Newmarket Tourist Information

National Horseracing Museum Newmarket

Newmarket lives and breathes horseracing. This attractive Suffolk market town is the headquarters of thoroughbred breeding, racing and training and The National Horseracing Museum for Britain is aptly situated here on Newmarket's High Street. Newmarket horseracing museum explores the unique history of racing in Newmarket from its earliest origins and links with royalty particularly the town's links with Charles II who was a great enthusiast of the sport and spearheaded the boom in horse racing from 1660. The lives of jockey and thoroughbred heroes past and present feature in galleries from Victorian jockey champion Fred Arch to famous names like Red Rum and Lester Piggott.

Premier special exhibitions at The National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket are on show through the year and these often include outstanding British Sporting Art. Paintings by foremost painter of horses George Stubbs (1724-1806) sometimes feature in exhibitions in the museum. In The Practical Gallery visitors can find out about what life is like for those working in the sport from jockeys and trainers to stable lads and trainers.

Every aspect of the sport of horse racing is explored in this superb national museum including aspects like The History of Betting. The National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket also offers a selection of themed horseracing tours including Classic Tours of racing establishments in Newmarket, an all-morning Private Stud minibus tour and the All Day Racing Tour, the museum's best seller featuring visits to the gallops, training yard and the horses' swimming pool. Essential visiting, The National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket is a unique insight into the dedication and hardwork involved behind scenes in the sport of horseracing which alongside football and golf is one of Britain's favourite longstanding sports with a rich history.

Find the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket centrally situated in the heart of bustling High Street. A gift shop and cafe are both on-site. Alongside the National Stud located here at Newmarket, indicative of just how important Newmarket is as a world centre for horseracing, there are around a further 65 stud farms in the Newmarket area including the powerhouse of Sheikh Mohammed's breeding empire, the Dalham Hall Stud.

Newmarket Racecourses

Newmarket is more than a British centre for horseracing, it is also a world centre for horseracing with a rich history linked to Royalty. The two Newmarket Racecourses are the Rowley Mile and the July Course. The first grandstand on Newmarket Heath, an ideal spot for racing with open heathland and spring turf, was built by James I in the 17th century. The first race at Newmarket took place on 18th March 1622. It was Charles II however who really propelled the sport of horseracing to great heights in Newmarket and Britain and layed down specific rules for the sport. The 'Merry Monarch' Charles II arrived in Newmarket in 1660, building Palace House and visiting Newmarket twice yearly.

Keen rider Charles II often rode around what is now the July Course and he chose the site for the Rowley Mile, named after his favourite hack 'Old Rowley. From these beginnings Newmarket evolved into the international horseracing centre it is today with the Jockey Club setting up in Newmarket in 1750. The history of Newmarket Racecourses, which features many 'firsts' from the introduction of the Tote to hosting the first ever race with the Photo Finish is fascinating reading, detailed in full via the Newmarket Racecourses website.

Racing fixtures at Newmarket are extensive through the Spring Racing, Summer Racing and Autumn Racing seasons. Summer racing at Newmarket sees the July Course come alive with a premier programme of horse racing, festivals and events. Racing hightlight in summer is the Newmarket July Festival with its great party atmosphere featuring world class racing and great fashiion competitions. The summer Newmarket Nights are widely considered to be one of the best Friday nights out in the East of England! Open air concerts and fireworks follow the evenings' racing at Newmarket Nights.

Spring racing fixtures at Newmarket are on the historic Rowley Mile, fondly known as the 'Course of Champions'. World class racing and facilities are at this Newmarket Racecourse. Autumn Racing at Newmarket sees further world class fixtures on the Rowley Mile including the legendary Cambridgeshire Meeting. A shuttle bus service from Newmarket town centre and station to the racecourses operates during all racedays. Conference and events facilities at Newmarket include the cutting edge Rowley Mile Conference Centre. Facilities for banquets, weddings and parties are also catered for at Newmarket Racecourses. A huge choice of stylish restaurants, bistros and champagne bars feature around both the Premier Enclosure and Grandstand/Paddock Enclosure at Newmarket Racecourses.

The National Stud Guided Tours

Another unique experience in Newmarket offering visitors the chance to see behind the scenes of a working Thoroughbred stud farm is at The National Stud in Newmarket. Tours of the National Stud in Newmarket are available twice daily from mid-February to late September annually and at set times during October (see details and dates via The National Stud website).

What visitors see on the tour is dependent on the time of year you visit. Each tour, which lasts around 75 minutes, takes in the Stallion Unit where you'll see the stallions currently in residence and the Foaling Unit and Nursery Yards. The Foaling Unit and the resident miniature Shetland ponies at The National Stud in Newmarket are always a hit with younger children visiting.

Special combined tours are also available like the Newmarket Nights Tour which includes both a guided tour of the stud alongside high tea then an evening of racing accompanied by an experienced guide. The Wavertree's Coffee and Gift shop are within the stud complex which is situated 2 miles south west of Newmarket adjacent to the July Racecourse, clearly signposted from Newmarket centre.

Newmarket Hotels & Newmarket Racecourses Travel & Transfer

Newmarket is situated on the Suffolk and Cambridgeshire border just 12 miles from Cambridge and is well connected to local major roads including the M11, A11 and the A14. Direct trains to Newmarket run from Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds and international visitors arriving via London Stansted Airport can change at Cambridge station for through trains to Newmarket. (National Express East Anglia). Stansted Airport is around a 40 minute drive from Newmarket. Find Newmarket Tourist Information Centre at Palace House on Palace Street in Newmarket.

Newmarket offers a warm welcome to horseracing fans and holiday visitors. The town has been catering for visitors since Newmarket Racecourses' earliest origins in the 17th century. Todays numerous outstanding Newmarket hotels, B&Bs and self catering holiday cottages offer a premier hospitality service in Britain's top horseracing centre.

Luxury hotels in Suffolk can be found in and around Newmarket, alongside friendly family run Newmarket B&B guesthouses located just minutes from Newmarket Racecourses. Browse Newmarket hotels and accommodation listed here on iknow East Anglia catering for all budgets and tastes and inclusive of ample choice of Newmarket conference hotels with wedding facilities. Traditional inn hotels in Newmarket are also widely available and many Newmarket hotels, inns and B&Bs offer complimentary transport to and from Newmarket Racecourses on racedays as well as all-inclusive Newmarket Racing packages.

A wide choice of travel and transport transfer services operate to Newmarket Racecourses on race days. These include an extensive coach service to Newmarket Racecourses available from Nationl Express as well as a coach transfer service direct from Cambridge station and the Robin Hood Pub Cherry Hinton running on racedays offered by Newmarket Racecourses. Find listings for taxis to Newmarket Racecourses and chauffeur and minibus services to Newmarket Racecourses listed here on iknow East Anglia.