Goodwood Estate

Welcome to Goodwood.

Set in 12,000 acres of rolling Sussex Downland, Goodwood has long been famous for both its natural beauty and its legendary hospitality.

The home of the Dukes of Richmond for over 300 years, Goodwood House, designed by James Wyatt, contains one of the finest collections of English paintings and French porcelain and furniture in England. The Regency State Apartments are adorned with views of London by Canaletto; sporting scenes depicting the Estate, by Stubbs; and family and royal portraits by Van Dyck, Lely and Reynolds, as well as an unique collection of Sèvres porcelain, decorated with colourful and exotic birds, commissioned at the factory in the 18th century.

Goodwood enjoys an exceptional variety and unique mixture of activities, ranging from horseracing, motor racing, flying, golf and shooting. It even has its very own hotel and spa.

The first private horse race at Goodwood took place in 1801. Today, over 200 years later, the Racecourse hosts 22 days of top class racing and entertainment from May to October each year. The culmination and climax of the English summer season is the five-day Festival meeting known as ‘Glorious Goodwood’, usually held at the end of July, which combines competitive and thrilling racing with fashion and style, and is very much the place to be and be seen. Other highlights during the season include the popular evening race meetings on Fridays in June - the perfect start to the weekend - and the Family Fun Day, which provide entertainment for young and old racegoers alike.

The annual Goodwood Festival of Speed has established itself as the world's biggest celebration of the motor car. With 158,000 visitors attending the event, the Festival, which takes place in the beautiful parkland surroundings in front of Goodwood House attracts unique cars and legendary drivers from all over the world. Indeed, it is the only event that most of the current Formula One teams attend outside of a Grand Prix. The Goodwood Revival, held in September, represents a magical step back in time to the romance and glamour of motor racing as it used to be, and is widely regarded as the greatest historic motor racing event in the world. Just under 100,000 visitors close the door to the modern world for three days to experience the great old days of motor racing in dramatic and theatrical style.

Golf at the Goodwood Club dates back more than a century, when in 1901, the Duke of Richmond gave permission to play on a superb course laid out by champion golfer and eminent designer, James Braid. In the 21st century, the genius of Braid is undiminished, as golfers continue to enjoy the beauty and challenges of this great historic course, with its magnificent 18th century Clubhouse.

Aerodrome

The Aerodrome, a former WWII fighter station, is one of the busiest general aviation airfields in the South of England with its own hangerage, maintenance, full-time flight information service and highly prestigious and well-established flying school. On this same site is the world-famous Goodwood Motor Circuit, founded by the 9th Duke of Richmond in 1948. In the autumn of 1998 a huge and detailed renovation programme was completed which restored the circuit to its former glory exactly fifty years after the inaugural meeting in September 1948. The restoration programme has recreated the look and feel of the 1950s, producing a unique setting both for the Goodwood Revival, and for track days and other exciting activities throughout the year.

A sympathetic and sensitive land management system is driven by farming, forestry and land tenure practices which will sustain the estate for future generations. Home Farm comprises some 2,800 acres of mixed farming, including arable; 200 dairy short-horn herd and a herd of Tamworth and Saddleback pigs; and a flock of 1500 sheep grazing on the Downland pasture. The farm has full organic status. Interspersed among the farms are 1900 acres of deciduous and coniferous forestry all of which play a large part in making the beautiful Downland landscape which surrounds the estate.

At the park gates is the 94 room The Goodwood Park Hotel which incorporates the country club, golf course and newly built spa, from which visitors can easily access all the unique activities which go to make up this historic sporting estate.

Click for the Goodwood Brochure (4.5 Mb)

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