Expanding on the fashion brand made famous by the American icon and his father, Ralph Lauren, David Lauren once said, “Polo is a quintessentially English sport. It stands for quality and sophistication and is recognised all over the world as such.” And he’s right. You tend to think of polo being played by the rich and famous including some members of the royal family. But it’s so much more than that; it’s a sport that brings people together from all over the world. Tucked away deep in the South Downs National Park in the beautiful West Sussex countryside in which lies Cowdray Park, one of the most famous sites for an annual polo championship.

Cowdray Park is considered to be the “Home of British Polo”,  hosting one of the most prestigious and sought-after events in the Polo calendar: The British Open Polo Championship. The annual British Open Polo Championship tournament is held each spring on the immaculate lawns of the park, drawing in over 15,000 spectators to watch the highly anticipated event. The championship is a hotspot for polo aficionados from across the globe, competing for the prestigious King Power Gold Cup. The tournament itself is regarded as one of the top three Polo competitions in the world, alongside the Argentine and US opens.

Polo has been called “the sport of kings” and it’s not hard to see why. Players have included members of the royal family like the late Prince Philip and even Prince Charles, more specifically, the British Open Polo Championships has garnered popularity amongst equestrians, socialites, celebrities, and royals as a spectator-friendly sport. The reputation of the British Open Polo Championship entails maintaining high standards, even when it comes to sponsors of the event. Currently, watchmaker Jaeger LeCoultre and purse brand Aspinal of London are two of the top sponsors. 

Cowdray Park has played host to competitive polo since 1910 when it was founded as a small country club. The park has a long and illustrious history dating back to World War II, in which the polo field was ploughed for the Fleet Air Arm to use. Today, you’ll notice that the air hangers are now used to store polo equipment and machinery. Following World War II, the 3rd Viscount Cowdray set out to establish Cowdray Park as one of the most famous polo clubs in the world. Presently, the club is the busiest polo club in the world, with over 400 matches played every year. The coveted prize at the British Open Polo Championship, the Gold Cup, was inaugurated in 1956 and remains the UK’s premier 22 goal level tournament.

The British Open Polo Championship attracts many top polo players like the Pieres brothers who have won the King Power Gold Cup three times and father-son duo Adolfo and Poroto Cambiaso, who won in 2020 playing for ‘Next Generation’. Other well-known players include French patron Jean-François Decaux, Santiago Laborde and Camilo Castagnola, but they aren’t the only famous faces you’ll catch a glimpse of while at the championship. Former racehorses frequently make an appearance during the matches such as Drawn To Be A Lady, Maidana, and Sweets’N’Sheets to name just a few. 

Inside the grounds, you’ll find a luxury shopping village filled with trade stands selling a wide range of goods and services from clothes and jewellery to art and charities. For those looking to get close to the action, the private pitch-side entertainment spaces are where it’s truly at. Take your pick between three entertainment spaces offering the best views for the two semi-finals matches – Pearson Premium Ringside, Centenary, or Ruins Front Row. At the finals, you can choose between two entertainment spaces situated on the side of the pitch, the Jubilee Enclosure and the Capron Enclosure. Both spaces give guests up-close views of the players and horses, sitting so near the competitions that it’s impossible not to lose yourself in the speed of the game. 

The EFG Lawns Enclosure is conveniently located just off the centre line of the pitch and is the perfect place to enjoy the excitement and thrill of the most anticipated match on the UK polo calendar. It offers a contemporary space filled with music where you can relax with friends, entertain guests, and celebrate the best of the sporting action. The grounds offer light snacks, drinks, and artisan foods as well as picnics which can be ordered from the shop on the grounds. Alternatively, you are welcome to bring your own picnic and chairs to enjoy the competition at your own pace. 

While the tournament itself is a joy to watch, you’ll want to really spoil yourself with a stay at Park House Hotel & Spa just a stone’s throw away from Cowdray Park. Boasting relaxing spa treatments, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, grass tennis courts, a golf course, and a croquet lawn, it’s the hotel to stay at when attending the British Open Polo Championship. The hotel rooms are individually designed in a country house style and give a nod to traditional English luxury living. You can choose from standard rooms, superior rooms, master rooms with your own private balcony, or the family suite offering a spacious living space and bedroom with stunning views of the grounds and surrounding countryside. 

Another upscale spot is The Cowdray Estate, which offers four-star luxury self-catering cottages at Benbow Pond with an extensive range of outdoor pursuits right on the doorstep as well as a myriad of footpaths. The cottages lend themselves to a weekend away for couples and families to escape from the hustle and bustle and you’ll be near to the action of the King Power Gold Cup. For larger groups of up to 16, The Lodge on the Cowdray estate boasts spectacular views of the Polo ground and Cowdray Heritage as well as the town of Midhurst. It comprises four individually furnished en-suite double rooms as well as the Polo Suite and The Cowdray Suite. Just across from the main lodge is the delightfully romantic ‘Bothy’ cottage with a roll-top bath and views of Cowdray Park. 

After a full day enjoying the thrills of the championship, winding down with dinner and drinks is a must. Named as one of Sussex’s top five best cocktail bars by Sussex Life Magazine, The Olive & Vine Restaurant offers guests a unique, enjoyable, and memorable dining experience. Their menu includes their own take on tapas, fresh seafood, and game, along with some truly tasty vegetarian options too. They also offer a selection of the finest wines and delicious cocktails. For traditional English country pub lovers, The White Horse is just a short walk from Cowdray Polo club and offers incredible home-cooked food by award-winning chef Daniele Boccardi. Their large garden terrace is the perfect setting for lunch and a drink during the summer months, complete with its own repurposed horsebox trailer known as “Woody’s Bar”.

The Cowdray Estate isn’t just home to the Polo club. Across its incredible 16,500 acres grounds, you can play golf on their championship golf course, learn to shoot clay pigeons at their award-winning clay pigeon shooting school, go fly fishing on the River Rother, take a leisurely walk around the grounds, cycle many of their trails, watch the polo or even learn to play for yourself, and visit the Cowdray ruins. The estate has its own successful farm as well that grows different crops year-round.

Their on-site farm shop prides itself on selling locally sourced produce and only the freshest seasonal fruit and vegetables. You can also find an extensive range of meats being sold inside their butchery. The grounds themselves are teeming with life from wild deers and foxes to rabbits and other wild animals taking up residence in the woods and on the lawns. The main Cowdray Hall has a big focus on health and wellbeing and often holds meditation workshops, yoga, and pilates classes as well as spiritual retreats and events. 

The exclusive private hire Cowdray House has 22 bedrooms and 110 acres of private gardens, grounds, and parkland, making it the perfect venue for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and exclusive events. Cowdray House features luxury facilities including an indoor and outdoor pool as well as a bowling alley. Cowdray House has all the luxury whilst maintaining a cosy family home feel. The whole estate offers some truly spectacular photo and filming opportunities with Cowdray Ruins being used as the location for the Queen Mary of Scots film.

The British Open Polo Championships is one of the most highly anticipated events in the UK with players and polo enthusiasts flocking to Cowdray Park to witness and experience the many excitements that occur every year. Enjoying the comforts of a historic estate while experiencing the countless features the estate has to offer, this international event is a must for anyone wanting to escape the busy city-life while holding onto some of that excitement and thrill of sport, music, and good times.