Helicopter charter to York Racecourse

How do we get you to York Racecourse?

Helicopter charter to York is a good fit for guests starting in Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool or the north-east.

York Racecourse sits in the south-west of the city, next to the former Terry's factory known as the Chocolate Works. We arrange the landing for your date: either at the racecourse if it can accept a helicopter on that meeting, or at an airfield nearby. All landings are subject to landing permission and site suitability.

The airfield most often used is Leeds East Airport at Church Fenton. It is about 7.6 nautical miles from the racecourse, a drive of around 26 minutes in free-flowing traffic. It is open 08:00 to 18:00 seven days a week, and all movements need prior permission through its online portal. A car meets you at the airfield for the last stretch.

Whether a helicopter can land at the course depends on the meeting and the date, and we tell you before you commit. The helicopter charter York city page has the facts for the city, and Leeds covers the heliport at Coney Park.

Which York meeting?

York runs a full season, and two festivals matter most for corporate days.

• Dante Festival: Wednesday 12 to Friday 14 May 2027, with the Musidora Stakes, the Dante Stakes and the Yorkshire Cup as the feature races.
• Ebor Festival: a four-day meeting in August, reported as 18 to 21 August 2027. The 2026 meeting ran Wednesday 19 to Saturday 22 August, and 18 August 2027 is also a Wednesday, so the pattern fits, but York had not confirmed it.

York is often ranked behind only Ascot for the prize money offered per meeting, which is why the Ebor Festival is a staple of the racing calendar.

Flight times to York

York is only a short flight from Yorkshire and the north-west, and under an hour and a half from London. These are the typical helicopter times from our route data with the free-flowing car time.

• Leeds: about 15 to 20 minutes, 49 minutes by car.
• Manchester: about 30 to 35 minutes, 1 hour 54 minutes by car. See Manchester.
• Liverpool: about 35 to 45 minutes, 1 hour 58 minutes by car.
• Newcastle: about 35 to 45 minutes, 2 hours 14 minutes by car.
• Birmingham: about 45 to 55 minutes, 2 hours 29 minutes by car.
• Edinburgh: about 65 to 80 minutes, 4 hours 20 minutes by car.
• Central London: about 70 to 85 minutes, 4 hours 10 minutes by car. See the London to Leeds route.

The Yorkshire and the Humber region page lists the airfields, and our Doncaster St Leger page covers the other big Yorkshire meeting.

Booking York

Racing at York is a day out for business entertaining, with hospitality in the stands and a long programme. Plan your return after the last race, and give us passenger weights and soft bags.

If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing. For costs, see the helicopter hire price guides. For other racing see horse racing by helicopter and the events hub. If you are travelling from London, the Battersea guide to helicopter travel to the races covers the departure.