Cartmel Racecourse brings its 2026 season to a close with two August Bank Holiday fixtures: Cartmel Cup Day on Saturday 29 August and the August Monday Season Finale on Monday 31 August.
The meeting combines jump racing with Cartmel's distinctive picnic-style atmosphere, food and drink concessions, a funfair and easy access to the village. It is also one of the South Lakes' strongest late-summer weekend events, so tickets, accommodation and camping are worth arranging early.
This guide was fully checked against Cartmel Racecourse's official race-day, ticket, parking, camping, travel and accessibility information on 6 August 2026. Exact gate-opening and race times had not yet been released, so none have been guessed.
Cartmel August Bank Holiday races at a glance
- Saturday 29 August 2026: Cartmel Cup Day
- Monday 31 August 2026: August Monday Season Finale
- Venue: Cartmel Racecourse, Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 6QF
- Saturday Course Adult: £25
- Saturday Paddock Adult: £35
- Monday Course Adult: £25
- Monday Paddock Adult: £35
- Two-day Course Adult: £45
- Two-day Paddock Adult: £65
- Under 18s: Free general admission with a paying adult on these standard race days
- Race times: Still to be published when checked
Open the separate Cartmel Cup Day event listing or August Monday Season Finale event listing for the essential details for each day.
You can also view the existing Cartmel Racecourse listing and our Cartmel destination guide.
Cartmel Cup Day: Saturday 29 August
Cartmel Cup Day opens the final meeting of the season on Saturday. The current official online booking page lists Course Adult admission at £25 and Paddock Adult admission at £35.
Two-day tickets are also sold from the Saturday booking page. The Course version costs £45 and the Paddock version costs £65, each valid on both 29 and 31 August. That is £5 less than buying the same adult enclosure ticket separately for both days.
Check availability and buy official Cartmel Cup Day tickets.
August Monday Season Finale: Monday 31 August
The August Monday Season Finale is Cartmel's last scheduled race day of 2026. Current official online prices are £25 for a Course Adult ticket and £35 for a Paddock Adult ticket.
Check availability and buy official Season Finale tickets.
Current ticket prices
Ticket Price checked 6 August Access Course Adult, one day £25 Course Enclosure Paddock Adult, one day £35 Paddock and Course Enclosures Two-day Course Adult £45 Course Enclosure on 29 and 31 August Two-day Paddock Adult £65 Both enclosures on 29 and 31 August General admission for under 18s Free with a paying adult Add the required under-18 tickets to the adult bookingPrices and availability can change. The official FAQ says Course and Paddock admission can also be bought on the day, although advance online booking is cheaper. Hospitality, camping, party tents and parking must be pre-booked.
Course or Paddock: which ticket should you choose?
Course Enclosure
The lower-priced Course ticket gives access to the Course Enclosure. This side includes the funfair, food and drink stands, a large screen and betting facilities. It suits families, groups bringing a picnic and visitors who mainly want Cartmel's relaxed outdoor race-day atmosphere.
Paddock Enclosure
A Paddock ticket includes both the Paddock and Course Enclosures. It provides access to the parade ring and additional screens, bookmakers, food and drink outlets and viewing areas. It is the stronger option for visitors who want to see the horses before each race or move between both sides of the venue.
What time do the Cartmel races start?
Times not yet published
Cartmel Racecourse had confirmed both dates but had not added gate-opening or race times when this guide was checked on 6 August 2026. The organiser says race times will be added when available and may be subject to change.
Do not plan around timings from a previous year. Recheck the official 2026 race-day page and your ticket information shortly before travelling.
Is Cartmel Races family-friendly?
Yes. Children are welcomed at normal Cartmel race meetings, and general admission for racegoers aged 17 and under is free when they attend with a paying adult. The required under-18 tickets should still be added to the adult booking.
The funfair operates at every fixture in the Course Enclosure. Fairground rides are separate paid attractions, so free under-18 racecourse admission does not mean the rides are free.
Can you take food and drink?
Visitors may bring picnic furniture, food and drink, including alcohol, for standard outdoor admission areas, subject to the racecourse's rules. Cartmel also hosts a range of food and drink concessions across the site.
Restrictions apply to particular hospitality areas, and gas barbecues or freestanding gas canisters are not permitted. Check the current conditions before packing for the day.
Can dogs attend?
Dogs are welcome in the outdoor areas but must be kept on a lead. They are not permitted inside indoor venues. Assistance dogs are welcome in all areas.
Race days can be busy, noisy and warm, with horses, crowds and a funfair nearby. Consider whether that environment is genuinely suitable for your dog before bringing them.
