Cheltenham Festival 2025 starts today in the Cotswolds

The Cheltenham Festival 2025 begins today, March 11, in the Cotswolds, featuring 28 races over four days. Attendance is expected to be high, with around £500 million wagered and 270,000 pints of Guinness consumed. This year, the festival introduces a Park and Ride service to ease transportation. Hotel prices have surged, with average costs rising over 200% compared to last week. The event aims to enhance the experience for attendees amid rising living costs. The festival will be broadcast on ITV, with the first race starting daily at 1:20 PM. Attendees are advised to dress warmly, as cooler weather is expected throughout the week.