The Best Sporting Events Reachable on Day Trips from London
London hosts some of the biggest and best sporting events on the planet, with Wembley, the FA Cup Final and the London Marathon among them. Yet, you might decide that you want to combine some action with a day trip away from the capital, in which case the following are some of the events to consider.
“Ascot Race Course” (CC BY 2.0) by Ndecam
Horse Racing at Royal Ascot
You might be surprised to see how many top-class horse racing events are held close to London. In the case of Royal Ascot, this historic meeting takes place at Ascot Racehorse which is in the town of the same name and is about an hour from London by road or train. Held in June each year, Royal Ascot is one of the most exciting social occasions of the year and is regularly attended by members of the Royal Family.
Horse racing is an important part of British culture and you’ll find other meetings like the Cheltenham Festival within easy travelling distance. This sport is widely covered on TV too, while you can also find entertainment such as online slots including Ruby Walsh Champion’s Gold slot. Developed by Cayetano, it’s set on a racetrack and with the jockey’s accessories among the key symbols. This combination of a fruit machine and a horse racing theme is a powerful mixture of two of the nation’s favourite pastimes.
A Variety of Marathons
Whether you want to run the 26.2 miles or watch others doing it, England is filled with marathons you could attend. The London Marathon is the most famous and it’s been run in April virtually every year since 1981. However, this list of the UK’s top marathons includes Brighton, which occurs a few weeks before the one in London and attracts big crowds for a festival-like atmosphere. Around 13,000 runners are expected in Brighton this year, with the race scheduled for 7 April.
Farnham and Milton Keynes are a couple of the other marathon locations you could reach from London quickly. Each of the country’s marathon routes is unique and offers different challenges to the runners. The event in Milton Keynes goes through the city’s paths and cycling routes, making it a smoother run with fewer of the steep sections found in other city marathons.
Source: PxHere
Cricket Games in Southampton
As with most sports, the biggest and best cricket grounds in the UK are based in London. This is where you can go to the Kia Oval and Lords. But if you like the idea of getting away from the capital for a day, the Rose Bowl in Southampton has the largest capacity in the rest of the country. It holds 25,000 when temporary seating is added and is the home of the Hampshire County Cricket Club.
The Southern Brave men’s and women’s teams play 100-ball cricket here, giving a faster alternative if you want to see a shorter game in Southampton. If you’re planning to also play some golf, you’ll find a course here as well as a four-star hotel for those visitors who want to stay here overnight.
There are many other terrific sporting options you can reach from London in just an hour or two and that let you see more of the country while you catch some