the chance to dress up and be photographed. It’s the most colourful, the most photographed, and the most heavily booked of the three days. Tickets start from around £75 in advance. The atmosphere is more party than purist; some find it the best day, others the most overwhelming.
Saturday Grand National Day is the headline event. The Grand National itself is run at around 5.15pm — forty horses, thirty fences, four miles two and a half furlongs, watched by 70,000+ on course and around 500 million worldwide. Tickets start from around £90 in advance for general admission, with hospitality from £294 and premium boxes into four figures. Saturday is the biggest, the busiest, and the most expensive — and for many visitors the only day worth doing.
Tickets and what they mean
Aintree’s enclosure system divides the racecourse into zones, and which one you pick changes the experience materially. The four main areas are: Steeplechase Enclosure (the cheapest, general admission area with views of the home straight and finish line); Tattersalls (mid-tier with covered grandstands, parade ring access, and better catering); Aintree Pavilion (the smarter enclosure with restaurant-style dining options and the best views over the National course); and the County Stand and private boxes (the top tier with full hospitality, private dining, course-side seating).
Steeplechase Enclosure is the entry-level experience. Around £40-£90 depending on day. You get general access to the public stands and the in-field, food and drink from concession kiosks, and a long walk from the parade ring. The atmosphere is the most relaxed and the demographic the most mixed. For a first Aintree visit on Thursday it’s a perfectly good way in.
Tattersalls is the most popular middle ground. Around £80-£140 depending on day. You get covered seating, closer access to the parade ring, slightly better food and drink options, and a generally smarter atmosphere than the Steeplechase. Most first-time National visitors land here.
Aintree Pavilion and County Stand are the smart-casual upgrade. £150-£300 depending on day. Restaurant-style dining options, course-side seating, and a more genteel atmosphere. Worth it if you want to actually sit down through the racing rather than stand.
Hospitality packages start at around £225 for the Legends Lounge near the Parade Ring (including drinks and food) and run up to £1500+ for premium private boxes with four-course dining, complimentary bar, course-side views, and traditional afternoon tea. The hospitality packages are sold by Aintree directly and via third-party operators like Eventmasters and Gala Hospitality.
For comparing total cost properly: a budget Saturday at the Grand National with Steeplechase tickets, a drink-and-sandwich approach, and Merseyrail transport costs around £120-£150 per person all-in. A smart-casual Tattersalls day with a proper lunch and several drinks is £200-£280. A hospitality package with everything included is £300-£600. A premium box experience runs £700-£1500+.
The dress code (more relaxed than you think)
Officially Aintree has no enforced dress code beyond banning sports clothing and fancy dress. The Grand National Festival is famous for its fashion — particularly on Ladies Day — but the official line is smart, not formal. Realistically, what you see on the ground is a mix of: women in occasion dresses with heels and hats or fascinators (typical on Ladies Day, common on Saturday, occasional Thursday); men in suits with or without ties (typical Saturday and Friday, optional Thursday); and a fair number of smart-casual outfits including dresses without hats and men in chinos with smart shirts.
You won’t be turned away from any general admission enclosure for being smart-casual. You won’t fit in at Ladies Day in jeans and trainers, but you won’t be stopped at the gate either. For hospitality packages, smart attire is expected and a few private boxes do enforce a stricter standard — check with your specific package.
Practical advice: dress for early April Liverpool weather. That means cool (8-14°C), often windy, often light rain. Bring a coat or pashmina you can carry. Heels are a long walk at Aintree — the racecourse is enormous, and most attendees end up swapping into flats or trainers in the in-field by mid-afternoon. A cross-body bag holds essentials better than a clutch. Phone chargers are at a premium — bring a portable battery.
Getting to Aintree from Liverpool
Aintree Racecourse is six miles north of Liverpool city centre on the Ormskirk Road in the L9 postcode. There are essentially four ways to get there.
Merseyrail is by far the smartest option. Aintree Station sits directly opposite the racecourse — a two-minute walk through a pedestrian tunnel under the road. Merseyrail runs frequent services from Liverpool Central and Moorfields (both city centre stations) on the Northern Line, with extra trains scheduled for race days. The journey takes 15-20 minutes from the centre. Return tickets are under £6. Trains run from early morning until late evening on race days, with the busiest peaks at 10am-12pm inbound and 6pm-8pm outbound. Use Liverpool Central — it’s the easier transfer station.
Bus services 300, 310, and 345 from the city centre run to Aintree. The 300 is the most direct. Journey time 30-45 minutes depending on traffic. Cheaper than Merseyrail but slower and more crowded on race days.
