Hotel Indigo, Liverpool
hotelindigoliverpool.co.uk
Many visitors to the Grand National stay in Liverpool as Aintree is not far off, to the north of the city. It is just over a 15-minute drive from the hotel, whose bright, creative décor reflects Liverpool's cotton industry. The race-track at Haydock Park is also under half an hour away. The hotel reports a brisk trade in champagne breakfasts on race days. Doubles from £87 (€102).
Sezz, Paris, France
hotelsezz.com
The name says it all: this chic number is in the 16th arrondissement, pronounced, in the local tongue as "Sezz". Bois de Boulogne, home of the Longchamp race track and the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe race in October, takes up a good chunk of the arrondissement, putting hotel guests a brisk walk or taxi ride from the track. Doubles from €290.
Hotel Lindrum, Melbourne, Australia
hotellindrum.com.au
The sporty theme starts within this redbrick hotel honed from an old pool hall. The Flemington racecourse, home of the Melbourne Cup, is 6km north of the city and this central hotel can arrange limousines or, if you would like to beat the traffic, trains can be taken from Flinders Street Station, a five-minute walk (or short tram ride) from the hotel. Doubles from €145.
