The Winning Formula: Sharp Suits & Stylish Stays

Home to four unforgettable days each March, the Cheltenham Festival brings the very best of jump racing to the Cotswolds; and one of the sport’s most electric atmospheres. Think mud-flecked glamour, passionate crowds, and the kind of camaraderie that only a good horse race can stir up.

What to Wear - The first big racing event of the season, and if you’re lucky, you might just be serenaded by the first few rays of spring (but chances are there’ll be a chill in the air so wrap up accordingly!). With no strict dress code, the Cheltenham crowd have always leaned into tweed and textural wool suits and separates - think well-heeled country gent with an eye for fine details. While a shirt and tie offers traditional polish, a tactile rollneck sweater will add a more relaxed dimension to a grey flannel suit or wool separates. An overcoat is non-negotiable, whether it’s a belted trench or something more substantial, and don’t forget to bookend the look with a dashing fedora.

Where to Stay - A heartbeat from Cheltenham Racecourse, Ellenborough Park plays its part in the drama of race week. This grand country house turned hotel is all sweeping lawns and honey-hued Cotswold stone, with views that stretch across the gallops. When the last race thunders past, the grandstand fades, and a different kind of thrill begins. A fireside drink in hand, supper that lingers longer than it should, and a night that stretches in quiet luxury. Race-day rush, now softened into something utterly satisfying.

The birthplace of British racing, a title it wears well. Newmarket's two courses, the Rowley Mile and the July Course, have been hosting Classics and Guineas since the 17th century. The 2,000 Guineas, 1,000 Guineas, and the July Festival are the highlights, but honestly, any excuse to come here is a good one.

What to Wear - Newmarket, the cradle of kings and thoroughbreds, doesn’t have a dress code per se, but thoroughly encourages that one dresses for the occasion. With it occurring in the second week of July, you can seize the summer vibe by donning one of our pastel linen suits for what is essentially a sartorial mic drop. Our two-button Cooper suit comes in a variety of linen tones from understated beige to punchy pink, offering lightness and breathability in equal measure. Pair with a crisp white shirt to create a clean contrast and finish the look with a bold geometric pattern tie and clashing pocket square, or even a boutonniere if you’re feeling fruity.

Where to Stay - In the heart of racing country, Bedford Lodge Hotel & Spa lives and breathes Newmarket. Once a private home for royalty, it now opens its doors to those who like their heritage served with a side of indulgence. Watch the morning gallops, slip into the spa, and dine as the sun dips behind the training grounds. This is racing culture, wrapped in heritage, indulgence, and a wink of mischief.

Epsom Downs is where legends are made. Home to The Derby and The Oaks, two of the oldest and most prestigious Classics in the racing world, it's a place steeped in history and charged with anticipation every time the gates open. Derby Day in early June is the one: a day that manages to feel both grand and wonderfully, chaotically alive.

What to Wear - Epsom in June is wonderfully chaotic and charged, but one’s style calls for more reserved formality. If you’re in the Grandstand Enclosure then the official advice is to ‘dress to feel your best’, but for racegoers in the Queen Elizabeth II stand, the style is much the same as Royal Ascot - morning dress as standard, including a top hat. Morning dress is our forte, and we have dressed everyone from royalty to rock stars. While formalwear might seem prescriptive, one can actually get very creative with waistcoat, tie, and pocket square choices, as well as different coat and trouser configurations. We’d opt for a cashmere morning coat for breathability, a double-breasted linen waistcoat, and classic cashmere stripe dress trousers with shiny black Oxfords. Sartorial tradition at its finest.

Where to Stay - Thirty minutes from Epsom and approximately a million miles from the chaos of Derby Day, Gravetye Manor has been doing things properly since 1598. The sort of place where dinner is Michelin-starred, gardens are designed by a Victorian legend, and every little detail has already been considered. Set within 1,000 acres of Sussex woodland, it’s the kind of base that makes the whole trip feel considered. Come for the Derby. Stay because you want to prolong the fun.

Royal Ascot needs little introduction, five days in June where the racing is world-class and the fashion is equally competitive. But Ascot isn't just a summer affair; the King George weekend in July and the QIPCO British Champions Day in October are equally worth dressing up for. Consider this your year-round excuse to get dressed up.

