Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse: Thursday 9 April to Saturday 11 April 2026

Imagine standing among a crowd of thousands, feeling the ground shake as the horses thunder past, sharing the exhilaration and heartbreak with fellow spectators.

The Grand National Festival is an event to live, to feel, and to be a part of. From the moment the festival begins on Thursday, through Ladies Day on Friday, to the climax of Grand National Day on Saturday, every second is charged with anticipation and excitement.

The action takes place throughout the 3 afternoons of the event, and the 3-day attendance at the Festival meeting could be around 150,000 spectators.

With such big numbers heading to the racecourse, why not consider travelling to the event by train this year.

You can use the train to travel to and from the Grand National Festival

Aintree Racecourse, which hosts the event, is situated in the village of Aintree which is about 5 miles north of Liverpool.

There is a railway station at Aintree, which is next to Aintree racecourse. Aintree station is on the Merseyrail network, on the line between Hunts Cross, Liverpool South Parkway, Liverpool Central and Ormskirk.

If you're travelling from outside Liverpool, your journey will probably involve changing trains at Liverpool South Parkway, Liverpool Lime Street or Ormskirk, from where you can use the frequent trains to and from Aintree station.

If you’re travelling from London Euston, the journey time to Aintree will probably be between 3 hours and 3 1/2 hours. From Birmingham New Street the journey time is approximately 2 1/2 hours, and from Manchester approximately 1 1/2 hours.

Once you arrive at Aintree station, the racecourse is directly opposite the station, less than a 5 minute walk.

Relax and enjoy! Travelling by train is one of the easiest ways to get to the Grand National Festival and is very popular.

Which railway station should I travel to for the Grand National Festival?

You should go to Aintree station.

You can use the National Rail journey planner to plan your travel between your local station and Aintree.

Aintree station is on the Merseyrail network. There is step-free access to the station platforms (access to the Ormskirk-bound platform is via a ramped overbridge), and there are toilets and accessible toilets.

On the 3 race days, Merseyrail will be running an enhanced train service between Liverpool Central and Aintree every 7 1/2 minutes (instead of the 15 minute frequency during the rest of the day) at the following times:

• Liverpool Central / Moorfields to Aintree from 11:00 to 13:00 (before the races)

• Aintree to Liverpool Central / Moorfields from 16:30 to 20:30 (after the races)

There are no planned daytime railway engineering works in the Liverpool area on the 3 days of the event.

Will the trains to and from Aintree, and the station itself, be busy?

The Grand National Festival is a big event, and large crowds are expected, so the answer is yes.

Merseyrail are putting on extra trains to and from Aintree, and will be using their experience from previous years to provide you with the best possible travel experience. Seats aren't reservable on Merseyrail, but the train journey between Liverpool city centre and Aintree will only take approximately 15 to 20 minutes.

What tickets do I need to buy?

You’ll need to buy train tickets to make your train journey between your local station and Aintree.

For the event itself, Grand National Festival tickets are available to buy in advance online. Purchasing in advance is recommended as some racecourse stands sell out in advance, and any available tickets sold on the day may cost more. Booking in advance is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment.

Can I get an Advance train ticket to travel to Aintree?

You can make your journey easier by buying your train tickets in advance.

A full range of train tickets to and from Aintree station, including Advance tickets when available, can be purchased before your journey. Check out our Advance tickets page for more information on the savings that can be made for your trip.

Can I use my Railcard to buy train tickets?

Yes. You can use your Railcard on train tickets, including Advance tickets, for even more savings on your journey to and from Aintree station. A Railcard saves up to 1/3 on rail fares across Britain and is just £35 for 1 year. Once you purchase your Railcard, you can download your card straight to your phone – it couldn’t be easier. With average annual savings of up to £172 it pays for itself in no time. Find the best Railcard for you at railcard.co.uk.

Where can I find out more about this event, including accessibility?

Lots more information about Aintree Racecourse, and the Grand National Festival event taking place there, can be found on the really informative Grand National website.

Looking for more horse racing?

Discover more great courses around Great Britain on our 9 Great British Racecourses by Train page.