Royal Ascot 2027 runs from Tuesday 15 to Saturday 19 June, according to Ascot Racecourse. From Gerrards Cross the course is close, but during the Royal Meeting the last few miles into Ascot village decide how your day starts. This guide covers the three realistic ways to get there from South Buckinghamshire, where each one drops you, and how to time the day around the 2pm Royal Procession.
- The 2027 meeting is 15–19 June, five days of racing from Tuesday to Saturday.
- Taxis and chauffeur cars use official points: Car Park 1 or 3 for the Royal Enclosure, Car Park 3 or 6 for every other enclosure.
- Parking must be bought for Royal Ascot and advance booking closes about a week before each race day; Oyster and contactless do not work at Ascot station.
When is Royal Ascot 2027?
The next Royal Meeting is Tuesday 15 June to Saturday 19 June 2027. The shape of each day rarely changes: the Royal Procession comes down the straight mile at 2pm, and the first race follows at about 2.30pm. Thursday is Gold Cup day, traditionally known as Ladies' Day, and the Saturday brings the biggest weekend crowd.
Racegoers who want lunch, a drink and a look at the paddock before the procession usually aim to be inside by midday. Working backwards from that, a car leaving South Bucks in the late morning is about right, with a margin for the queues that form on the approach roads.
How long does it take to reach Ascot from Gerrards Cross?
Plan on 35–50 minutes from Gerrards Cross during Royal Ascot week, and longer on the Thursday and Saturday. The course sits on the High Street in Ascot (postcode SL5 7JX). Ascot's own directions send London-side traffic off the M4 at Junction 6 onto the A332 Windsor by-pass, and that is the natural line from our side of the county too.
The mileage is modest. What adds time is the volume: every enclosure empties onto the same handful of roads through Ascot village, and the effect is worst from late morning and again after the last race.
Where do taxis drop off at Royal Ascot?
The racecourse names specific set-down points. On its travel and parking page, Ascot says Royal Enclosure guests should be dropped off and collected at Car Park 1 or Car Park 3, while guests in all other enclosures use the taxi points at Car Park 3 and Car Park 6.
That detail matters when you book. Tell your driver which enclosure is printed on your badge, and agree the collection point before you go in, because Car Park 1 and Car Park 6 are not interchangeable at 6pm when thousands of people are looking for their lift. Our Royal Ascot taxi and chauffeur service is planned around exactly these points.
Should you drive, take the train or be driven?
Each option works, but they solve different problems. Here is how they compare for a group setting out from South Bucks.
| Option | What it involves | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Drive and park | A car park ticket bought in advance; on-the-day spaces at Car Parks 8, 4 and 6 | Pre-booking closes about eight days before each race day; some on-the-day car parks take cash only; one person stays sober |
| Train | South Western Railway to Ascot from Reading (about 27 minutes) or London Waterloo (about 52 minutes); 7-minute walk to the course | No Oyster or contactless at Ascot station; queuing systems after racing; from South Bucks you first need to reach Reading or Waterloo |
| Chauffeur or taxi | Set down and collected at the official taxi point for your enclosure | Agree the collection time and car park number before you go through the gates |
For rail travellers, South Western Railway recommends buying tickets before the day. For drivers, the parking deadlines are strict: for the 2027 Tuesday, for example, Ascot lists Monday 7 June as the last day to pre-book.
How does the dress code affect your journey?
Ascot enforces a formal dress code that differs by enclosure, and it has practical consequences for travel. The Royal Enclosure expects morning dress with a top hat for men, and hats or headpieces with a solid base of at least 10cm (4 inches) for women. The Queen Anne Enclosure also requires formal daywear with headwear, while the Windsor Enclosure has no formal code. Read the official Royal Ascot dress guidance for the current rules before you shop.
A top hat does not travel well in a crowded train carriage, and heels are hard work across a grass car park. That is the quiet reason many guests choose a car to the taxi point: everyone arrives with outfits and millinery intact.
| Enclosure | Dress expectations | Taxi point |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Enclosure | Morning dress and top hat; formal daywear with a hat of 10cm base or more | Car Park 1 or 3 |
| Queen Anne | Formal daywear with headwear | Car Park 3 or 6 |
| Village | Smart, with headwear encouraged | Car Park 3 or 6 |
| Windsor | No formal dress code | Car Park 3 or 6 |
What is on each day of the Royal Meeting?
Tuesday opens with the Queen Anne Stakes. Wednesday's feature is the Prince of Wales's Stakes, and Thursday is built around the Gold Cup, the meeting's most famous staying race. Friday and Saturday carry on the Group-race programme, with Saturday usually the fullest day for the lower-priced enclosures. If you are only going once, it is worth checking the race card for the day you pick, since the feel of Tuesday and Saturday is quite different.
How should you plan the journey home?
Decide your leaving time before you arrive. Plenty of racegoers stay for the singing around the bandstand after racing, while others slip out after the feature race to beat the rush. Either works if your driver knows the plan. If it changes during the afternoon, a message with the new time and the car park number is all we need.
Groups heading on to dinner in Windsor or back to a garden party in the Chalfonts can build that into one booking. For company days, the whole thing can be billed to a corporate account, and a Mercedes-Benz V-Class carries up to seven guests together.
Other summer race days worth planning now
Ascot is one stop on a busy calendar. The Derby at Epsom comes a fortnight earlier, and Henley and Wimbledon follow soon after. Our guides to getting to the Epsom Derby, Henley Royal Regatta and Wimbledon cover each one, and our executive cars page explains the vehicles we use for formal occasions.