The Best Hotels to Book Near Newbury Racecourse

You’re in for an experience: the motto of this five-star hotel is Eat. Sleep. And Drink Wine. Relax in the award-winning spa before dining in the firepit-lit pavilion – pair small plates, such as grilled tiger prawns, with fine wine from the extensive global list. Experts will help you choose, or you can take a class to become a wine connoisseur. Rooms and country-view suites come with REN skincare products and every-morning continental breakfast hampers. Expect impressive marble bathrooms and wine-inspired colours.

There’s plenty to do at this grand country house hotel. The large grounds bordering Donnington Castle feature an 18-hole golf course, fishing lake and Japanese Temple and garden. Take afternoon tea on the patio or dine in the hireable banqueting room for business or special occasions. Stay in a riverside lodge, ecofriendly summerhouse or manor house room or suite with chandeliers and high, sash-curtained windows. Don’t leave without checking out the hotel’s gothic architecture, hand-painted wallpaper and centuries-old artwork.

Fairy lights, fireplaces and candlelit nooks and crannies make up this perfectly traditional, 17th-century pub and inn. The garden bar means you can take your salted caramel espresso martini al fresco, before heading in for expertly crafted pub favourites such as pie and mash. The environmentally conscious inn offers cottage-style rooms with intricate William Morris wallpaper, exposed beams and king-size beds. Bringing your furry friend? Book an easy-access garden room. A hearty breakfast is included – and there’s a fab veggie version, too.

It’s facilities galore at DoubleTree, where your stay starts with a warm chocolate-chip cookie. Work up a sweat at the fitness centre before relaxing at the heated indoor pool, sauna and steam rooms. There’s an open-plan restaurant, bar and lounge – atmospheric whether you’re coffee-drinking on the fireside sofas or dining out on the weekly-changing Market Menu. Choose from deluxe, family or rooms with views; order room service for extra privacy. Working? Choose from seven meeting rooms, big and small.

Country pubs don’t come any lovelier than this four-star, thatched-roof inn. Grab a rustic leather armchair by the open fire, your welcomed furry friend by your side as you nurse a local ale with a side of scotch egg. In summer, dine on the terrace with rolling Berkshire countryside views – their aged beef roasts will make your Sunday. Cosy up in your rustic room with wood-panelled walls and sumptuous tubs. For extra indulgence, book a private room with a hot tub.

The Carnarvon Arms grounds overlook sprawling countryside, Highclere Castle and the Kennet and Avon canal. Take a waterside stroll before settling into a cosy snug in the firelit pub. Try the house special burgers – beef- or plant-based patties with sizzling onions. Your courtyard-based room has a Hypnos bed, Nespresso machine and country chic accessories such as above-the-bed antlers and pictures of racehorses to remind you of your Newbury fun. Bring your dog along and they’ll provide a bed, blanket, bowl and treats.

The home comforts of your local meet historic rural charm at this 17th-century free house with thatched roof amid the Berkshire countryside. You’ll enjoy the super-fluffy throws and free-standing tubs, but best of all is the pub’s food. Sustainable local ingredients make up great British pub classics; try the beer-battered fish and chips with a pint of local Wickham Ale, best enjoyed on the tree-surrounded terrace. The delightful Saturday market – under the garden’s stretch tent – offers fresh bread, pastries and cakes.

You couldn’t be closer to the action here, as the Lodge sits in the Newbury Racecourse estate, just two minutes from the station. After a day at the races, head back and enjoy a glass of something cold or a barista-style coffee on the terrace or in the bar, which offers an extensive pizza menu. When you’re a hotel guest, the bar’s yours 24/7. Expect modern rooms with a trendy grey-and-wood palette, super king-size beds, rainfall showers and ecofriendly toiletries.