What to Wear - Royal Ascot's Royal Enclosure is the pinnacle of pomp and sartorial sovereignty, where morning dress reigns supreme. Black morning coats with cashmere stripe or herringbone trousers and a black topper is the configuration you’ll see the most, but King Charles has a penchant for a light grey three-piece, while the navy blue morning suit was a recent admission. Elegance comes from having a morning suit that fits perfectly, while character and confidence comes from one’s selection of accessories, the most important being the waistcoat. Combining double-breasted styles in linen, silk, or wool gabardine with a complementary tie and pocket square will ensure you’re in the winner’s circle.

Where to Stay -For those who prefer their race-day glamour with a side of riverside ease, Relais Henley delivers both beautifully. Start with a morning stroll along the Thames, then raise a glass of champagne to hopeful winnings before heading off to the track. Return for a perfectly unhurried evening, reminiscing on all the day’s excitement. A stylish stay with just the right amount of personality.

The name really does say it all. Perched high on the West Sussex Downs, this is summer racing at its most cinematic. The Qatar Goodwood Festival in late July and early August are ones to mark in the diary: five days of top-tier flat racing with a festival atmosphere that feels entirely its own.

What to Wear - Goodwood is glorious in every respect, not least the style on show. For one of the most prestigious racing events of the summer, the dress code is actually relatively relaxed, with gents in the Richmond Enclosure required to wear a suit jacket, long-sleeved collared shirt, tie, and full-length trousers (no sportswear). So the question is suit or separates? If opting for the former, a lightweight linen style such as our Cooper or Newport suits in a neutral hue always brings a great balance of relaxed formality. With separates, pair some cream tapered dress trousers with our French blue herringbone wool and linen Cooper jacket and finish with a punchy tie, pocket square, and Panama hat.

Where to Stay - Goodwood’s races are as much about the setting as the sport, rolling Downs, summer light, and a sense of occasion that lingers long after the final race. Park House Hotel & Spa places you in the heart of West Sussex countryside, perfect for those who want to be close to the action, without sacrificing a calming place to rest your heads. If sea air and old‑world architecture are more your post‑track pace, Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa offers both as the perfect pair. Settle in, slow down and sink into the spa for the perfect end to the day.

York Racecourse is widely considered the finest Flat racing venue in Britain, high praise, and entirely deserved. The Ebor Festival in August is the jewel in the crown, a four-day meet that draws the best horses, the best hats, and the best company, set against the backdrop of a city that knows how to do things properly.

What to Wear - York's Ebor Festival calls for smart, polished dressing in the County Stand and Premier areas: a tailored jacket, collared shirt, and tie are the baseline, so keep it sharp but comfortable with lightweight wool or linen-blend suits in classic navy, grey, or neutral hues, paired with a crisp shirt and a silk tie. Opting for a linen shirt with a textural handle can give the look some extra depth, or a subtle pinstripe cotton style will have the same effect. Polished loafers or brogues can dress down the look versus a pair of Oxfords, while bookending the ensemble with a Panama hat lends it some nonchalant authority.

Where to Stay - Just outside York’s city walls, Middlethorpe Hall is a Georgian house that feels perfectly at home on race day. Once the track calls it a day, head back for peaceful gardens, hushed corridors, and dinners by candlelight. The races may roar all day, but there’s no harm in sneaking in a little calm of your own.

Newbury Racecourse punches well above its weight. Home to the Lockinge Stakes and the Hennessy Gold Cup, it hosts some of the most keenly contested races in the calendar across both Flat and Jump seasons. Serious racing, without the circus, which means the focus stays exactly where it should: on the horses, on your outfit and on your glass.

What to Wear - Newbury keeps things refreshingly straightforward: the Premier Enclosure expects smart attire—no ripped denim, no sportswear—but it's relaxed enough to allow smart shorts and trainers on warmer days. But just because the sartorial bar is lower than other racing events, doesn’t mean you need to lower yours! Aim for tailored trousers or chinos with a collared shirt and relaxed unstructured blazer, or a lightweight linen suit. A tie isn’t mandatory; so you could consider a camp collar shirt for a Mediterranean feel. Oxfords are probably overkill so stick to loafers or derbies when it comes to shoes.

Where to Stay - For race-goers who notice the details, The Vineyard pairs Newbury’s sporting heritage with a genuine love of food and wine. Thoughtful service, a world-class cellar, and corners made for a final glass: after a day at the races, there’s nothing better than a proper wine menu with a little more choice. It’s a stay that turns race day into something to savour.