Posted: 24 August 2026
250 years of history. Four days of racing. One HUGE celebration. The St Leger isn't just another date in Doncaster's calendar – and this year, we're celebrating a very special milestone...
As the world's oldest Classic reaches its 250th year running, Doncaster is getting ready for an unforgettable four-day festival packed with world-class racing, standout fashion, fantastic food and drink and plenty of reasons to keep the celebrations going long after the final horse crosses the finish line.
Whether you're planning your Ladies Day look, searching for the perfect pre-race breakfast or wondering where to carry on the party afterwards, we've got you covered.
Here's how to make the most of the 250th St Leger Festival...
Race day calls for dressing to impress, and Doncaster has plenty of places to help you find the perfect look.
Start in Doncaster city centre, where Frenchgate Shopping Centre is home to big-name fashion favourites, while independents including Venezia Designs, Chique Doncaster and Reflection offer plenty of choice for standout occasionwear. For menswear, Vault offers a luxury private shopping experience, and you can complete your look with a visit to The Shoe Room or The Shoe Healer.
Further afield, browse the independent boutiques of Tickhill, or head to The Yorkshire Hive for even more independent shopping.
Race day outfit still hanging somewhere in the imagination? It's time for a trip to Bawtry.
Known for its stylish boutiques, independent retailers and welcoming hospitality, this charming market town is the perfect place for a little pre-Leger preparation.
Whether you're searching for the perfect Ladies Day outfit, a sharp race-day suit or those all-important finishing touches, spend an afternoon browsing Bawtry's independent stores, picking out unique accessories and putting together a look worthy of the racecourse.
And shopping is hungry work! Once you've found the outfit, make an afternoon of it with coffee and cake, lunch with friends or perhaps the first celebratory glass of fizz of the week at one of Bawtry's cafés, bars and restaurants. 🥂
Want to see how it's done? Take a look at Billy's race day prep in Bawtry.
Four days of racing calls for more than a flying visit...
Whether you're travelling into Doncaster or simply fancy turning race week into a proper staycation, you'll find everything from boutique hotels and city-centre stays to relaxing countryside escapes.
Less than a 20-minute drive from Doncaster Racecourse, The Crown Hotel in Bawtry offers a vibrant boutique stay complete with a lively bar, terrace and Grill restaurant. And if you're still around on Sunday morning, take a wander around Bawtry's monthly Farmers' Market before heading home.
Want to make race week feel really special? Owston Hall Hotel's St Leger Festival Dine & Stay Package has pretty much everything taken care of. Start with a champagne brunch, head to the racecourse and then return for a three-course dinner and overnight stay. Breakfast the following morning and taxi transfers to and from Doncaster Racecourse are included too. Now that's how you do the Leger. 🥂
If being close to the action is top of your list, The Earl of Doncaster is just a short stroll from the racecourse and brings plenty of Art Deco glamour to proceedings. From 10th–13th September, its St Leger Champagne Breakfast will be served from 11am–2pm, pairing breakfast with a glass of champagne for £28.95 per person.
You'll also find The Regent Hotel in the city centre, where racegoers can kick off the festivities with a St Leger Festival Breakfast. Keep things simple with The Quick Starter- a breakfast bap and freshly poured pint- or go all out with The Regent Royale, featuring a full English alongside your choice of draught pint or prosecco.
Breakfast and bubbles? It is Leger week, after all...
Just remember, book quickly, as they're selling out fast!
Before the fascinators and ties come out, there's one very important thing to sort: breakfast.
Luckily, Donny knows how to fuel a day at the races.
Brix Coffee Co is getting into the spirit with its Leger Week Deal, available Thursday through Sunday. Choose a menu item and pair it with a glass of prosecco for £13 per person. Think full English breakfasts, smashed avocado toast, breakfast tacos and plenty more to choose between.
Over at The Mayfair, the St Leger Breakfast Deal pairs your choice of breakfast with prosecco or beer for £15. Even better, racegoers can claim 20% off by showing their race ticket on the day. To book ahead, email info@themayfairdoncaster.co.uk.
