The short answer
The 2027 Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree runs from Thursday 8 to Saturday 10 April, with the Grand National itself on the Saturday. The racecourse helipad is a few hundred metres from the course and operates through the three days. Landings are booked in advance and held before each race; guests show race-day tickets.
Quote this event Tell us the date and the number of guests; we reply with options and a price for the whole aircraft.
Key facts
- Event
- Randox Grand National Festival, Aintree Racecourse, Ormskirk Road, Aintree, Liverpool
- Usual month
- April
- 2027 dates
- Thursday 8 to Saturday 10 April 2027, as published by the Jockey Club; the Grand National is on the Saturday; check with the organiser before you book
- Where we land
- The racecourse helipad, a few hundred metres from the course; race days only
- Landing windows
- Flights are held before each race for at least 30 minutes, or until the horses have cleared the track
- Liverpool to Aintree
- About 10 to 15 minutes by helicopter; about 31 minutes by car
- Manchester to Aintree
- About 15 to 20 minutes by helicopter; about 1 hour 6 minutes by car
- Central London to Aintree
- About 70 to 85 minutes by helicopter; about 4 hours 17 minutes by car
The nearest landing site
Aintree Racecourse Helipad is the site we plan around for this event. Permission and times are confirmed with your booking.
The map draws a satellite picture, so it needs JavaScript and an internet connection. Aintree Racecourse Helipad is at Aintree Racecourse, Ormskirk Road, Aintree, Liverpool. Open it in Google Maps.
Aintree Racecourse Helipad
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Aintree Racecourse Helipad
- Address
- Aintree Racecourse, Ormskirk Road, Aintree, Liverpool
- Hours as published (checked 29 Sept 2026)
Race days only (the three-day Grand National Festival). Flights are held before each race for at least 30 minutes or…
Race days only (the three-day Grand National Festival). Flights are held before each race for at least 30 minutes or until the horses have cleared the track- Permission
- Prior permission required (PPR): we arrange it with your flight
All landings booked and briefed in advance through the helipad company – arranged by Charter-A with your flight. Not available on non-race days.
Map position is approximate.
Helicopter charter LiverpoolOfficial websiteOpen in Google Maps
How does the arrival work at Aintree?
Helicopter charter to Aintree for the Grand National lands you a few hundred metres from the course.
You land at a helipad a few hundred metres from the racecourse. It operates throughout the three-day festival and is not available on non-race days. A member of the helipad team meets you and takes you to a private enclosure, then on to your hospitality. When you leave you can go straight to the helipad and avoid the crowds.
All landings are booked and briefed in advance, and we arrange your slot with your booking. Landing is subject to landing permission and site suitability. Flights are held before each race for at least 30 minutes, or until the horses have cleared the track, so timing your arrival matters. Race-day tickets must be shown on arrival.
The Liverpool area is well served by airfields, as the Liverpool page sets out. Liverpool John Lennon Airport is about 9.3 nautical miles away and Manchester's Barton heliport about 20, which are the alternatives if the helipad cannot accept you.
Journey times to Aintree Racecourse Helipad
Typical helicopter times against the car from the nearest cities, taken from our route data.
| To | Distance | Helicopter | By road | Typical saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | 9.3 nm (11 mi) | 10 to 15 min | 31 min (19 mi) | 18 min |
| Manchester | 25 nm (29 mi) | 15 to 20 min | 1 h 06 min (43 mi) | 48 min |
| Leeds | 51 nm (59 mi) | 30 to 35 min | 1 h 40 min (78 mi) | 1 h 07 min |
| York Racecourse | 72 nm (82 mi) | 35 to 45 min | 1 h 57 min (102 mi) | 1 h 17 min |
| Birmingham | 75 nm (87 mi) | 35 to 45 min | 2 h 12 min (113 mi) | 1 h 32 min |
| Cheltenham Racecourse | 99 nm (114 mi) | 45 to 60 min | 2 h 45 min (145 mi) | 1 h 52 min |
| Newcastle | 104 nm (119 mi) | 50 to 60 min | 3 h 34 min (165 mi) | 2 h 39 min |
| Silverstone | 109 nm (126 mi) | 50 to 65 min | 3 h 03 min (161 mi) | 2 h 05 min |
| Oxford | 115 nm (132 mi) | 55 to 65 min | 3 h 14 min (171 mi) | 2 h 14 min |
