Cheltenham Festival Accommodation

Every March, the same scramble: 250,000-plus racegoers descend on Cheltenham for Festival week, and every bed within trotting distance of Prestbury Park triples in price or vanishes entirely. The racegoers who do this every year know the move — stay just outside the blast radius. Oakwood Hotel sits about 8 miles from the racecourse on the Gloucester side, with stylish rooms, proper food, free parking and none of the Festival-week madness at your door.

The essentials: Cheltenham Festival 2027 runs Tuesday 16 to Friday 19 March, finishing with Gold Cup Day on Friday 19 March — the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup goes off at 4pm. Oakwood Hotel offers Festival accommodation roughly 20–25 minutes’ drive from the course on a normal day, with free on-site parking and full dining in-house.

Why racegoers stay on the Gloucester side

Here’s what the Festival veterans understand and first-timers learn expensively: during race week, everywhere near the course is a compromise. Cheltenham town hotels charge peak-of-peak rates, minimum stays and still put you inside the traffic. Staying a few miles out gets you:

• Sane rates — [CONFIRM Festival-week pricing] compared with racecourse-adjacent prices
• A guaranteed parking space — free, on-site, no race-week parking roulette
• A quiet night — Cheltenham town during the Festival does not sleep; Twigworth does
• A real dinner — while Cheltenham’s restaurants run at capacity all week, our kitchen is 20 steps from your room; see [our dining venues](dining)
• 10% off booking direct — on top of everything above

Kyle Chapman’s Google review happens to describe exactly the stay a Festival week needs: “Fantastic week long stay here… service was second to none.”

 Getting to the racecourse from Oakwood

Options, honestly ranked for race days:

| Route | Notes |

• | Drive + racecourse parking | ~8 miles via A40/A4019; allow extra time on race days — traffic builds from late morning [CONFIRM racecourse parking pre-booking advice] |
• | Taxi / pre-booked car | Book return journeys in advance — Festival week taxis are gold dust after the last race |
• | Train | Gloucester station (2.4 miles from us) to Cheltenham Spa, then the racecourse shuttle — the veteran’s route home after a long day |
• | Designated driver | The free parking here makes one sober hero per party a genuinely economical plan |
• A practical note we’d rather tell you now than have you discover Friday evening: after the Gold Cup, everything leaving Cheltenham moves slowly. Build it into your dinner booking — or better, book dinner with us for 8pm and let the traffic clear while someone else drives.

Room + racing: how to build the week

• The full four days: Tuesday (Champion Day) through Friday (Gold Cup) — book all four nights early; Festival week fills further out than any other week in our calendar [CONFIRM booking pattern]
• Gold Cup weekend: arrive Thursday, race Friday, recover Saturday, Sunday lunch before home — the civilised itinerary
• The day-tripper upgrade: racing one day, but staying the night before and after transforms it — no 6am start, no post-races drive

Rooms combine modern comfort with a warm country feel — see rooms and book direct   rooms  for 10% off. Groups doing the Festival together: ask about room blocks via our events team] occasions-events  event-enquiry.

Beyond the racing

Non-racing partners and rest days are well served: Gloucester Cathedral, the Quays and the historic docks are ten minutes south; the Cotswolds start east of Cheltenham. And Festival week evenings at our bar have their own form — everyone’s got a story about the 16/1 shot that nearly did it.

Festival 2027 is 16–19 March. Rooms will not wait. [Check availability and book direct](rooms) or call +44 1452 905452 — and if you’re planning dinner after the races, see our [Cheltenham Festival dining page](/cheltenham-festival-dining/) too.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Oakwood Hotel from Cheltenham Racecourse?

About 8 miles — roughly 20–25 minutes on a normal day via the A40. Race days add time, so leave earlier than feels necessary.

When is the Cheltenham Festival 2027?

Tuesday 16 to Friday 19 March 2027, ending with Gold Cup Day on Friday 19 March. The Gold Cup itself runs at 4pm.

Why stay in Gloucester rather than Cheltenham for the Festival?

Better rates, guaranteed free parking, quieter nights and bookable dinners — Cheltenham town during Festival week is expensive, loud and full. Eight miles buys a lot of comfort.

Is parking free at the hotel during Festival week?

Yes — free and on-site all week, which during Cheltenham’s busiest week of the year is worth real money.

How early should I book Festival accommodation?

Earlier than anything else in the calendar — many regulars rebook for the following year on checkout. [CONFIRM typical sell-out timing.] For 2027, book now.

Do you do minimum stays during the Festival?

[CONFIRM policy.] Call +44 1452 905452 for straight answers on Festival-week terms.

Can I get breakfast before racing?

Yes — [CONFIRM race-week breakfast timings]. A proper breakfast before a day at Prestbury Park is not optional; it’s strategy.

Can I book dinner after the races?

Yes, and you should — our kitchen serves through the evening and an 8pm table lets the racecourse traffic clear. Book tables ahead for Festival week.

Can a group book rooms together for the Festival?

Yes — room blocks for racing parties can be arranged; enquire early via the events team.

Is the hotel near Gloucester station for the train to Cheltenham?

Yes — Gloucester station is 2.4 miles away, with trains to Cheltenham Spa and the racecourse shuttle from there. The smart route home after Gold Cup Day.