Kempton Park Racecourse
Home of the King George VI Chase — year-round racing on floodlit all-weather and turf tracks in Sunbury-on-Thames
Home of the King George VI Chase — year-round racing on floodlit all-weather and turf tracks in Sunbury-on-Thames
Kempton Park has staged horse racing since 1878, but its defining moment arrives every Boxing Day when the King George VI Chase draws tens of thousands to watch the finest steeplechasers in training tackle three miles of fences. Desert Orchid won it four times; Kauto Star managed five.
The racecourse sits on 210 acres of flat grassland just 13 miles west of central London, with its own railway station at the gates. A floodlit all-weather polytrack means racing continues year-round, day and evening, alongside the traditional turf jumps course.
Kempton Park owes its existence to S.H. Hyde, a Victorian businessman and Conservative Party agent who spotted the 210-acre Kempton Manor estate for sale during a carriage drive through Surrey in June 1870. Hyde leased the grounds in 1872 and spent six years converting the parkland into a racecourse. The first meeting took place in July 1878, and within a decade the course had attracted enough prestige to warrant a Royal Box, built in just three weeks for a visit by the Prince of Wales in 1889.
The racecourse suffered a devastating fire in 1932 that destroyed the Grandstand, restaurant, Members' Stand and Tattersalls bar. During the First World War it served as a military transit depot, and throughout the Second World War the entire site was requisitioned as a prisoner-of-war camp. Racing resumed in 1946, and the King George VI Chase was moved to its now-famous Boxing Day slot, transforming the course's reputation.
Kempton stages over 70 fixtures each year across two distinct tracks. The turf jumps course hosts National Hunt racing through the winter, headlined by the Christmas Festival and the Grade 1 King George VI Chase on Boxing Day. The all-weather polytrack, installed during a major redevelopment in 2005–06, enables flat racing year-round under floodlights, with afternoon and evening meetings continuing regardless of weather or ground conditions.
The King George is the course's crown jewel and the second most important steeplechase in the National Hunt calendar after the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Run over three miles, it has been won by the greatest chasers in history — Desert Orchid took the race four times between 1986 and 1990, while Kauto Star set a record with five victories. Southern Hero, the inaugural winner in 1937, remains the oldest horse to win the race at twelve years old.
Kempton Park's greatest practical advantage is its own railway station. Kempton Park station sits just 200 yards from the main entrance, with South Western Railway services from London Waterloo taking around 40 minutes. Direct trains also run from Clapham Junction, Wimbledon and Kingston, making it one of the most accessible racecourses in the country.
For drivers, the course is less than a mile from Junction 1 of the M3, reached via Junction 12 of the M25. Free parking is available on all race days and is signposted on approach. The racecourse also hosts a weekly general market on Thursdays and the Sunbury Antiques Market on the second and last Tuesday of every month, both worth combining with a visit to the area.
Under 18s go free on the majority of race days. RacePass members aged 18–24 save up to 50% on admission
Boxing Day at Kempton sells out fast. Tickets go on sale in the autumn — set a reminder and book early for the best enclosure options.
Kempton Park station is right at the gates. Services run every 30 minutes from Waterloo, and parking the car avoids any post-race traffic queues.
Floodlit evening fixtures offer a relaxed introduction to racing with lower ticket prices and a lively atmosphere under the lights.
The parade ring is open before each race and lets you study the horses up close. Get there 20 minutes before the first race for the best views.
Children under 18 go free at most Kempton meetings. Combined with the train from central London, it makes for an affordable family day out.
London Travel Writer · 12+ years covering UK attractions and tourism
Last reviewed: March 9, 2026
