Sport is part of the culture in the United Kingdom, and no visit to the island is complete without a visit to at least one major event. Whether you prefer the glitz and glamour of ladies day at a major horse racing event or the attention of sitting ringside at a world championship boxing event shown live on pay per view, you’ll find something to suit your needs. Visitors come from across the world to England and the UK, with many combining a love of travel, history, and shopping with a passion for the best-loved professional sports.
You may be familiar with the standout sports venues Britain has to offer. The Cheltenham Festival, for example, is covered by the best sportsbooks in Canada to the betting offices of Las Vegas, with each race shown live on television. Audiences in the millions follow the Grand National, Wimbledon, the British Grand Prix and Scottish Open on television. Still, have you ever wondered what it would be like to attend, soaking up the atmosphere and excitement of the crowd. Watching the FA Cup is great, but landing a ticket and combining it with a visit to London would make a lasting memory.
What are the most stylish and best-attended sporting events in the United Kingdom today? In this article, we choose our three favourite fixtures. Not only will these events give you an insight into the UK’s love affair with professional sports, but you will also experience the glamour of the day. The great thing about travelling around the UK is it doesn’t take too long to move from city to city. You could take in the UK Open golf in Scotland and be in London for an international cricket match at Lords the next day.
Let’s begin our rundown of the three most glamorous sporting events in the UK for 2022.
Aintree Festival
The highlight of the Aintree Festival is the Grand National which takes place every year in spring. The 2022 renewal will be run on Saturday 9th April at Aintree racecourse near Liverpool. This is the biggest event on the UK racing calendar and one of the major sporting fixtures of the year anywhere in the world. It’s a race that stops the nation as lovers of sport and betting attend or watch live on television.
The Grand National isn’t the only race of the week, of course. Lovers of fashion and style turn out in their numbers for ladies day with prizes for the best dressed, a competition which has become almost as competitive as the famous steeplechase over the years. The week fills up fast, and despite Aintree having an impressive capacity, you must book your tickets early to avoid disappointment, especially if you are looking for tickets to Saturday and the Grand National.
Wimbledon
One of the Grand Slams of the tennis season and, for many, the most glamorous two weeks in sport. You’ll often see a mix of royalty and celebrities attending matches at centre court during Wimbledon, and if you can get a seat to see the top players perform, you’ll be one of the few lucky ones. It’s a celebration of sport, fashion and social standing.
Scotland’s Andy Murray is the fans’ favourite during Wimbledon, and if you can attend on a day the former champion and world number one is playing, you are in for a treat. It’s a knowledgeable and welcoming crowd that attends Wimbledon, however, and they are accepting of all players and fans of all nationalities. Wimbledon in the height of British summertime eating fresh strawberries and cream. It really doesn’t get much better than that.
FA Cup
If you know anything about British culture and sport, you will know that football is the people’s choice. It’s loved by millions, with the top teams from the leading competitions pulling in crowds in the mid to high thousands every week. There are many different competitions to choose from, including the English Premier League and the Scottish Premiership, but if you are looking for drama and excitement, the FA Cup is the match for you.
The FA Cup is an annual event played at Wembley Stadium in London between the two best performing teams in the FA Cup, a competition that begins months before the final. It attracts an audience in excess of 100,000, with millions more worldwide watching the play live on television. There isn’t a bad seat in the house.
