Here’s your definitive guide of what to do in Newmarket this coming Bank Holiday Weekend. Make the most of the extra day off and take part in some fantastic activities and things to see and do in town. There’s something for everyone!

Go Racing at the July Course

This Bank Holiday Weekend there are two fantastic days of racing to enjoy with the Family Fun Day taking place on Friday, 23rd August while the very last fixture at the July Course takes place the next day with the Summer Saturday Live.

On Friday, there’ll be loads of activities and games for the children to get involved in as well as a special visit by Paddington  at various intervals throughout the day! It’s set to be a thrilling afternoon of racing and Newmarket Racecourse will be hosting family sports day races and the Horseplay Roadshow which gives children the chance to learn through role play and interactive games! The best part about the Family Fun Days is that Under-18s get free entry to the racecourse! Find out more by clicking here.

On Saturday, you have the chance to sing along as Massoake bring you The Greatest Show! This is a wonderful addition to an exciting day at the races with the entertainment starting shortly after the last race. Massaoke is your chance to sing your hearts out to some of the best hits from stage and screen. Find out more about The Greatest Show with Massaoke by clicking here. 

Enjoy a leisurely picnic

Make the most of the Summer Bank Holiday by spending time outside enjoying a fabulous Picnic on the Lawn at Bedford Lodge Hotel and Spa. Take part in lawn games like giant Jenga or a leisurely game of Croquet before tucking into a decadent feast packed into your Rattan Forage Basket. The Picnic on the Lawn is a great way to unwind and relax and there are few better settings to do so than in the manicured surroundings at the Bedford Lodge Hotel and Spa.

Each delicious picnic hamper is complete with a soft drink, freshly baked filled rolls, plain and fruit scones and a selection of delicious pastries. Think of things like brownie and raspberry Eton mess, Chocolate and coffee eclairs, a selection of macarons. An outdoor dining experience and luxury afternoon tea not to be missed! To book your Picnic on the Lawn or to find out more then click here.

Take a tour of The National Stud

Spend 90 minutes exploring this fantastic attraction and learning a bit more about the bloodstock world and the importance of The National Stud. This fascinating look at life on this 500-acre property includes a visit to the Stallion Unit where you will be able to see the likes of Royal Ascot record-breaker Rajasinghe and the  Group One winning Aclaim. At this time of the year they are enjoying their holidays with time spent out in their paddocks enjoying sunshine on their backs.

There is also the chance to meet mares and foals with a number of Southern Hemisphere mares calling The National Stud home over the summer as they prepare to welcome their new arrivals. The retired legends Lord Windermere, a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, and Jack The Giant, another accomplished National Hunt performer, have also become very used to all the attention they receive from visitors on our tours. Over the bank Holiday weekend, National Stud Tours will be running at 11am and 1pm on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.  Click here to book your tour of The National Stud.

Visit Palace House

This summer, Palace House is home to a fantastic exhibition of work by renowned animal anatomist George Stubbs. Pop along to the Moller Gallery to view some of the work on loan from the Yale  Centre for British Art. The exhibition will illuminate aspects of Stubb’s life and interest. There are also paintings by Stubbs to cast an eye over in the Fred Packard Museum and Galleries of British Sporting Art. The remains of King Charles II sporting palace is also hosting  The Thirty Assassins: Faces of the Palio by Marco Delogu which is a gritty and remarkable series of portraits of jockeys who have ridden in the historic Palio in Siena.

There’s loads for the children to see and do as well with the chance to don some silks and jump on the racehorse simulator to experience what it’s like to ride like a jockey as well as the chance to meet Oscar the Shetland pony who has called Palace House home this summer. The horses in the Retraining of Racehorses yard are also keen to show off their new skills as part of their transition from racehorse into other disciplines with daily demonstrations taking place.

The children will also be able to take part in the Summer of Science activities taking place at Palace House. On Saturday 24th August at 11am-12.30pm and again at 1.30pm-3pm the Horse vs Human workshop takes place which will explore the differences between the human anatomy and the horse

Palace House is also home to two of the pieces as part of the Saddle Up Art Trail which is aiming to raise funds for the Animal Health Trust. Grab your Art Trail map at the front desk and get exploring. See if you can spot all 17 pieces dotted around town. There are great prizes to be won as well!

While you’re visiting, be sure to pop into The Tack Room, the on-site restaurant at Palace House, for a bite to eat or a delicious slice of cake and a cup of tea.

Thrills and spills at the Newmarket Soapbox Derby

There has been loads of excitement around the Newmarket Soapbox Derby and on Sunday 25th August the teams entered have the chance to earn bragging rights as they see which soapbox makes it’s way down Warren Hill in the quickest time!  The teams have had a few weeks to prepare and we are sure to see some amazing designs and  themes for the soapboxes. Now it is up to the brave drivers to avoid the obstacles and get down the  famous Newmarket landmark in good time.

This promises to be a fantastic day out for the whole family and there will be food stalls and entertainment galore as the teams battle it out to be crowned the winners. Expect a few thrills and spills! Tickets for the Newmarket Soapbox Derby can be bought by clicking here or by visiting the Newmarket Town Council offices at the King Edward VII Memorial Hall.

Champagne Afternoon Tea & Tour at the Jockey Club Rooms

On Sunday afternoon, the Jockey Club Rooms will be welcoming guest for the penultimate Champagne Afternoon Tea & Tour date for the year. You will be taken on a guided tour of the historic Jockey Club Rooms where you will be able to admire this prestigious venue and cast an eye over some incredible pieces of art as well as a collection of memorabilia that truly celebrates the wonderful history of the Sport of Kings. Wander the corridors of this private member’s only establishment and learn more about the origins of the Jockey Club before enjoying a sumptuous Champagne Afternoon Tea.

To secure your places for the Champagne Afternoon Tea & Tour at the Jockey Club Rooms then click here. 

Spend the morning on a Short Head Tour

Go behind the scenes inside a racing yard to learn all about what it takes to get a horse ready to perform on the racecourse. This fantastic experience allows you to go onto the famed Newmarket training grounds with time spent on Warren Hill with your Discover Newmarket tour guide. Learn all about the  processes involved in getting a horse fit for a race as well as the history of the gallops all while watching some of the town’s equine athletes make their way up Warren Hill. It really is a sight to behold.

You’ll also be able to spy some of Newmarket’s landmarks like Tattersalls and the Rowley Mile racecourse from the top of the hill as well as the acres of stud land that surrounds Newmarket. The Short Head Tour also includes a visit to a trainer’s yard with Julia Fielden confirmed  for this visit which means we’re off to her Harraton Stud yard in nearby Exning for what is always an interesting, and fun, visit!

From there it’s off to The National Stud for a tour to finish off a fantastic morning. This popular half-day experience is great for horse lovers or anyone wanting to experience something new. To book your Short Head Tour then click here.