| Cardiff | 126 nm (145 mi) | 60 to 70 min | 4 h 10 min (218 mi) | 3 h 05 min |
| Bristol | 126 nm (145 mi) | 60 to 70 min | 3 h 43 min (194 mi) | 2 h 38 min |
| Cambridge | 137 nm (157 mi) | 60 to 75 min | 3 h 39 min (198 mi) | 2 h 31 min |
| Newmarket Racecourse | 142 nm (164 mi) | 65 to 80 min | 3 h 47 min (206 mi) | 2 h 34 min |
| Edinburgh | 149 nm (172 mi) | 65 to 85 min | 4 h 15 min (219 mi) | 3 h |
| Ascot Racecourse | 149 nm (172 mi) | 65 to 85 min | 3 h 57 min (213 mi) | 2 h 42 min |
| London Heathrow | 151 nm (174 mi) | 70 to 85 min | 3 h 55 min (213 mi) | 2 h 37 min |
| Glasgow | 153 nm (176 mi) | 70 to 85 min | 4 h 07 min (222 mi) | 2 h 49 min |
| London | 157 nm (181 mi) | 70 to 85 min | 4 h 19 min (218 mi) | 3 h 01 min |
| Norwich | 160 nm (184 mi) | 70 to 90 min | 4 h 51 min (243 mi) | 3 h 31 min |
| Southampton | 163 nm (187 mi) | 70 to 90 min | 4 h 26 min (238 mi) | 3 h 06 min |
| Epsom Downs | 163 nm (188 mi) | 70 to 90 min | 4 h 20 min (234 mi) | 3 h |
| London Gatwick | 173 nm (199 mi) | 75 to 95 min | 4 h 36 min (252 mi) | 3 h 11 min |
| Goodwood | 177 nm (203 mi) | 80 to 95 min | 5 h 01 min (266 mi) | 3 h 33 min |
Helicopter figures are typical block times: distance at 135 knots plus 8 minutes, shown as a range. Road figures are free-flowing road times, a floor that real journeys rarely beat. Distances are in a straight line. Figures from our UK route data, checked 29 Sep 2026.
Which day of the festival?
The festival has three days, and the Saturday is by far the most in demand.
- Thursday 8 April, Opening Day: the first day of the festival.
- Friday 9 April, Ladies Day: the second day, as hospitality sellers list it.
- Saturday 10 April, Grand National Day: the Grand National is run at approximately 4:00 pm. It books out first.
Times can change, so we confirm the programme nearer the date. April days are longer than March, but on Grand National Day the return has to fit around crowds and take-off restrictions, so plan with us for a slot after the main race.
Flight times to Aintree
Aintree is a short hop from the north-west and an easy day from the Midlands and Yorkshire. These are the typical helicopter times from our route data, with the free-flowing car time.
- Liverpool: about 10 to 15 minutes, 31 minutes by car.
- Manchester: about 15 to 20 minutes, 1 hour 6 minutes by car. See the Manchester page.
- Leeds: about 30 to 35 minutes, 1 hour 40 minutes by car.
- York: about 35 to 45 minutes.
- Birmingham: about 35 to 45 minutes, 2 hours 12 minutes by car.
- Newcastle: about 50 to 60 minutes, 3 hours 34 minutes by car.
- Edinburgh: about 65 to 85 minutes, 4 hours 15 minutes by car.
- Central London: about 70 to 85 minutes, 4 hours 19 minutes by car. See the London to Liverpool route.
For central London departures, the Battersea team has its own helicopter to the races guide.
Booking, aircraft and weather
The Grand National is one of the biggest days in the racing calendar, so ask for a slot early. For one to eight passengers the aircraft is one of our twins, such as the Agusta 109 Grand or the Leonardo AW139. Larger parties fly in several helicopters together.
We need passenger weights, bags should be soft, and everyone arrives 10 minutes before take-off. If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing. For the cost of a day, see the helicopter hire price guides. For other April and May racing, compare Cheltenham and read horse racing by helicopter. The events hub carries the full season.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Grand National in 2027?
The Jockey Club publishes the Randox Grand National Festival as Thursday 8 to Saturday 10 April 2027, with the Grand National on the Saturday. Check with the organiser before you book.
Can a helicopter land at Aintree?
Yes, at the racecourse helipad on race days, a few hundred metres from the course. It is arranged in advance and subject to landing permission and site suitability.
Do I need race tickets?
Yes. Passengers show their race-day tickets on arrival.
How long does the flight from London to Aintree take?
About 70 to 85 minutes. By car it is about 4 hours 17 minutes in free-flowing traffic.
How close can you land to the racecourse?
The helipad is a few hundred metres away. You are escorted in on foot or by vehicle.
Can you fly from Ireland or Scotland?
Yes. We arrange the flight to the north-west. See the Edinburgh time above, or ask about a jet or air taxi from further afield.
