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Attainable luxury · Royal Ascot
Royal Ascot tickets run from a picnic on the Windsor lawns to a five-course lunch beside the Royal Box. Here are the six worth paying for once, what each really costs per person, what to wear, and which day to pick for 15 to 19 June 2027.
eleni koureas, Unsplash
The short answer
Prices checked 18 October 2026
The six Royal Ascot tickets worth buying once, cheapest first: the Windsor Enclosure (from £37), the Village Enclosure (from £85), the Queen Anne Enclosure (from £99), lunch at On 5 above the Queen Anne lawns (from £1,200 plus VAT), a private box for ten or more (from £13,400 a box, so about £1,340 each before VAT) and a restaurant package inside the Royal Enclosure (Parade Ring from £2,300 plus VAT).
Royal Ascot 2027 runs for five days, Tuesday 15 to Saturday 19 June, with the Gold Cup on Thursday 17 June. Gates open at 10.30am, the Royal Procession arrives at 2pm and the first of seven races goes at 2.30pm.
How we priced them: Ascot had not published its 2027 public prices when we checked, so the three public enclosures show the 2026 'from' prices from ascot.com and Horse & Hound. Expect 2027 to be similar or a little higher. Hospitality prices are the 2027 listings of an official hospitality supplier, per person plus VAT unless we say otherwise. We checked everything on 18 October 2026.
The one thing most people get wrong: you cannot simply buy Royal Enclosure tickets. It is a members' enclosure. The realistic way in, if you do not know two members, is a Royal Enclosure restaurant package, which comes with a day badge.
Planning the trip around it? Start with six luxury hotel suites worth booking once and more attainable luxury.
The day out
From £37 a person
The splurge
From £750 plus VAT a person
The six
Photos are of Ascot racecourse, not the enclosures named.
01 · Public enclosure, all five days
The relaxed lawns at the far end of the course
The cheapest good day out. Big lawns, live music, and the first view of the Royal Procession as it comes onto the course. It is the only enclosure where you can bring your own picnic and Champagne, which makes it the best value for a group of friends.
Skip it if you want to see the horses close up in the Parade Ring. That needs a Queen Anne ticket or better.
How to book it
Book on ascot.com. Ascot also sells reserved picnic benches and a VIP area here. In 2026 the Windsor Enclosure ended up sold out, so buy as soon as 2027 tickets open. Which day: any; Windsor is open all five days, and Thursday (Gold Cup day) is the one to pick if the racing matters.
Horse & Hound gives tickets from £37; ascot.com showed 'from £47' for the remaining 2026 tickets. 2027 prices were not out when we checked.
Sources: Ascot: Royal Ascot enclosures and 'from' prices (2026 meeting, checked 18 October 2026) · Horse & Hound: guide to the Royal Ascot enclosures · Horse & Hound: Royal Ascot 2026 dress code for every enclosure
02 · Public enclosure, Thursday to Saturday
In the middle of the course, opened in 2017
The party one. It sits inside the track looking down the home straight, with street food, bars and a festival feel, and once racing ends there is a main-stage after-party until 9pm for ticket holders.
Skip it if you want the royals and the Parade Ring. The Village is across the track from both.
How to book it
Book on ascot.com. There are restaurant and chalet packages here too, from £450 plus VAT a person through Eventmasters. Which day: Thursday, Friday or Saturday; the Village is not open on Tuesday or Wednesday. Thursday gives you the Gold Cup.
Sources: Ascot: Royal Ascot enclosures and 'from' prices (2026 meeting, checked 18 October 2026) · Horse & Hound: guide to the Royal Ascot enclosures · Horse & Hound: Royal Ascot 2026 dress code for every enclosure · Eventmasters (official hospitality supplier): Royal Ascot hospitality prices, per person plus VAT (checked 18 October 2026)
03 · Public enclosure, all five days
The premier public enclosure
The classic Royal Ascot ticket. You get the Grandstand, the trackside lawns, the steps around the Parade Ring where the horses are led round before each race, and the Bandstand singalong after the last race. If you go once, this is the enclosure we would pick.
Skip it if you hate dressing up. A full suit and tie is required, with no jeans, chinos or trainers.
How to book it
Book on ascot.com. You can upgrade on the same site to a trackside table, or a private gazebo for up to 50 people. The 2026 Queen Anne tickets ended up sold out. Which day: Thursday for the Gold Cup if you want the big race; Tuesday for the opening-day atmosphere.
Horse & Hound gives tickets from £99; ascot.com showed 'from £110' for the remaining 2026 tickets.
Sources: Ascot: Royal Ascot enclosures and 'from' prices (2026 meeting, checked 18 October 2026) · Horse & Hound: guide to the Royal Ascot enclosures · Horse & Hound: Royal Ascot 2026 dress code for every enclosure
04 · Queen Anne Enclosure, Level 5 of the Grandstand
Lunch by Angela Hartnett, with a rooftop terrace
The best food at the meeting without the Royal Enclosure rules. A private table on the fifth floor overlooking the home straight, Moët Grand Vintage on arrival, a four-course lunch by the Michelin-starred Angela Hartnett, a free bar all day and afternoon tea, with your Queen Anne ticket included.
