Summary
Aintree has no official dress code, jump to The rules for the Grand National. The racecourse asks you to come “dressed to feel your best”, and it asks for no fancy dress, no sportswear and no team colours. A suit, or a jacket and trousers, works for men on all three days. A dress or tailored outfit, with a hat or fascinator if you want one, works for women. The British Pullman, jump to The British Pullman, Belmond’s vintage train that some of our guests take to Aintree, has its own clothing rules and can refuse boarding if they are not met. Jump to Men, jump to Men or Women below.
The Randox Grand National Festival runs from Thursday 8 to Saturday 10 April 2027. Thursday is Opening Day, Friday is Ladies Day and Saturday is Grand National Day, when the race itself is run. Aintree’s guidance is the same on all three days.
Beyond a few restrictions, explained below, everything here is a suggestion rather than a rule. The suggestions are there to help you look right for the part of the racecourse you will be in, and to stay warm and dry in April.
What Aintree asks
Aintree’s own dress code page says “There’s no official dress code at The Grand National” and encourages racegoers to come “dressed to feel your best”. It asks for no fancy dress or sportswear, and it asks you to avoid team colours and sports kits. The Jockey Club runs Aintree. It says anyone in offensive fancy dress or offensive clothing will be refused entry, and it keeps the right to refuse replica sports shirts. Aintree does not ask for hats and does not ban jeans.
The Jockey Club says no dress code is enforced at any of its racecourses, and that includes hospitality, private boxes and restaurants. A jacket still makes more sense in a restaurant than on the open lawns, because you sit down to a four-course lunch.
Ladies Day, on Friday 9 April, is the day of the festival built around what people wear. Aintree calls it the original Ladies Day, and its Style Awards have returned to it. Nothing about the dress code changes for the day.
Men
A tweed or wool jacket suits the time of year, and a tie is your choice on every part of the racecourse.
- On the lawns and in the standsA suit, or a jacket with chinos or wool trousers, and a shirt with a collar. A tie is optional. Example: a navy blazer, stone chinos and brown brogues, with a wool overcoat on top. Or a grey check suit with an open-collared shirt and a knitted jumper underneath.
- In a restaurant or suiteA two- or three-piece suit, or a tweed jacket with smart trousers, worn with a tie if you like one. Example: a navy three-piece in mid-weight wool with a knitted silk tie. Or a brown tweed jacket, cream shirt and green wool tie with flannel trousers.
- Ladies DayThe same as any other day, and the Friday is a good day to add a tie and a pocket square. Example: a light grey suit with a pale blue shirt and a patterned tie.
- On the British PullmanNo jeans, trainers, baseball caps, collarless T-shirts or shorts. A jacket and tie are welcome but not essential. Example: a tweed jacket, collared shirt, flannel trousers and leather shoes, which also works at the racecourse afterwards.
Women
A hat or fascinator is entirely optional at Aintree. A fascinator is a small decorative headpiece worn on a clip, comb or headband rather than a full hat. If you wear either, a hatpin or hat elastic keeps it in place when the wind picks up across the course.
- On the lawns and in the standsA dress, a skirt and top, a jumpsuit or a trouser suit, with a coat over the top. Example: a midi dress with a tailored wool coat and block heels. Or a trouser suit with a silk blouse and a fascinator.
- In a restaurant or suiteA dress or tailored outfit you are comfortable sitting in through a long lunch, with a jacket or coat for the balcony. Example: a long-sleeved floral midi dress with a cropped jacket. Or a jumpsuit with a structured blazer.
- Ladies DayThis is the day for the brightest colours and the biggest hats or headpieces. Example: a fitted dress in a strong colour with a statement fascinator and a matching clutch. Or a pastel trouser suit with a wide-brim hat.
- On the British PullmanThe same list of things not to wear applies, so no jeans or trainers on board. Example: a wrap dress and heeled boots under a smart coat, which takes you straight from the carriage to the racecourse.
Dressing for April on Merseyside
The festival is in April. Aintree is just outside Liverpool, and the racecourse is flat and open, so the wind carries across it. A sunny morning can turn cold by the last race. A warm coat, a layer underneath and a compact umbrella will see you through most days.
The lawns are grass and can soften after rain, though there is a tarmac path around the parade ring, where the horses are walked before each race. Block heels, wedges or boots cope better than stilettos, and leather soles grip less on wet grass than rubber ones. In the Papillon or the Silver Birch, the balcony is where you will watch the big race, so keep a coat close even while you eat indoors.
The British Pullman
On Grand National Day some of our guests travel from London to Aintree on the British Pullman, Belmond’s train of restored 1920s and 1930s carriages, with brunch and champagne served on the way. It has clothing rules of its own. Belmond asks guests to avoid denim or jeans, trainers, baseball caps, collarless T-shirts and shorts. It can ask a guest who is not suitably dressed to change, or refuse them boarding. Jackets and ties are not essential.
Aintree asks for less than the train does, so an outfit that meets Belmond’s rules is also fine at the racecourse.
The mistakes that come up every year
A football shirt or team colours
Aintree asks racegoers to avoid team colours and sports kits on all three days.
Fancy dress
Aintree asks for no fancy dress at the Grand National, and offensive fancy dress is refused entry.
Jeans or trainers on the train
Aintree does not ban jeans, but the British Pullman asks guests not to wear them or trainers, and it can refuse boarding.
Stilettos on the grass
Thin heels sink into soft lawns. A block heel or wedge lasts the day.
No coat
April on Merseyside can be cold and windy, and the balconies and the parade ring are outdoors.
Grand National Day with us
We take guests to Aintree on Grand National Day, Saturday 10 April 2027. The Tiger Roll Suite sits next to the Red Rum Garden, named after the horse who won the race three times, and looks over the parade ring. It includes a four-course meal, a cream tea and a complimentary bar, and it suits a group that wants to see the horses up close before each race. The Papillon Restaurant has a balcony over the course and the parade ring, and its tables are shared. Lunch is four courses from an à la carte menu, with a champagne reception, afternoon tea and a complimentary bar. It suits a smaller party happy to share a table. The Silver Birch Restaurant has a private balcony over the start line and the home straight, the final stretch before the finish. It serves four courses and afternoon tea, with live music, a complimentary bar and an after party once the racing is over. It suits a group that wants to watch the finish.
No dress code applies in any of the three, so the suggestions above are all you need. If your group travels on the British Pullman, dress to the train’s rules for the day.
Daniella McBride
Sales Manager
Sales Manager at Imperial Corporate Events. Whatever you’re booking, sport or music, she’s easy to plan with and stays on it until it’s right.