Parking at Cartmel Racecourse
There are two main approaches:
- Pre-booked enclosure parking: Paddock or Course parking costs £10 per car and must be booked in advance. This also applies to pre-booked Blue Badge spaces.
- Free public parking: Seven Acres provides free public parking on every race day. All on-the-day parking is on the Course side.
Coach and minibus parking is free for vehicles staying for the day. Guaranteed rail-side parking is a separate premium product and may sell out.
Cars may be left overnight until noon the following day, but sleeping in vehicles is prohibited. Campervans and motorhomes cannot remain overnight in the car parks and must use an appropriate booked camping pitch instead.
Driving to Cartmel on race day
The official approach from the M6 is via junction 36 and the A590, following signs towards Barrow and Ulverston before the High Newton and Cartmel Priory turn-off.
Follow the temporary yellow event signs rather than your sat-nav. Several narrow lanes become one-way for race-day traffic, and drivers arriving at the wrong enclosure entrance can be redirected on a lengthy detour.
Follow Paddock signs only when you have qualifying pre-booked Paddock parking or an appropriate hospitality or racing credential. Visitors without pre-booked parking, Course ticket holders, Paddock ticket holders without parking, campers and people paying on the gate should follow Course signs.
Train, shuttle, taxi and cycling
Cark-in-Cartmel is the nearest railway station, approximately two miles from the racecourse. The racecourse points visitors towards an independently operated paid shuttle, but services, dates and times must be checked directly before travel.
Taxis cannot use the main entrances during the one-way traffic operation. The designated taxi and minibus drop-off and pick-up point is opposite Cartmel Priory School on Headless Cross, near the Pig & Whistle. Pre-booking a taxi is strongly recommended.
Bike racks are available in the Village Car Park beside the public toilet block.
Camping for the August meeting
Cartmel has four designated camping areas near the southern end of the racecourse: Scout Hut, Mixed Field, Paddock 2 and Seven Acres. The correct area and pitch type depend on whether you are using a tent, campervan, motorhome, caravan or trailer tent.
The Single Meeting Camping Package is for a minimum of two people and covers four nights for the August meeting. Based on the published arrival and departure rules, that means arrival from 10am on Friday 28 August and departure by 11am on Tuesday 1 September.
Facilities vary by camping area but include toilets, showers, water, pot-wash facilities and Elsan disposal. There is no suggestion that every pitch has an electric hook-up, so book according to the exact pitch description. Tent-only pitches cannot be used by campervans, motorhomes or trailer tents.
Camping packages include race admission for the package holders. Additional adult and under-18 camping or admission tickets may be required depending on the group. Check live availability and the full rules before booking.
Read the official Cartmel camping and motorhome information.
Accessibility
Cartmel Racecourse is mainly outdoors, with limited shelter and uneven grass surfaces. Accessible toilets are provided on both the Paddock and Course sides.
Pre-booked Blue Badge parking costs £10 on either side, with additional free Blue Badge parking available at Seven Acres. The Personal Assistant Scheme can provide an eligible visitor with one complimentary assistant ticket after a Paddock Adult admission ticket is purchased and the application is approved.
Visitors with access requirements should review the official accessibility information and contact the racecourse before booking where necessary.
Visiting Cartmel village during the day
Ticket holders can leave the racecourse to visit Cartmel village and return, provided their ticket is scanned out and back in. Racecourse entrances and track crossings close around 30 minutes before each race, and there is no access between enclosures while a race is taking place.
The village will be exceptionally busy. Avoid obstructing residential streets, private entrances or emergency access, and allow extra time for walking between the racecourse and village businesses.
Where to stay near Cartmel Races
Staying locally makes the two-day meeting much easier, particularly if you intend to enjoy the village or avoid two separate race-day journeys through the traffic system.
Explore the Cumbria Guru guide to Cartmel or browse places to stay across Cumbria.
Search Sykes holiday cottages in and around Cartmel. This is an affiliate link, so Cumbria Guru may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
What to wear and bring
There is no general race-day dress code, although hospitality areas may have their own requirements. Most public areas are grassy and uneven and can become muddy.
- Check the forecast and prepare for rapid weather changes
- Wear footwear suitable for wet or uneven grass
- Bring waterproofs, sun protection and layers
- Keep ticket QR codes easy to access, preferably printed where possible
- Bring a payment card; some on-site purchases are card-only
- Remember there is no cash machine on the racecourse
Responsible betting
Betting is restricted to adults aged 18 and over. Set a budget before the day and treat betting as entertainment rather than a way to make money.
Final checks before travelling
Recheck the official pages for race times, ticket availability, parking, weather-related changes and camping instructions. The most important rule for drivers is simple: follow the temporary event signs, not the route suggested by your sat-nav.
Last researched and checked: 6 August 2026.
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