Liverpool gears up for iconic Grand National Festival 2025

By Rachel Walker

The eyes of the world will fall upon Liverpool once more this week as the city prepares for the Randox Grand National. 

According to the BBC, over 800 million people worldwide will tune in to watch which horse and jockey will win the ‘greatest steeplechase in the world’.

This year’s festival runs from Thursday 3rd April to Saturday 5th, with thousands of racegoers expected to descend on Aintree Racecourse each day.

Not just about the horse racing

One of the biggest draws of the festival is of course the fashion on display.

Every year, men and women compete to outdo each other in the fashion stakes, with Friday’s Ladies Day hosting The Style Awards.

This year’s awards, sponsored by highstreet retailer River Island, will award the ‘Best Dressed’ and ‘Most Sustainably Dressed’ racegoers with nearly £9,000 worth of prizes.

With the Met Office forecasting highs of 20 degrees this week in Liverpool, racegoers will be leaving the umbrellas at home and breaking out the sunglasses for this huge event.

As always, Merseyrail staff will be handing out their famous flip-flops at Aintree train station to anyone with sore feet after a long day at the races. 

READ MORE: Liverpool band The Searchers to play final show at Glastonbury

All-day entertainment for racegoers

As a day of racing comes to a close, the evening gets started with live music to keep the party atmosphere going.

Ibiza DJ Fat Tony will be blasting out the tunes in the Red Rum Garden on Ladies Day with Liverpool’s own Craig Charles bringing his unique brand of funk and soul music to the Garden on Grand National Day.

The festival will even see a performance from local lad and talented pianist Brad Kella, winner of Channel 4’s The Piano.

Huge economic boost for the city

With over 150,000 people expected to attend the festival, it’s no surprise that the event gives the city a huge financial boost.

The Liverpool Business School estimates that the three-day event generates around £60 million for the local economy. 

From that, £40 million comes directly from visitor spending.

Football, music, horse racing – who said Liverpool was a one-trick pony…

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