National Horseracing Museum

About the museum

The National Horseracing Museum celebrates Newmarket’s long role as the home of horseracing. It was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 30 April 1983 in the former Subscription Rooms of the Jockey Club on the High Street, after the rooms closed in 1981 and Major David Swannell, a Jockey Club handicapper, had long argued for a national museum of racing.

In 1992 Forest Heath District Council, supported by English Heritage, bought Palace House, the last surviving part of King Charles II’s sporting palace and stables, because the Grade II* listed building had fallen into poor condition. Three charities — the National Horseracing Museum, the British Sporting Art Trust and the Retraining of Racehorses charity — joined forces to bring the site back to life. After eleven years of work the museum moved to the restored Palace House Estate in 2016, and the Queen reopened it on 3 November 2016.

Today the five-acre site includes the museum galleries in the Trainer’s House and King’s Yard, the Packard Galleries of British Sporting Art in Palace House, and the Rothschild Yard, where former racehorses live. Displays range from art and sculpture to equine science, racing trophies and interactive exhibits, including a racehorse simulator. Newmarket’s racing history reaches back to the first recorded race in 1622 and to the court of Charles II.

Highlights

• Packard Galleries of British Sporting Art with works by George Stubbs and Sir Alfred Munnings
• Daily Meet the Horses sessions with retired racehorses in the Rothschild Yard
• Racehorse simulator
• Palace House, the surviving part of Charles II’s Newmarket palace
• Interactive Maktoum Gallery of the Thoroughbred
• Racing trophies, bronzes and artefacts

Permanent exhibitions

• National Horseracing Museum – Galleries in the Trainer’s House and King’s Yard on the history of racing, the thoroughbred and the jockey, with interactive displays and a racehorse simulator.
• Packard Galleries of British Sporting Art – Paintings and other works on sport from the 17th century to today in Palace House, including works by Stubbs, Munnings, Peter Blake and Mark Wallinger.
• Rothschild Yard – The home of retired racehorses cared for by the Retraining of Racehorses charity, with galleries on racehorse retraining and daily Meet the Horses sessions.

Founded

1983

Operated by

National Horseracing Museum (registered charity no. 283656)

Admission & discounts

Every full-price general admission ticket is upgraded to a free annual pass valid for 12 months from the first visit (not for discounted tickets). Current and retired racing and stud staff can receive a free annual pass on showing their NARS card or stable ID badge.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The site has step-free access to all areas. The Trainer’s House has lifts to the first-floor galleries and the lower ground floor, Palace House has a lift to all floors, and the King’s Yard and Rothschild Yard galleries are on ground level. Wheelchair-accessible toilets and baby changing are on the lower ground floor of the Trainer’s House, and an accessible toilet is on the ground floor of Palace House. All audio-visual exhibits have subtitles. Seating is available in many galleries, with limited seating outdoors. Ten Blue Badge spaces are in the Rous Road car park, with limited disabled parking on Palace Street and a drop-off area outside the museum. Guide and assistance dogs are welcome. A full access guide is available on the museum website.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Kids’ birthday parties

The museum is a signatory of the Kids in Museums manifesto. Families can pick up a trail or a bingo game at reception, ride the racehorse simulator (children under 4 may sit on but not ride), try on hats, use interactive displays and meet the retired racehorses in the Rothschild Yard. Spaces are accessible for pushchairs, and there is a dedicated baby-changing room. The soft-play room can be hired for children’s celebrations.

Getting there & parking

By car, follow the A11 and A1304 from London or Norwich, or the A1303 from Cambridge, and follow the brown museum signs. From the railway station the walk follows Green Road, Station Approach, The Avenue, the High Street and Sun Lane; the museum entrance is 50 yards from the top of Sun Lane.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

The Tack Room Restaurant serves seasonal British food with table service and is open to the public as well as museum visitors; there is also an on-site bakery. Visitors may bring their own picnic to seating areas around the site but not into the galleries. The gift shop and second-hand bookshop are open to everyone during opening hours. Large bags and items over 40 x 40 x 50 cm are not allowed into the galleries.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Spaces include the John Lambton Rooms for meetings and conferences (with free Wi-Fi, a projector and AV equipment), the Peter O’Sullevan outdoor riding arena, a soft-play room for private celebrations for under-5s (up to 15 children), Christmas parties and photoshoots.

Plan your visit