There are few things Brits love more than live sport. The nation is home to some of the world’s most iconic sporting events and venues, enjoyed by thousands of local and international spectators each year, and you can be one of them! Here are 10 British sporting events you should check out in 2022:
Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett (5-8 May 2022), Golf
The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, UK
The British Masters is the first of several stops the DP World Tour will make on British soil in 2022, and it promises to be one of the highlights of the UK golfing calendar. The tournament, first held in 1946, took on a new life in 2015 after returning from a 7-year hiatus; it is now hosted by one of Britain’s leading players at an iconic course of their choosing. The likes of Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, and Justin Rose have filled that role, making it a true celebration of the best of British golf. As in 2021, this year’s edition will be hosted by 2016 Masters champion Danny Willett at The Belfry. General admission Grounds tickets start at GBP £25 for adults, while hospitality starts at £390.
Müller Birmingham Diamond League (21 May 2022), Athletics
Alexander Stadium, Birmingham, UK
The Müller Birmingham Diamond League – also known as the Anniversary Games – is an annual athletics meeting that started in 1953. It has been held at the National Sports Centre, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park stadium, and now Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium. The meeting has been part of the Diamond League since its inception in 2010 and showcases incredible global talent, including top British names like Keely Hodgkinson and Dina Asher-Smith. Sit back and enjoy the action from the comfort of the newly refurbished Alexander Stadium, and get a preview of one of the Commonwealth Games’ main venues for later this year. Tickets start from just GBP £20 and there are also family deals on offer, making this a perfect day out for the little ones too!
Royal Ascot (14-18 June 2022), Horse Racing
Ascot Racecourse, Ascot, UK
The epitome of traditional British pageantry, Royal Ascot is one of horse racing’s most prestigious events. First held in 1768, the meeting has always been linked with the monarchy and in 2022 – the year of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee – the Royal Procession which precedes racing each day will be extra special. The 5 days of action attract over 300,000 visitors and the showpiece event is the Gold Cup, an endurance race for the world’s greatest horses. Dress to impress and look out for high-fashion and a host of hats as much as horses! Tickets start from just GBP £37 for the vibrant Windsor Enclosure, £69 for the beautiful Village Enclosure, and £87 for the more exclusive Queen Anne Enclosure. Don’t miss out on the spectacular hospitality packages on offer too!
Henley Royal Regatta (28 June - 3 July 2022), Rowing
Henley-on-Thames, UK
An annual event since 1839, Henley Royal Regatta is a traditional cornerstone of the English social season. For almost 2 centuries, people have crowded the banks of the Thames to watch some of the country's finest rowers battle it out along the river. Although the full range of tickets is yet to go on sale, a number of hospitality packages are available already for the 2022 Regatta. The most affordable options include the Picnic Enclosure, which starts at GBP £108 for a 2-person hamper, and the Feast Over Flame riverside dining experience, priced at £198 per person. For even greater luxury, consider a 5-course lunch at the Fawley Meadows Restaurant, from £355 per person, or exclusive use of the stunning Temple Island from £519 per person.
The Open Championship (10-17 July 2022), Golf
Old Course at St Andrews Links, St Andrews, UK
The Open Championship is golf’s oldest tournament and, to some, the most prestigious of the sport’s 4 majors, as the world’s best players go head-to-head each year at one of the UK’s finest courses to win the iconic Claret Jug. First held in 1860, The Open will celebrate its 150th edition in 2022. To do so in style, it will be held once again at the Old Course at St Andrews, also known as the Home of Golf – as celebrations of British sport go, it doesn’t get more historic than this! Due to unprecedented demand, tickets to this year’s event were distributed in a ballot and have sold out, however resale tickets are available from GBP £85.
