Louisville’s unique brand of Southern hospitality, one-of-a kind attractions, Bourbon experiences, rich culinary scene and affordability make it a great destination for groups.
Sitting on the Ohio River, Kentucky’s biggest city offers a varied trip for groups, from a thriving restaurant and bar scene, to sporting heritage, immersive museums and distinct neighbourhoods.
Getting to Louisville
You can fly from London Heathrow to Louisville International Airport, with a short layover at other US airports, including Chicago O’Hare, Philadelphia International, or Charlotte Douglas. The travel time is around 11 - 12 hours including layover.
The best times to visit Louisville are said to be April-May and September-October. Spring visits are great for horse racing and outdoor activities, whilst autumn/fall visits offer music festivals and cooler temperatures.
Kentucky culture and history
Known for its Bourbon whiskey, dating back to 1783, Louisville is home to more than ten distilleries, plus tasting rooms, speakeasies and Bourbon-themed stays. The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience describes itself as the first distillery on Whiskey Row and offers tours, tastings, and other experiences to learn how the tipple is created.
Elsewhere, the Frazier Kentucky History Museum is the official starting point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and tells the story of the state’s history and heritage using artefacts and exhibitions with guided tours also available.
Located on the historic "Whiskey Row," the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience features a distillery, tours, tastings, and more celebrating the legacy of Kentucky's first distiller.
The Frazier History Museum reinterprets stories from Kentucky's history using artifacts, gallery talks, and live daily interpretations by costumed actors.
Other notable Bourbon experiences include The Last Refuge, a restaurant, whiskey bar, and live music venue inside a 150-year old church, and Log Still Distillery, a supper club-inspired restaurant and tasting room on the original Whiskey Row.
Founded in 2020, Roots 101 African-American Museum explores the history of the African-American community, including the achievements, cultural contributions and experiences. Groups of ten or more can visit for group tours and discounted admission. Tours can be tailored to specific interests.
Located six miles from downtown Louisville, Locust Grove charts the history of the state’s beginnings. The mansion, built between 1790 and 1794, was the home of the family of Major William Croghan and his wife Lucy Clark Croghan, and the men, women, and children they enslaved. The building is now a National Historic Landmark and charts the stories of those who shaped American history, both free and enslaved. Guided house tours are available and explore the lives of those who lived and worked there. Groups rates are available and visits must be pre-booked.
Sporting heritage
The Kentucky Derby Museum marked four decades in spring 2025. To celebrate, a major upgrade to The Greatest Race, a 360° 4K film was completed, featuring a remastered video, updated technology, and enhanced lighting and sound. In 2025, the museum also opened a new fashion display, immersing guests into the fabulous and fanciful Derby Day ensembles that have graced Churchill Downs over the past 150 years.
The museum welcomes groups for hands-on Derby experiences and exclusive tours including Hatitude, a workshop giving groups the opportunity to create and show off their own Derby styles; and Mint Julep University, where groups can learn how to make a Mint Julep before drinking it.
Race day packages on regular priced live racing days in May, June, September, and November are available and include admission to the museum and Churchill Downs®..
If boxing is your thing, the Muhammad Ali Center is a cultural and educational institution celebrating the life and legacy of Muhammad Ali.
See the world’s largest baseball bat - a 120-foot giant leaning against the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory on Louisville’s Museum Row. Visitors can tour the working factory to see how the bats are crafted, explore interactive exhibits, and even hold bats swung by legends like Babe Ruth and Derek Jeter.
Take me out to a ball game…
If your group is looking for more of America’s favourite pastime, head to Louisville Slugger Field to catch a Louisville Bats game. Groups of 16+ can take advantage of group rates and you an even have your group name appear on the video board during the middle of the 5th inning.
Open-air activities
Kentucky Kingdom opened a new family-friendly land called Discovery Meadow in May, 2025. The area features six acres dedicated to family fun with a Kentucky twist and includes three new attractions, 24 new and re-themed experiences, and its very own characters. Additionally, a new rollercoaster named Flying Fox will open in 2026.
A popular outdoor experience for groups is the The Big Four® Bridge, which links Louisville Waterfront Park to Jeffersonville, Indiana over the Ohio River.
The Ohio River runs through the heart of Louisville and groups can see the city from the water with a trip on a traditional paddle steamer. Belle of Louisville Riverboats offers private charters on both The Belle of Louisville and Mary M. Miller, and group bookings on public cruises.
Throughout the summer, visitors to Louisville can enjoy open-air performances of some of Shakespeare’s classics as part of Free Kentucky Shakespeare Festival in Central Park. Located in the C. Douglas Ramey Amphitheater in Central Park, previous productions have included Much Ado About Nothing, Hamlet, Cymbeline and Twelfth Night.
Group-friendly accommodation:
- Hotel Bourre Bonne. Opened spring 2025, the hotel is located just one block up from historic Whiskey Row, and includes a rooftop pool and bar along with an in-house restaurant.
- The Tempo by Hilton in NuLu is a six-storey, 130-room property complete with lobby bar and dining. Its flagship dining experience is High Stakes Rooftop Grille, featuring both indoor and outdoor seating.
- Opened in 1923, the Brown Hotel is a Louisville landmark celebrated for its Georgian-revival architecture and southern charm.
- Established in 1905, the Seelbach Hilton embodies French Renaissance style and historic grandeur and inspired scenes in The Great Gatsby.
Popular neighbourhoods to explore
Much like the boroughs of New York City, Louisville’s neighbourhoods each have their own distinct personalities.
In the heart of downtown Louisville, Fourth Street Live! is the city’s vibrant entertainment district. Located between Liberty Street and Muhammad Ali Boulevard, the space has been transformed into a hub for dining, nightlife, and live music with an eclectic mix of venues.
Old Louisville is one of the city’s most iconic neighbourhoods, celebrated for its Victorian architecture and rich history. Built as a suburb in the 1870s, it spans more than 40 blocks and boasts the largest contiguous collection of Victorian mansions in the United States.
Up the road is Louisville’s historic Whiskey Row, an area full of history and character like NYC’s Greenwich Village. Appropriately named Whiskey Row, as it was home to the Bourbon industry in Louisville, this area of Main Street is returning to its roots with distilleries and bourbon-themed businesses and accommodation.
The East Market District of downtown, called NuLu, short for New Louisville, is a vibrant, artsy neighbourhood located just east of downtown. NuLu is known for its art galleries, specialty stores, antique shops, and award-winning culinary scene. Brick buildings house trendy bars, bourbon distilleries, and sustainable eateries, while colourful murals and street art add to its lively character.
Highlands is one of the city’s most vibrant and historic areas, centred along Bardstown Road and Baxter Avenue and known as Restaurant Row. It’s celebrated for its eclectic mix of chef-driven restaurants, lively bars, coffee shops, and boutiques, all set against a backdrop of Victorian homes and turn-of-the-century architecture. The Highlands is also home to beautiful green spaces like Cherokee Park and more colourful murals.
For more inspiration for things to do in Louisville, visit www.gotolouisville.com.