Taxi or Uber from the city centre is £15-£25 with a journey time of 20-30 minutes in normal traffic, considerably longer near peak race-day movements. Worth considering on the way out if Merseyrail queues are heavy after the National, less efficient on the way in.
Driving is the trickiest option. Aintree has on-site parking but it fills early and queues to leave after Saturday’s National can take 60-90 minutes. From the south leave the M6 at junction 21A, join M62 West, exit at junction 6 to the M57 and follow signs to the races. From the north leave M6 at junction 26 onto the M58. Park in city centre and take Merseyrail in is the smarter overall approach if you’re driving from outside Liverpool.
For broader context on getting to Liverpool see our how to get to Liverpool guide.
Where to stay for Grand National weekend
The Grand National is one of the two or three most demanding weekends of the year for Liverpool’s hotels. Prices climb steeply — central hotels routinely double or triple their normal April rates for the Saturday — and availability runs out by January for the major properties. Book early.
For the smart Grand National weekend experience, the best hotels in Liverpool city centre include the Titanic Hotel Stanley Dock (which sees a particularly high concentration of Grand National guests), Hope Street Hotel, Hard Days Night Hotel, and the Adelphi. The Pullman Liverpool at Albert Dock and the Liverpool Marriott on Queen Square are reliable mid-tier options that also book out fast for National weekend.
For closer-to-Aintree options, the Holiday Inn Express Liverpool Aintree (a five-minute walk from the racecourse) and Premier Inn Liverpool Aintree are the obvious choices. They’re functional rather than glamorous but the proximity saves you from the post-race transport scrum on Saturday evening. For racecourse-side hotel options see hotels near Anfield — Anfield is the next neighbourhood south and many of those hotels are within a fifteen-minute Uber of Aintree.
Budget options run thin during Grand National weekend, but YHA Liverpool Albert Dock and Hatters Hostel still offer pod beds in the £50-£80 range if booked very early. For full options see our where to stay in Liverpool guide.
What to eat and drink at Aintree and in Liverpool
On-course catering at Aintree has improved markedly in recent years but remains the most expensive food at the racecourse — expect £10-£15 for casual options like burgers, fish and chips, hot chicken bowls, and pies. Drinks are also at the upper end of UK racecourse pricing — pints around £6-£8, Champagne by the glass £14-£20. The bigger enclosures have sit-down restaurants and bars; the Steeplechase has more concession-style options.
Picnic food is allowed in some enclosures (the Steeplechase historically permits cool boxes within size limits — check current policy when booking). Many regulars bring a small picnic and supplement with on-course drinks.
The smarter approach to eating during Grand National weekend is to lunch lightly on-course and book somewhere properly good in Liverpool for the evening. Bold Street, Castle Street, and Liverpool ONE all have strong restaurant options — see our best restaurants in Liverpool guide and the fine dining options for a proper celebration meal. Restaurants book out 4-6 weeks before National weekend; secure your dinner reservation when you book your hotel.
For drinks before or after the races, the rooftop bars at the waterfront are a smart pre-dinner choice. For a more lively post-race night, Concert Square and the Ropewalks deliver the proper Liverpool Saturday night experience.
The races themselves
The Grand National is the world’s most famous steeplechase: 4 miles 2½ furlongs, 30 fences over two laps of the Aintree National Course, run by up to 40 horses. The fences are jumps in name — Becher’s Brook, the Canal Turn, Valentine’s Brook, the Chair, the Foinavon — that have entered British sporting vocabulary. The race takes around nine minutes. Average winning time is around 8 minutes 50 seconds. The race has been run since 1839 (with breaks during the World Wars).
The supporting races across the three days are first-rate jumps racing in their own right. Thursday’s Aintree Hurdle and Bowl Chase, Friday’s Topham Chase (run over the National fences but only one circuit), and Saturday’s pre-National card all draw top horses and top jockeys. Even if you’re attending only for the National itself, the racing all afternoon is genuine elite-level National Hunt competition.
The Tote (the racecourse betting facility) and high-street bookmakers’ on-course outlets handle most betting. Most casual visitors put a small bet on each race for fun — minimum bets are typically £1. The Grand National itself sees more bets placed than any other single horse race globally; if you’ve never bet, picking a horse by name or colours is the traditional approach.
What to do in Liverpool the rest of the weekend
The Festival runs Thursday to Saturday afternoon, which leaves Thursday morning, Friday morning, Saturday morning, and Sunday entirely free for Liverpool sightseeing. Use that time well.
