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Sporting Events on the Great West Way

Along the Great West Way you can attend some of the most prestigious sporting events in the world. Henley Royal Regatta and Ascot being the most well-known, so get those posh hats at the ready.

Alongside rowing and horse racing, you can also watch teams compete in England’s other points of national pride: football, rugby and cricket. Pick a side, sit back and enjoy. But it’s as much about the experience of cheering along your team with friends and family as it is about who wins. (If you’ve never watched cricket, prepare to settle in for the long haul: matches can last anything from 6 hours to 5 days!)

But it doesn’t stop there. Depending on where you’re visiting along the touring route and when, you might also catch some cycling, hockey, motor racing, marathons, boxing, tennis… even a game of rounders in a local park. This cricket-like game has been popular since Tudor times - not the height of UK sport, perhaps, but entertaining nonetheless. And you don’t have to be a spectator: opportunities abound to jump into that gym kit and get active yourself.

And if you want to watch something a little offbeat, you could always visit Chippenham for the Pancake Race on Shrove Tuesday. Or the Woolsack Races, which take place in Tetbury each May to celebrate the town’s wool trade heritage. There are even lawnmower races - held throughout the south of England each summer. For some more help on planning your Great West Way journey, take a look at our suggested itineraries and sports guide.

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Live Sports along the Great West Way

Spectator sports are hugely popular in England and throughout the Great West Way, you can watch a range of live sports including football, horse racing and rugby.
Activities on the Great West Way

Explore a range of activities along the Great West Way, from walking and cycling to cultural stops, watersports, and countryside activities.
Canal & River Trust

The beautiful Kennet & Avon Canal (or K&A as its known) flows along 87 miles of the Great West Way. From Bath to Reading, it winds through quintessential rolling Wiltshire hills, bustling towns and even a World Heritage Site. Since 1810, narrowboats have drifted along at four miles an hour, plying their trade from Bristol to London. Today, you'll find a mixture of holiday and live-aboard boaters, all seeking the calm and tranquillity that comes from life on or by the water.