After a very successful 2018, Discover Newmarket is gearing up for the start of another fantastic season in the Home of Horseracing.
As the town’s official tour guide, Discover Newmarket offers world-class, exclusive tours which take the public behind the scenes in the headquarters of thoroughbred breeding, racing and training as well as offering the chance to explore all that the town has to offer.
Newmarket has a rich heritage and links to a fascinating royal history, having been home to the sporting palaces of King James I and King Charles II, as well as being able to offer several top attractions that contribute to making a visit to the town a memorable one.
On the 18th of February, The National Stud will once again throw open its gates to allow visitors to get up close and personal with some of the future champions of the racecourse and discover how these racehorses are born and raised.
Discover Newmarket’s guided tours at the only commercial Stud Farm open to the public in the UK have new timings for 2019, which will give visitors more time to spend in the 500-acre estate.
This is your opportunity to see the impressive stallions and spend time with the mares and foals in the paddocks.
The newly revamped Wavertree’s Coffee Shop is also ready to welcome visitors for the new tour season and is the perfect place to enjoy breakfast, light lunch or a decadent slice of cake for afternoon tea.
Witness the thrill of the sale and history in the making as Thoroughbreds are sold for millions of Guineas at the oldest and most prolific bloodstock auctioneers in the world, Tattersalls, as part of several tour dates to this historic venue in 2019.
Go behind the scenes at a top trainer’s yard and learn what it takes to train, nurture and create champions from trainers such as John Gosden, Sir Mark Prescott, Marco Botti, Rae Guest, Charlie Fellowes and Ed Dunlop, to name a few.
Travel back in time and walk in the footsteps of King Charles II as you see where horseracing began and how it has shaped the world at Palace House, the home of the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing and Sporting Art.
Spanning five acres in the heart of Newmarket, Palace House is situated in the remnants of King Charles II’s sporting palace and stables.
The Heritage Centre comprises three complementary attractions: The National Horseracing Museum, the Fred Packard Galleries of British Sporting Art and the flagship yard for the Retraining of Racehorses Charity, which offers visitors the chance to meet former racehorses as they progress into their new careers after racing.
A trip to Newmarket wouldn’t be complete without seeing champions in action on the track.
Discover Newmarket’s Race Day Tours take you behind the scenes at either the Rowley Mile or July Course, allowing you access to areas of the racecourse not normally open to the public. Get a taste of what it is like behind the scenes as an owner, trainer and jockey before enjoying a marvellous day at the races.
With a host of tours designed to give you an in-depth insight and taste of the world of horseracing, Discover Newmarket is perfect for residents, racing enthusiasts, travel lovers, groups and those new to racing. You don’t have to love horseracing to love Newmarket!
Newmarket is also perfectly situated among the cultural hubs of Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds while also being in close proximity to London making it the perfect excuse to escape in the Suffolk countryside.
There are several options hosted throughout the year by expert tour guides that are not to be missed, including the ever-popular Short Head and Country Mile Tours.
These tours are made up of half or full days that take visitors to exclusive, rarely-seen top trainers’ yards, the gallops in the morning and other iconic locations.
If you’re after a sweet treat, why not book the Champagne Afternoon Tea and Tour? Walk in the footsteps of royalty, politicians and other key historical figures. Experience the prestigious member’s only club, The Jockey Club Rooms, and indulge in a full, traditional afternoon tea in beautiful surroundings.
Tours taking place in 2019:
Country Mile Tour – £80 per person
A full-day tour showcasing Newmarket’s top attractions, including Palace House, The National Stud, a trainer’s yard and the gallops.
♦ 26th January, 9th March, 20th April, 11th May, 1st June, 15th June, 6th July, 3rd August, 31st August, 19th October. 8.50 am start
Race Day Tour – from £130 per person
Heading off to the races? Why not make it even more special with a Race Day Tour so you can get to grips with everything that goes into producing those incredible sporting animals for the track?
Start the day with a driven tour of the town, followed by a visit to Palace House. After this, you will head up to the Racecourse for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour – see the Weighing Room, Royal Box and Commentators Box, as well as head inside the Parade Ring with owners, trainers and jockeys. The tour includes Premier Enclosure badges for you to enjoy racing afterwards.
♦ 18th April, 4th May, 5th May, 18th May, 22nd June, 13th July, 10th August, 28th September, 12th October. 9.30 start
Short Head Tour – £55 per person
Half-day morning tour where visitors will get to visit the gallops and a trainer’s yard and then travel onto either the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art or The National Stud.
♦ 23rd February, 16th March, 23rd March, 6th April, 13th April, 4th May, 25th May, 15th June, 22nd June, 13th July, 10th August, 24th August, 7th September, 12th October, 9th November. 8.50 am start
Tattersalls Tour – £85 per person
Visit one of the most famous bloodstock auction houses in the world, Tattersalls. Start your day with a guided tour of Newmarket Gallops, then head to a busy trainer’s yard and follow this with a trip to the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art for a tour and lunch at The Tack Room.
Then, head to Tattersalls for a look behind the scenes and to witness the excitement and experience the atmosphere as the horses go through the sales ring.
♦ 17th April, 3rd May, 11th July, 8th October, 10th October, 1st November, 2nd December. 9.00 am start
Champagne Afternoon Tea & Tour – from £40 per person
Learn about the incredible history of The Jockey Club and horseracing at The Jockey Club Rooms, with a guided viewing of sporting art and memorabilia at the private members club, followed by a Champagne Afternoon Tea.
♦ 7th April, 23rd June, 10th November. 1.45 pm start
Dalham Hall Stud Tour – £95 per person
An exclusive opportunity to visit His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai’s Dalham Hall Stud, Godolphin’s International Headquarters! See the impressive facilities and champion stallions, including Dubawi and New Approach, as well as Golden Horn, Harry Angel and Cracksman. Following the tour, enjoy a two-course lunch at the Bedford Lodge Hotel and Spa.
♦ 24th May, 7th August, 4th October, 22nd November, 10am start
History & Heritage Walking Tour
The History and Heritage Tour allows visitors to retrace the steps of royalty and explores the development of Newmarket from the time of King James I to the present day and how the town became known to be the Home of Horseracing.
♦ 8th June, 20th July, 14th September
Discover Newmarket Feature Tour – £90 per person
The ultimate treat! You will start your day by visiting the thriving Newmarket Gallops, where you will see some of the town’s 3,000 resident racehorses exercising on pristine Jockey Club Estates land.
Then, get a behind-the-scenes tour of a busy racing yard before heading to the prestigious members’ only club, The Jockey Club Rooms.
♦ 16th March, 11th May, 26th October from 9am
Discover Newmarket’s tour packages are available for all who are interested in discovering more about the intriguing history, heritage and culture of the town, as well as for those who are looking for more insight into the world of horseracing.
The beauty of a Discover Newmarket experience is that it appeals to horseracing fans as well as offers wonderful family and group days out.
If you’d like to book a tour or to find out more, visit www.discovernewmarket.co.uk or call 0344 748 9200.