When we made a list of ideas for a thrill-seeker’s guide to the UK, we forgot to include one highly-traditional British pastime - visiting the races!

So in anticipation of yet another wonderfully enjoyable UK racing season with the Cheltenham races just around the corner, it seems like the perfect time to give you a rundown on how to bet at the races, as well as what you should look out for in these thrilling events.

Checking out the Cheltenham Festival

It seems that no matter what time of year it is, there’s always a great racing event occurring somewhere in the UK. But for newbies, the Cheltenham Festival is a good place to start as it offers four days of fun betting and racing, as well as the exciting prospect of attending during St Patrick’s Day which is always best accompanied with a pint of Guinness!

When it comes to the actual racing, Cheltenham frequently attracts the best thoroughbreds from Britain and Ireland in races such as the Queen Mother Champion Chase and of course the Gold Cup. Whilst such an array of horse racing bets can be dizzying for the newcomer, you can see the full market here at the Coral website and plan your bet in well in advance of the starter’s orders.

Getting there

Seeing as thousands of people flock to bet on the Cheltenham Festival, it can provide a bit of a headache in getting there. Thankfully there is a shuttle bus running throughout the festival which will be many people’s favourite method of avoiding the lengthy traffic jams.

And in terms of accommodation, there’s certainly few hotels as luxurious or convenient as Ellenborough Park that features a dual-level spa, award-winning restaurants and even a private drive linking it to the racecourse so that you can be first in line when the bookies unveil the race odds for the day!

Other attractions

As the Cheltenham Festival is one of the biggest race events of the sporting calendar, it also has plenty of other attractions to enjoy.

Ladies’ Day in particular offers a fantastic way to check out the upcoming fashions for the spring and summer season. And even if you don’t fancy dressing up in your finest tweed, the sheer colour and exuberance of the crowd makes the day a once-in-a-lifetime event.

So if you’re looking for a good introduction to betting on the horses with a little more fun than the average racing event, be sure to check out the Cheltenham races!