Greyhound Racing Near Me: Finding Your Closest Track in the UK

There are 18 GBGB-licensed greyhound stadiums currently operating in England and Wales. None in Scotland — there has been no licensed racing north of the border for years, and a bill to formalise the ban is working its way through the Scottish Parliament. The 18 that remain are spread across the country, from Romford in east London to Sunderland in the north-east, with a new addition in the West Midlands that opened its gates for the first time in September 2025.

If you are searching for greyhound racing near me, the answer depends on where you live and how far you are willing to drive. Londoners have four tracks within easy reach. Midlands residents gained a modern new venue when Dunstall Park replaced the closed Perry Barr. Northern England has options in Sunderland, Newcastle, and Sheffield. Wales has one licensed track in the Valleys. The gaps are noticeable — large parts of the South West, East Anglia, and the far north have no nearby stadium at all — but for most of the urban population, a night at the dogs is within an hour’s journey.

This guide maps every licensed track by region, covers transport links and parking, and highlights the options closest to London for the capital’s sizeable racing audience.

Tracks by Region: South East, Midlands, North, Wales

South East England

The South East has the densest concentration of tracks in the country. Romford (Essex), Crayford (Kent), and Central Park (Kent) sit within the M25 or just outside it. Harlow (Essex) offers another option slightly further out. These four tracks between them run fixtures almost every night of the week, making the South East the heartland of regular greyhound attendance. If you live within the M25, you are never more than about forty-five minutes from a licensed meeting.

Midlands

The Midlands picture changed dramatically in 2025. Perry Barr in Birmingham — one of the sport’s most storied venues, operating since 1929 — closed its doors on 23 August 2025. Its replacement, Dunstall Park Greyhound Stadium in Wolverhampton, opened less than a month later on 19 September. Dunstall Park shares the Wolverhampton Racecourse site and features a purpose-built kennel block housing up to 116 greyhounds, on-site veterinary facilities, and modern spectator areas. It is the first new greyhound stadium to open in Britain in more than a decade.

Elsewhere in the region, Nottingham Stadium (Colwick Park) remains a popular venue with strong weekend attendance, and Towcester in Northamptonshire hosts the English Greyhound Derby and other major events. Monmore Green in Wolverhampton provides yet another Midlands option, making this one of the best-served regions outside London.

North of England

Sunderland and Newcastle are the primary options in the North East. Both run regular evening and weekend fixtures and draw committed local followings. Sheffield’s Owlerton Stadium covers South Yorkshire, while Kinsley in West Yorkshire and Belle Vue in Manchester add further choices across the Pennines. Belle Vue holds a special place in the sport’s history — it hosted Britain’s first regulated greyhound race in 1926.

Wales

Valley Greyhound Stadium in Ystrad Mynach is the sole licensed track in Wales. It runs a regular schedule, though the long-term future of Welsh greyhound racing is uncertain given the Welsh Government’s decision in 2025 to pursue legislation that could ban the sport. For now, Valley remains operational and accessible from Cardiff, Newport, and the South Wales valleys.

Getting There: Transport Links for Every Stadium

Most greyhound stadiums in the UK were built for car access, and the majority have free or low-cost on-site parking. If you are driving, the postcode of the stadium dropped into any sat-nav or mapping app will get you there without complications. A few things to note by way of practical guidance.

Romford Stadium sits next to the A12 and has dedicated parking. Crayford is adjacent to the A2 with a large car park. Both are straightforward by car, though London traffic on a weekday evening can add twenty to thirty minutes to the journey. Central Park (Sittingbourne) is slightly more rural and almost exclusively accessed by car — public-transport links are limited.

For train users, several stadiums are within walking distance of mainline or suburban stations. Romford Greyhound Stadium is roughly a fifteen-minute walk from Romford station (Elizabeth line and Greater Anglia services). Crayford is about ten minutes from Crayford station on the Southeastern network. Nottingham’s Colwick Park is reachable by a short taxi ride from Nottingham station. Sunderland Stadium is close to the Stadium of Light Metro stop on the Tyne and Wear system.

Dunstall Park benefits from its location on the Wolverhampton Racecourse site, which is well-signposted from the city centre and accessible from Wolverhampton railway station by taxi or bus. The racecourse has extensive parking facilities built to accommodate dual horse-and-greyhound racing events.

For stadiums without good rail connections — Kinsley, Belle Vue, Valley in Wales — driving or arranging a taxi is realistically the only option. Some tracks partner with local taxi firms for discounted post-racing fares, so ask at the venue on arrival.

A general rule for timing: if the first race is at 19:00, aim to arrive by 18:30. This gives you time to park, buy a racecard, and find a viewing spot before the action starts. Evening meetings typically run until about 22:00, so budget for a later return — especially if you are relying on public transport, as suburban train services thin out after 23:00 on weeknights.

Near London: Four Tracks Within Easy Reach

If you are searching for greyhound racing near me from anywhere within Greater London, four tracks are within realistic reach for an evening out.

Romford is the most accessible from central and east London. The Elizabeth line puts it within forty minutes of Paddington, Liverpool Street, or Canary Wharf. The stadium runs fixtures on most evenings and has a restaurant, bar, and trackside viewing areas. It is the closest thing London has to a default greyhound venue.

Crayford, south of the Thames in Bexley, serves south-east London and north Kent. Trains from London Bridge take about thirty minutes. The stadium is compact but well-maintained, with a loyal local following and regular open-race events.

Central Park in Sittingbourne is further out — about an hour from London by car — and mainly attracts visitors from Kent and the Medway towns. It is quieter than Romford or Crayford but offers a more relaxed, less urban atmosphere.

Harlow in Essex rounds out the London-area options. It is reachable from east and north London, roughly forty-five minutes by car from the M25 junction 7. The track runs a regular schedule and is a reasonable option for anyone in Hertfordshire or north Essex looking for greyhound racing near me without heading into central London.

Your Nearest Race Night Awaits

Eighteen licensed stadiums across England and Wales means most people in urban areas are within an hour of a greyhound track. The South East and Midlands are best served; the North has solid options in Sunderland, Newcastle, Sheffield, and Manchester; Wales has one track whose future depends on pending legislation.

The quickest way to find greyhound racing near me is to check the GBGB website for the current stadium list, enter the postcode into a mapping app, and see which track fits your evening. Most run fixtures multiple nights a week, so the main question is rarely whether racing is available — it is which night works best for you.