Thursday morning is a good slot for a Liverpool walking tour or visit to the Museum of Liverpool at Pier Head. Friday morning is when many visitors do the Beatles Story at Albert Dock — it takes around two hours and finishes in time for an afternoon arrival at Aintree. Saturday morning works for the Liverpool waterfront walk before the bigger Saturday racing slot.
Sunday is the best day to recover and absorb the rest of Liverpool. The traditional approach: late brunch on Bold Street (see our Liverpool brunch spots guide), an afternoon at one of the city’s free museums (the Walker Art Gallery is excellent for this), and a quiet pub-lunch and walk before the train home. For football tourism visitors, a Sunday Anfield stadium tour often combines well with a National weekend.
Aintree practical tips from regulars
Phone signal at Aintree is patchy during peak hours — 70,000 people on one site overwhelms the cell network. Download digital tickets and racecards before you arrive and screenshot any QR codes. Take cash for small purchases; on-course card readers have been known to struggle in peak hours. Bring sun cream even in April — when it’s clear the south-facing grandstand is brighter than people expect. Stay hydrated; the bars get busy and queues for water are not faster than queues for prosecco.
Plan your route home before the National runs. Merseyrail queues at Aintree station after Saturday’s race can take 30-45 minutes; the smart move is to leave immediately after the National crosses the line, or to stay on-course for an hour and let the rush clear. The 6pm-7.30pm window is the worst.
If you’re going for the social experience as much as the racing, claim a base near the parade ring or near the Foinavon Fence around 11am and use it as your meeting point all day. Aintree is large enough that you’ll lose people without a clear plan.
Grand National Aintree frequently asked questions
When is the Grand National 2026?
The 2026 Randox Grand National Festival runs from Thursday 9 April to Saturday 11 April 2026. The Grand National itself is on Saturday 11 April at approximately 5.15pm.
How much do Grand National tickets cost?
General admission Steeplechase Enclosure tickets start from around £40-£90 depending on day. Tattersalls Enclosure tickets are £80-£140. Aintree Pavilion and County Stand tickets are £150-£300. Hospitality packages start at £225 and run to £1500+.
What is the dress code for Aintree?
No enforced dress code beyond banning sports clothing and fancy dress. Smart attire is preferred and most attendees on Ladies Day and Saturday dress in formal occasion wear. Thursday Opening Day is the most relaxed.
How do I get to Aintree from Liverpool city centre?
Merseyrail from Liverpool Central or Moorfields to Aintree Station takes 15-20 minutes. Aintree Station is directly opposite the racecourse. Return ticket under £6. Merseyrail is the smartest option.
Can I park at Aintree?
Yes — on-site parking is available but fills early and post-race exit can take 60-90 minutes on Saturday. Merseyrail is faster and easier overall.
What time is the Grand National?
Approximately 5.15pm on Saturday afternoon. Confirm exact times closer to the date — they can shift by a few minutes based on broadcast scheduling.
Can I bring children to Aintree?
Children under 18 are admitted free with a paying adult to general enclosures. The racing programme is family-friendly during the day. For broader family planning in Liverpool see our family guide.
What happens if it rains?
Racing continues. The Festival has only ever been postponed for extreme weather or other emergencies. Dress for rain even if forecasts look clear — early April Liverpool weather changes fast.
Is the Grand National still safe for the horses?
The race has reduced fence sizes, slowed the start, capped runners at 34 in recent updates, and adopted other welfare changes. The race remains demanding and not without risk; the welfare debate is ongoing and visitors interested can read the British Horseracing Authority’s published changes for context.
Can I bet on the races?
Yes. Tote betting kiosks and on-course bookmakers handle bets from £1 upwards. The Tote app and major UK bookmakers all work on-course where signal permits.
What’s the difference between Ladies Day and Grand National Day?
Ladies Day on Friday is the fashion focal point with the Style Award and the most photographed crowd. Grand National Day on Saturday is the main racing event with the Grand National itself. Many people do both. Tickets for Saturday are the most expensive.
Final thoughts on the Grand National experience
The Grand National is one of those events that delivers what its reputation promises. It is large, it is loud, it is heavily atmospheric, and the National itself is over astonishingly quickly — but the slow build of a full racing day, the moment when the field thunders past you for the first time, the visceral roar of 70,000 voices as the horses come to the last, and the strange social ritual of betting modest amounts on big-name horses with strangers in the in-field, add up to a memorable weekend.
Plan it as a full weekend rather than a single day. Book the hotel and the train tickets together, by January or February. Decide your enclosure based on budget and weather tolerance. Book Saturday dinner two months ahead. And bring layers. For wider planning see our Liverpool events and festivals calendar, the Liverpool travel guide, and the things to do in Liverpool overview.