Skip it if you want to be down on the lawn all day. You eat high in the Grandstand, though your ticket lets you go down.
How to book it
Book through Ascot's hospitality team or an official supplier such as Eventmasters (020 7989 6500). Tables take two to twelve. Includes a car park label for every two guests. Which day: Saturday is usually the cheapest for hospitality and Thursday the most expensive.
Eventmasters lists On 5 from £1,200 plus VAT a person, with its 2027 booking range shown as £1,400 to £1,850 depending on the day.
Sources: Eventmasters: On 5 Restaurant, Royal Ascot 2027 · Eventmasters (official hospitality supplier): Royal Ascot hospitality prices, per person plus VAT (checked 18 October 2026)
05 · Queen Anne Enclosure, Level 3 of the Grandstand
Your own room and balcony for 10 to 18
The one for a milestone birthday with a big group. Your own room with a bar and a private balcony over the course, Champagne on arrival, a four-course lunch (a buffet for 12 or more), afternoon tea, a free bar, your own waiting staff and parking, plus Queen Anne entry for everyone.
Skip it if you are fewer than ten. The box price is the same whether you fill it or not.
How to book it
Book through an official supplier such as Eventmasters, or Ascot's own hospitality team. Ask for the exact price for your day and numbers: it depends on both. Which day: the price moves with the day, so get quotes for two or three before choosing.
Eventmasters lists Royal Ascot 2027 boxes at £13,400 to £34,200 depending on day, size and service, with a minimum of 10 guests. The page does not say whether VAT is included; another supplier (DTB) says its box prices exclude VAT.
Sources: Eventmasters: Royal Ascot private box 2027 · Eventmasters (official hospitality supplier): Royal Ascot hospitality prices, per person plus VAT (checked 18 October 2026) · Engage Hospitality: guide to Royal Ascot (2027 dates, boxes, Royal Enclosure) · DTB Sports & Events: private boxes at Ascot
06 · Members and guests, plus restaurant packages
Reserved for the King's guests since 1807
The full splurge, and the one that works differently. You cannot buy Royal Enclosure tickets on the open market. Members apply for badges each January; a new member must be sponsored by two existing members, and members can bring a limited number of guests. If you do not know two members, the way in is a Royal Enclosure restaurant package, which includes a guest badge for the day. The best of them, the Parade Ring, sits beside the Royal Box with a five-course lunch by Simon Rogan.
Skip it if you would not enjoy the strictest dress code at any British sporting event: morning dress and top hat for men, a proper hat (no fascinators), straps of at least an inch and skirts just above the knee or longer for women.
How to book it
Two routes. Membership: apply through ascot.com with two sponsoring members; Zoomer reports each sponsor needs four years' standing, and Horse & Hound reports a £150 joining fee and £25 a year being introduced before 2027. Restaurant: book the Wyndham Club (from £750 plus VAT), The Veranda (from £950) or the Parade Ring (from £2,300) through Ascot or an official supplier. Which day: members cannot bring guests on Tuesday, and Saturday is the cheapest day for the restaurants.
Restaurant prices are Eventmasters' 2027 'from' prices, per person plus VAT; its Parade Ring booking range is £2,695 to £3,879. For scale, Ascot's own Veranda package cost £959 (Saturday) to £1,319 (Thursday and Friday) a person including VAT in 2024.
Sources: Ascot: Royal Enclosure membership (checked 18 October 2026) · Horse & Hound: guide to the Royal Ascot enclosures · Zoomer: how to take part in the royal summer season (April 2026) · Engage Hospitality: guide to Royal Ascot (2027 dates, boxes, Royal Enclosure) · Eventmasters (official hospitality supplier): Royal Ascot hospitality prices, per person plus VAT (checked 18 October 2026) · Eventmasters: Parade Ring, Royal Ascot 2027 · Eventmasters: Wyndham Club, Royal Ascot 2027 (PDF) · Ascot: The Veranda restaurant package, Royal Ascot 2024 prices (PDF)
The price ladder
Per person for one day. Public enclosures are 2026 'from' prices; hospitality is 2027 'from' prices plus VAT. The box is £13,400 split ten ways.
Split the cost
Tickets and restaurant tables are priced per person; a box is one price however many of you fill it. Move the slider to see where a box starts to beat a restaurant table. Hospitality prices are plus VAT.
