Royal Ascot really is not for the feint hearted or those with badly fitting shoes! 

For one thing there is a massive amount of walking involved if you want to actually see a horse.  The hike starts in the car park. Now depending  where you are in the hierarchal society that is ours in the UK depends where you park.  

Car park one is the place which everyone aspires to but as these places never ever come available on the open market and are simply passed down through generations of aristocracy unless you are related to a serious " family" you are not likely to have the gentle stroll from here to the Royal Enclosure.  This is also where the serious picnics take place and unless you have hired caterers way back in June last year then you really are not likely to attract key guests.  

Car Park 2 , Owners, Trainers and Press is the place for the serious parties,  unlike car park 1 they aren't really interested in the catering in this car park only in the quality and volume of booze on offer.  Serious players wander from car party to car party and drink their way round the car park under the ruse of looking for their trainer/ friend of a friend!  This car park never closes and the attendants who have been working it for years just end up going home and leaving everyone to it.  It is also the place to collect your hat.  A brilliant lady has set up a business called The Hat Club and she brings hats already ordered , fits them to coiffured heads and then collects them back at the end of the day, For a mere £100 plus pounds you can have the prestige of wearing a Philip Treacy original for a few hours without the hassle of having to take it back into London next week! A brilliant idea!  Car park 2 is the place where jockeys celebrate or drown their sorrows, their Agents tout for business at the up and coming  meetings and trainers smooze  with their owners.  Her Majesty's representatives also park all their cars here and I noticed on Tuesday and Wednesday when it was very hot that they had the air con running all day just in case their hot and sweaty owners decided to leave early.  All the Chauffeurs unusually sitting in their  cars instead of gossiping with other chauffeurs! 

Car Park 7 and 8 are for those that can't get in 1 and 2, basically the normal racing punters and who still want to picnic and have fun with friends.  It's the only other area that Ascot allow you to bring your own picnic and drink and at over £100 for a bottle of average champagne it makes total sense to buy a car park space and lunch before racing.   Ascot Gazebos are the latest addition that allows picnics and own booze and at £1000.00 starting price for one plus ticket prices  these I hope will be a good base. This is where I will be holed up tomorrow with all my besties and family to celebrate my birthday!  Not a cheap day out, as it is at Kenilworth. These prices are really quite eye watering for us rand earners but with the best horses in the world all being here and the greatest atmosphere of any race meeting in the world I still think it is an experience that justifies the cost.  If nothing else we can all sit under the gazebo if it rains!