Betfred World Matchplay (16-24 July 2022), Darts
Winter Gardens, Blackpool, UK
Whilst darts is an international sport, many of the game’s top players hail from the United Kingdom, and the biggest competitions in the world take place in front of British crowds. The World Matchplay is one such tournament. One of the PDC’s marquee “Triple Crown” events, the World Matchplay is a summer celebration of darts which attracts the best in the business, serving up 9 days of fast-paced knock-out darts to thousands of fans. As if that wasn’t enough, the World Matchplay takes place in Blackpool, a popular resort town synonymous with the classic British seaside holiday. You can enjoy ice creams, donkey rides, and a chilly dip in the sea just yards from the oche! Ticket prices start from just GBP £21 per person.
Great Britain Sail Grand Prix: Plymouth (30 - 31 July 2022), Sailing
Plymouth Sound, Plymouth, UK
Celebrate Britain's maritime traditions in style when the world's fastest boats head to Plymouth in July for another thrilling SailGP weekend! The "Ocean City" saw a great turnout in 2021, as people flocked to Plymouth Hoe to watch the state-of-the-art foiling catamarans fight it out across the Sound. Now the competition is back with an expanded fleet, and you can admire the speed and elegance of the boats from land or water. Waterfront Access tickets start at GBP £5 for adults (children go free!), with the more luxurious Waterfront Premium available from £54. If you have your own boat, you can bring it along to watch from the race perimeter!
The Hundred (3 August – 3 September 2022), Cricket
Venues across England and Wales
In 2016, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) set out to devise an exciting new competition to rival the likes of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in India and the Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia. The result was The Hundred – the world’s first professional 100-ball cricket tournament. Fast-paced and easy to follow, the competition was a runaway success in its inaugural year and is set to attract even more fans when it returns to English and Welsh cricket grounds in the summer of 2022. With tickets starting from GBP £12 for adults, and just £5 for those aged 6-15, expect live music, interactive entertainment, and captivating cricket from Britain’s (and the world’s) very best.
Autumn Nations Series: Wales v New Zealand (5 November 2022), Rugby
Principality (Millennium) Stadium, Cardiff, UK
Rugby is one of the Brits’ favourite sports, but nowhere goes quite as rugby mad as Wales. Rugby union is the Welsh national sport, and the Welsh capital Cardiff is regularly touted as one of the best places in the world to experience test rugby. The city’s iconic Principality Stadium is therefore a fitting place to start: it will host Wales’ Autumn Nations Series tests throughout November, as they test themselves against 4 of the best Southern Hemisphere sides around. The series starts with a bang on 5 November, when the indomitable All Blacks will be coming to town. Ticket-inclusive packages are already on sale – match ticket and coach travel packages start from GBP £189 – and match tickets are set to go on general sale in June.
Cazoo UK Championship (8-20 November 2022), Snooker
York Barbican, York, UK
One third of snooker’s revered Triple Crown Series, the UK Championship has been a part of the professional snooker calendar since 1977. Nearly 50 years later, the tournament remains a prize much-desired by modern day players looking to emulate the success of previous winners like Alex Higgins, Steve Davis, and Jimmy White. Hosted in the ancient city of York, the tournament has become known for its passionate fans and majestic setting, which have both helped to solidify its place towards the top end of many UK sporting bucket lists. In 2022, in front of capacity crowds, Zhao Xintong will defend the title he won in 2021, and you can be there to see it all happen from just GBP £10 per session.
For more information on these events, including ticket prices, click the links below:
- Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett (5-8 May 2022), Golf
- Müller Birmingham Diamond League (21 May), Athletics
- Royal Ascot (14-18 June), Horse Racing
- Henley Royal Regatta (28 June – 3 July 2022), Rowing
- The Open Championship (10-17 July), Golf
- Betfred World Matchplay (16-24 July 2022), Darts
- Great Britain Sail Grand Prix: Plymouth (30-31 July 2022), Sailing
- The Hundred (3 August – 3 September 2022), Cricket
- Autumn Nations Series: Wales v New Zealand (5 November 2022), Rugby
- Cazoo UK Championship (8-20 November 2022), Snooker