Sources: Ascot: Royal Ascot enclosures and 'from' prices (2026 meeting, checked 18 October 2026) · Horse & Hound: guide to the Royal Ascot enclosures · Eventmasters (official hospitality supplier): Royal Ascot hospitality prices, per person plus VAT (checked 18 October 2026) · Eventmasters: Royal Ascot private box 2027
At a glance
One day, per person. Public prices are 2026 'from' prices; hospitality is 2027 'from' prices plus VAT. Dress codes are Ascot's 2026 rules as reported by Horse & Hound; across every enclosure, denim, trainers, shorts, leggings and slogans are banned.
| Enclosure | Price per person | Dress code | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windsor | From £37 | No formal code; jacket and hat encouraged | Lawns, live music, picnics with Champagne allowed |
| Village (Thu to Sat) | From £85 | Jacket, tie, full-length trousers; hat or fascinator | Trackside in the centre of the course, after-party until 9pm |
| Queen Anne | From £99 | Full-length suit, collared shirt, tie; hat or fascinator, straps, covered midriff | Grandstand, trackside lawns, Parade Ring, Bandstand |
| On 5 (Queen Anne) | From £1,200 + VAT | As Queen Anne | Queen Anne ticket, four-course lunch, free bar, afternoon tea |
| Private box (Queen Anne) | About £1,340 (box of ten) | As Queen Anne | Queen Anne tickets, box and balcony, lunch, free bar, parking |
| Royal Enclosure | Members' badges; restaurants from £750 + VAT | Black, grey or navy morning dress, waistcoat, tie, top hat; hat (10cm base or more), skirts just above the knee or longer | Royal Enclosure lawns and gardens, restaurant packages include a day badge |
Sources: Ascot: Royal Ascot enclosures and 'from' prices (2026 meeting, checked 18 October 2026) · Horse & Hound: guide to the Royal Ascot enclosures · Horse & Hound: Royal Ascot 2026 dress code for every enclosure · Eventmasters (official hospitality supplier): Royal Ascot hospitality prices, per person plus VAT (checked 18 October 2026)
Side by side
| Windsor | Village | Queen Anne | On 5 | Private box | Royal Enclosure | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per person | From £37 | From £85 | From £99 | From £1,200 + VAT | About £1,340 | From £750 + VAT |
| Food | Bring a picnic | Street food, bars | Bars, restaurants | Four courses, free bar | Four courses, free bar | Lunch, free bar |
| Days | All five | Thu to Sat | All five | All five | All five | All five |
| Best for | Value | A party | The classic day | Food | A big birthday | Once in a lifetime |
Questions
Tuesday 15 to Saturday 19 June 2027, at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire. The Gold Cup is on Thursday 17 June. Gates open at 10.30am, the Royal Procession arrives at 2pm and the first race is at 2.30pm.
For the 2026 meeting, public tickets started at about £37 for the Windsor Enclosure, £85 for the Village and £99 for the Queen Anne Enclosure, rising to £47 and £110 for the last Windsor and Queen Anne tickets. Hospitality with lunch starts at about £345 plus VAT a person and runs past £2,000 in the Royal Enclosure restaurants.
Not on general sale. The Royal Enclosure is for members and their guests: a new member needs two existing members to sponsor them. If you do not know any members, a Royal Enclosure restaurant package, such as the Wyndham Club or the Parade Ring, includes a guest badge for the day.
For hospitality, usually Saturday. Ascot's own Veranda package in 2024 cost £959 a person on the Saturday against £1,319 on Thursday and Friday. Thursday, Gold Cup day, tends to be the most expensive.
By train. South Western Railway runs direct from London Waterloo to Ascot in about 52 minutes, and from Reading in about 27. The racecourse is a seven to ten minute walk from Ascot station. Ascot is outside the Oyster zone, so buy a ticket.
It depends on the enclosure. Windsor has no formal code. The Village needs a jacket and tie for men and a hat or fascinator for women. Queen Anne needs a full suit and tie, and a hat or fascinator. The Royal Enclosure needs morning dress and a top hat for men and a proper hat for women. Denim, trainers and shorts are banned everywhere.
In the Royal Enclosure, under-10s are not allowed and 10 to 17 year olds may go with their parents only from Thursday to Saturday, according to Horse & Hound. The public enclosures have their own rules, so check on ascot.com when you book.
Sources: Ascot: Royal Ascot enclosures and 'from' prices (2026 meeting, checked 18 October 2026) · Ascot: Royal Enclosure membership (checked 18 October 2026) · Horse & Hound: guide to the Royal Ascot enclosures · Horse & Hound: Royal Ascot 2026 dress code for every enclosure · Eventmasters (official hospitality supplier): Royal Ascot hospitality prices, per person plus VAT (checked 18 October 2026) · Engage Hospitality: guide to Royal Ascot (2027 dates, boxes, Royal Enclosure) · Visit Windsor: Royal Ascot travel · Eventmasters: getting to Ascot Racecourse
How we chose: the four enclosures Ascot runs at the Royal Meeting, plus the two hospitality options that change the day most, each priced per person from ascot.com, Horse & Hound or an official hospitality supplier's 2027 listing. No one paid to be included. Every price and specification links to where we checked it on 18 October 2026. How we choose.
The journey · RailLuxury train journeysFive great trains, from the Orient Express to the Andes.The journey · CitiesOne day in RomeSunrise to midnight: the walk, the tasting menus and a view of St Peter's.The journey · IslandsThe Maldives, month by monthWhen the sea is glass, when the mantas come, and when the price halves.The journey · WildThe Great MigrationWhere two million animals will be, and where you should be waiting.