Relish is raising a glass to 250 years of history with its St Leger 250th Anniversary Champagne Breakfast. Available Thursday, Friday and Saturday, tuck into a classic full English accompanied by a glass of prosecco for £24.99.
Heading to the big one on Saturday? The Maple Tree will be opening early on Saturday 12th September to make sure racegoers are properly fuelled before the action starts. Keep hold of your race ticket too – showing it later in the day will get you 10% off drinks.
Fancy something a little different? There are plenty more breakfast favourites around Doncaster to get your day started. Head to The Glass Strawberry for brunch favourites in the city centre, grab coffee and something sweet from Banco, or make your way to Black Oat Cafe for a relaxed start before joining the race-day crowds.
Whatever your pre-race ritual looks like, make sure you're fuelled up... there's a BIG day ahead.
Breakfast sorted. Outfit on. It's finally time for the main event...
Four days, four very different race-day experiences and one enormous anniversary to celebrate. So, which day are you heading to?
Time to bring your fashion A-game.
Kicking off the 250th St Leger in style, Ladies Day combines thrilling racing with some of the week's biggest looks. Admire the outfits (or enter your own!) in the Style Awards, enjoy a glass of prosecco (or two!) and stick around after racing as Mark Wright takes over with a live DJ set.
If there's ever been a year to celebrate Doncaster's racing heritage, this is it.
The Doncaster Cup is the oldest race currently run under the rules of horse racing, making Friday the perfect opportunity to celebrate the city that has played such a huge part in the sport's history. The day also features the ever-popular Betfred Leger Legends Stakes, where former champion jockeys return to the saddle for a thrilling and nostalgic contest that never fails to delight the crowds.
The most historic race. The most historic party.
This is the BIG one.
As the St Leger celebrates its incredible 250th running, expect world-class racing, a huge festival atmosphere and anniversary celebrations worthy of 250 years of history.
And don't rush off after the final race! Jordan North will be keeping the celebrations going with a live DJ set.
After three huge days, the festival wraps up with one for the whole family.
Sunday Funday combines exciting racing with a more relaxed atmosphere and plenty of entertainment for younger racegoers, including special appearances from PAW Patrol favourites Chase and Skye.
The perfect way to round off four unforgettable days.
*Please note that access to the entertainment is available exclusively to County, Premier, and Hospitality ticket holders for this day. No under-18s are allowed on the Champagne Lawn throughout the Festival, this will be a strict challenge-21 area.
The final race might be over, but nobody said you have to go home...
Race week brings an unbeatable buzz to Doncaster, and once you've left the racecourse, you'll find plenty of places ready to keep the party going.
Start at The Temple, where the rooftop bar is a brilliant spot to raise a glass after the races. With live music from Friday through Sunday, a bustling atmosphere and plenty of drinks flowing, expect this one to be busy throughout Leger weekend.
Just next door, step back into the 1920s at The Shelby. This Peaky Blinders-inspired speakeasy certainly isn't the place to waste your best race-day outfit- grab a cocktail, settle in and keep the celebrations going in suitably stylish surroundings.
Cocktails more your thing? The White Bear is another popular city-centre stop, serving premium drinks alongside DJs and a lively late-night atmosphere.
Pinchos are also serving up a St Leger-worthy offer throughout the festival. 2-for-£15 on all cocktails, plus they've also introduced eight new spritzes for the occasion!
And if all that racing has worked up an appetite, head to The Salutation. A longstanding Doncaster favourite, it's a great place for a post-race pint- and you'll find Thai food being served upstairs if breakfast suddenly feels like a very long time ago.
Whether you're celebrating a winner, commiserating a near miss or simply looking for an excuse to stay out in your race-day best, the city centre will be ready to keep the St Leger spirit going well into the night. 🍾
From finding the outfit and raising that first glass of fizz to hearing the roar of the crowd as the horses race towards the finish line, St Leger week is a Doncaster experience like no other.
And with 2026 marking an incredible 250 years of the world's oldest Classic, there's never been a better year to be part of it. So round up your race-day crew, get those outfits planned and prepare for four unforgettable days of racing, food, fashion and celebrations across Doncaster.
Here's to 250 years of the St Leger... we'll see you at the races! 🏇🥂
