One of the UK’s most well-known racing events, Royal Ascot, is set to commence tomorrow and will showcase the very best of British horse racing, pageantry, and summer fashion.
This year also marks the 200th year of the Royal Procession, with the King, Queen, and their guests all expected to make appearances across the five-day event.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of Royal Ascot 2025.
When is Royal Ascot 2025?
This year, Royal Ascot will run from Tuesday, June 17 to Saturday, June 21.
There are seven races each day, with the first taking place at 14:30 and the last at 18:10. Over the five days, a total of £10 million prize money will be split across the 35 races.
Click here for the full race schedule and odds
What is the dress code?
There are four enclosures at Royal Ascot, with three being available to the public. These enclosures are the Royal Enclosure, reserved exclusively for members and their guests, the Queen Anne Enclosure, the Village Enclosure, and the Windsor Enclosure.
The dress code depends on which enclosure you are sat in.
What is the dress code at Royal Ascot?
Royal Enclosure: Women must wear a dress or skirt that falls just above the knee, shoulder straps that are a minimum width of 1 inch, a hat (not a fascinator or headpiece unless it has a base of 4 inches), or morning dress for men with a top hat and dress shoes. Trouser suits are also permitted for women.
Queen Anne Enclosure: Women must wear headpiece, hat, or fascinator, and a dress or a suit with straps. Men must wear a full-length, two- or three-piece suit of matching material and colour, or morning dress.
Village Enclosure: Women must wear the same as for the Queen Anne Enclosure. Men do not have to wear a matching suit, provided they are wearing a blazer and collared shirt.
Windsor Enclosure: No formal dress code, but hats and blazers are encouraged.
When is Ladies Day?
The Thursday of Ascot (June 19 this year) is unofficially known as Ladies Day. Traditionally, women were offered discounted tickets on a Thursday. This is no longer the case.
However, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate. Royal Ascot serves refreshments from 10:30am all the way through until 9pm. For those in the Royal Enclosure, there is even a Birdcage Party sponsored by Whispering Angel that goes on until 10pm.
Entertainment at Royal Ascot includes a military band, live music, and sing-a-longs.
Will the Royals be in attendance?
The King has frequently shown interest in horse racing. He and Queen Camilla are expected to attend Ascot 2025, though there has been no official confirmation of what days they will be in attendance.
They have a horse, named Reaching High, who is set to race in the Ascot Stakes on Tuesday.
What will the weather be like at this year’s Ascot?
The weather is expected to be very good for a British summer. The weekend in particularly is set to reach heights of 27C.
Luckily, there are plenty of places to cool yourself down at Royal Ascot, from the Parade Ring Restaurant in the Royal Enclosure where prices start at £2,760 per person to stalls and stands in the other enclosures.
How to get to Royal Ascot from London
The Ascot racecourse in Berkshire is a 7-minute walk from Ascot train station. A South Western Railway train from London Waterloo to Ascot should take around 52 minutes.
For those driving, the grounds are located within proximity to the M3, M4, M40, and M25. Visitors are asked to pre-book parking, or if you have forgotten, then to park in Car Park 8 on arrival. The cost for parking is £50, though it is included with hospitality packages.
Coach drivers can obtain a free Heath Enclosure ticket on production of a PCV or PSV license and work docket at any of the ticket offices.
Royal Enclosure guests should be dropped off and picked up at Car Park 1 or 3. All other guests should use taxi drop-off points at Car Park 3 and 6.
