Goodwood Racecourse sits on the Goodwood estate above Chichester in West Sussex — a sweeping downland track famous for its scenery and its relaxed linen-suit style. Note this is the horse-racing course, separate from the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which is a motorsport event on the same estate.

This guide covers the course’s history, Glorious Goodwood, the experience and how to get there.

A short history of the course

Racing has been held on the estate since 1802, founded by the third Duke of Richmond. Its hilltop setting and informal elegance gave rise to the nickname ‘Glorious Goodwood’ and a dress code more Riviera than Royal Enclosure.

The big meeting: the Qatar Goodwood Festival

The Qatar Goodwood Festival — Glorious Goodwood — each summer is five days of top-class flat racing, fashion and festivity. Through the season there are also Three Friday Nights of racing followed by live music.

The course & the experience

Goodwood is a sweeping, undulating right-handed track on open downland, with long-range views and a famously testing run-in. The setting is a large part of the appeal.

The wider racing calendar

Summer is the heart of the season — the Festival, evening meetings and music nights — with selected fixtures across the rest of the year.

Getting to Goodwood Racecourse

Goodwood Racecourse sits about 62 miles from central London, postcode PO18 0PS, reached via the A3 and A286.

By road

From London it is the A3 to the A286 up onto the Downs; the estate roads are narrow and busy on Festival days, with timed routing in place. Official car parks should be pre-booked for the big meetings and fill early, and the queue to leave after the last race is the worst part of the day.

By train

Chichester is the nearest station, around 90 minutes from London Victoria, with a shuttle bus or taxi up to the course on the Downs — a steep last leg best left to a car.

By air, and the private-hire alternative

For visitors arriving by air, Goodwood Racecourse is reachable from Gatwick and Heathrow among others. Rather than gamble on a shuttle queue or rideshare surge when the crowd leaves at once, a fixed-fare transfer to Goodwood Racecourse collects you at the door, drops as close to the gate as permitted and has a driver arranged for the exit.

The calm way to do race day

Fixed-price, pre-booked transfers to Goodwood Racecourse (PO18 0PS) — executive cars for couples, MPVs and minibuses for groups, no surge and no late-night premium. Your driver is allocated when you book and set down as close to the gate as the traffic plan allows, with the pickup arranged in advance for the exit.

Get a fixed Goodwood fare

Practical race-day tips

  • Embrace the dress style. Goodwood is famously relaxed — linen and a panama over morning suits.
  • Sort the exit. The Downs empty slowly; a pre-arranged pickup is invaluable.
  • Dress for the hill. It is high and the weather changes fast.
  • Go as a group. One minibus is cheaper per head and keeps everyone together.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Goodwood Racecourse and what’s the postcode?
It’s on the Goodwood estate above Chichester, West Sussex, about 62 miles south of London. The sat-nav postcode is PO18 0PS. This is the racecourse, separate from the Festival of Speed.
When is Glorious Goodwood?
The Qatar Goodwood Festival runs each summer, usually late July into early August. Check the racecourse for exact dates.
Is there a station at Goodwood?
No — the nearest is Chichester, around 90 minutes from London Victoria, then a shuttle or taxi up to the Downs. A pre-booked car drops at the gate.
How far is it from London?
About 62 miles and roughly 1 hour 45 minutes by car via the A3 and A286.
Is this the Festival of Speed?
No — that is a separate motorsport event on the same estate. This page is for horse racing at Goodwood Racecourse.