Topdeck Travel Blog

It’s as English as tea and scones, red telephone boxes, cricket, roast beef and local pubs.

Enjoy a traditional English day at the races and be part of the pageantry, fashion and fun of Royal Ascot with Topdeck.

If you’re after an excuse to throw on a glamorous outfit, buy a fascinator and sup bubbly while fluttering away a few quid on the gee-gees there’s no better time than this!

Royal Ascot is a national institution and the centrepiece of the British social and racing calendar. Each year, in the third week of June over 300,000 people make the journey to Berkshire for Royal Ascot week.

This year Topdeck is heading to two of Ascot’s most popular race days - the Coronation Stakes and the King Edward VII Stakes on Friday and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes on Saturday.

We arrive in Berkshire mid-morning with enough time for a stroll though the small Ascot Village stopping for a beverage in one of the local pubs and a wander through the shops. All the while there is a buzz of excitement for the day’s events.

We tuck into Topdeck’s picnic lunch served with bubbly to toast the day ahead before it is time for the real entertainment to begin.  We head in with the other race goers to see what the race ground is all about.

Whether you have Silver Ring or Grandstand tickets you’ll be able to place bets, get a great view of the races and grab some drinks and snacks throughout the day.

If we are lucky, on our way we may catch a glimpse of the Queen and the Royal Procession as they arrive at the Parade Ring around 2pm.

Race goers with Grandstand tickets get to experience the action at the height of racing glamour.  You get access to over 1000 seats, big screen TVs, a military band performing in the Parade Ring before the Royal Procession and a traditional sing-along around the Bandstand after racing (free song books provided).

While the Silver Ring provides a less formal atmosphere you can be sure you won’t miss out on any of the action with great views, over 2000 seats, big screen TVs, live entertainment and bars.

Aside from the horses, a major draw card to Ascot is the incredible fashion on display.

This year Ascot has tightened the dress code for those in the Grandstand, but there is not better excuse to dress up for the day!

For ladies attending the Grandstand a hat, headpiece or fascinator must be worn at all times, dresses and tops must have straps, midriffs must be covered and shorts are not allowed. Boys have a rather straightforward dress code - a suit, shirt and tie.

Over in the more casual Silver Ring race goers are simply asked to wear smart clothes.

Once the day’s racing is over you can compare your wins (hopefully not too many loses) with other passengers as we head back to city in the early evening. If the excitement of the day just isn't enough, you can join us for a post-race day drink in London at our Ascot after party.

Join Topdeck for a day at the races with Royal Ascot Silver Ring and Grandstand tickets. Includes: Return coach transport from central London; picnic style buffet lunch; plenty of bubbly; post race day party in London; services of a Topdeck Trip Leader