See the 2026 Grand National ticket prices and everything else you need to know ahead of the Aintree spectacle including expert travel and hotel advice.
When Is The 2026 Grand National At Aintree?
Looking for a last minute trip to Aintree? Well, you may be wondering what the 2026 Grand National date is, as well as the full schedule.
This year’s meeting at Aintree will begin on Thursday 9th April and they will race for three days until the 11th with Saturday’s big feature, the Grand National starting at 4:00pm.
Full Grand National Schedule
- Opening Day, Thursday 9th April – 1:45pm – 5:15pm
- Ladies Day, Friday 10th April – 1:45pm – 5:15pm
- Grand National Day, Saturday 11th April – 12:45pm – 5:00pm
2026 Grand National Ticket Prices – Are They Still Available To Buy?
We’re just under a month away from the big race with most Grand National trials already ran, and tickets are very limited with Ladies Day (Friday) and Grand National (Saturday) day both almost FULLY sold out.
Opening day tickets (Thursday) still have some availability though, so see which tickets you can freely buy below.
Ticket Prices For Opening Day (Thursday 9th March)
Note: prices below are filtered low-to-high
- Festival Zone – £33.50
- Earl of Derby Terrace – £59.00
- Lord Sefton Terrace – £59.00
- West Tip Seats – £63.00
- Lord Daresbury Roof – £69.00
- Princess Royal Roof – £69.00
- Garden Club (Premium Area) – £91.00
- Queen Mother Roof – £102.00
- Earl of Derby Lower Seats – £104.00
- Earl of Derby Upper Seats – £104.00
- Lord Sefton Lower Seats – £104.00
- Lord Sefton Upper Seats – £104.00
- Princess Royal Seats and Gallery (Premium Area) – £140.00
- Platinum Lounge Seats (Premium Area) – SOLD OUT
- Queen Mother Seats (Premium Arera) – SOLD OUT
Ticket Prices For Ladies Day (Friday 10th March)
All tickets for Ladies Day are sold out, with only hospitality available but prices start from £600 onwards – if you’re willing enough to pay!
Ticket Prices For Grand National Day (Saturday 11th March)
Like Ladies Day, tickets for Grand National day are pretty much all sold out unless you’re wanting to pay above the odds for hospitality.
However, there are still tickets left for ‘The Embankment’ which is an area on the course where you can enjoy the racing and have prime viewing for the first fences on the Grand National circuit. Although there is no access to the main course, it’s still a solid option for just £44.10.
Aintree Grand National Travel Advice
Located just outside of Liverpool city centre, Aintree Racecourse is easy to get to. With just a 6.5 mile journey, it should be pretty simple getting there – wherever you’re coming from.
Can You Get The Train To Aintree Racecourse?
Yes, you can get a train/tram to Aintree Racecourse from the centre of Liverpool and it takes on average around 30 minutes, but could be longer with higher demand when the racing is on.
There is a tram stop just across the road from Aintree Racecourse (see below), so it’s easy access for all using public transport. You can also get shuttle busses from the centre and nearby train stations.
How Much Is A Taxi To Aintree Racecourse From Liverpool Centre?
Being such a big city and having nearby locations like Manchester, Liverpool has plenty of taxis in operation and it should be quite easy to get one in and out of the track during the Grand National meeting.
Prices tend to hike slightly, again due to demand, but they’re still easy to get – and it’ll be more comfortable than jumping onto a busy tram.
A simple taxi using local branches or Uber will cost between £20-£30 to get to Aintree Racecourse, and with traffic on the day, you could be looking at a half an hour journey, similar to the tram. So, if you’re happy to pay a bit more, then a taxi might be the best option.
You’ll just have to make sure you check out the Grand National winners of the last 20 years to help you try and find the winner of the big race to go towards expenses!
Hotels Prices For Aintree Grand National 2026 – Best Places To Stay?
Like any accomodation around the time of big sporting events, the prices are higher. But there are plenty of options in and around the North West if you’re wanting to stay over for the Grand National.
Two nights in Liverpool centre can cost anywhere between £300-£900 for two nights (Friday and Saturday, leave Sunday), but of course the price will be halved if you’re just looking to stay for one night.
Note: all of the prices below are correct at time of publishing (18th March)
If these prices are too high, it’s worth looking elsewhere outside of Liverpool like Manchester, Bolton or Wigan as they are all relatviely close and much cheaper.
It’s easy enough to get a train too and from Liverpool from those places mentioned and hotels can be booked for a fraction of the price (no more than £200) – see below at hotels in Wigan (Greater Manchester)
