Epsom Derby Taxi & Chauffeur Service
Fixed-fare cars from Gerrards Cross and South Bucks to Epsom Downs for the Betfred Derby Festival, held each year in early June and next run on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 June 2027.
What is the easiest way to get to the Epsom Derby from Gerrards Cross?
The easiest way is a pre-booked car to Car Park 8, outside the Derby Arms pub, which Epsom Downs Racecourse names as its pick-up and drop-off point for the Festival. From Gerrards Cross your chauffeur takes the M25 from Junction 16 clockwise to Junction 9, then local roads to the course on Tattenham Corner Road, Epsom, Surrey KT18 5LQ.
The Derby is run each year in early June, as the second day of the two-day Betfred Derby Festival. 2027 dates: Friday 4 June (Ladies Day and the Betfred Oaks) and Saturday 5 June (Derby Day), as published by The Jockey Club. Both feature races are due off at 4pm.
We quote one fixed fare that covers the drop-off and collection for passengers from Gerrards Cross, the Chalfonts, Beaconsfield, Denham, Iver and the rest of South Bucks. For a fuller race-day plan, read our guide to getting to the Epsom Derby from Buckinghamshire.
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What time do the gates open and the big races start?
Gates open at 11am on both days, and the first race is at 1:30pm. These are the racecourse's provisional timings for 2027:
- Friday 4 June, Ladies Day: gates 11am, first race 1:30pm, the Betfred Oaks (a Group 1 Classic for fillies) at 4pm, last race 5:50pm.
- Saturday 5 June, Derby Day: gates 11am, first race 1:30pm, the Betfred Derby at 4pm, last race 5:55pm. The card also includes the Coronation Cup at 2:40pm.
These times shape the booking. Arriving between the gates opening and the first race gives you time to settle in, and collection can be set for after the last race or straight after the 4pm feature if you would rather leave early. The racecourse warns of extra searches at the entrance during the Festival, so we allow for a short queue at the gate as well.
How long is the drive from Gerrards Cross to Epsom Downs?
Expect around 75 to 90 minutes on an ordinary day, the range given in our Epsom Derby travel guide, and more on Derby Day. Most of the run is on the M25, from Junction 16 near Denham round to Junction 9 at Leatherhead, so conditions on the motorway matter as much as the last few miles.
The final approach is where the Festival makes a difference. Thousands of cars, coaches and open-top buses head for the same car parks, and the racecourse says road closure and diversion details are published closer to the event. It is worth confirming the final pick-up time once that list is out, rather than working from a previous year's closures.
How do drop-off and collection work at Epsom Downs?
Drop-off and collection both happen at Car Park 8, by the Derby Arms. The racecourse asks that passengers do not get in or out of vehicles at the roundabout, so your chauffeur pulls into the car park itself rather than stopping on the road.
- Set down at Car Park 8, outside the Derby Arms pub
- No getting in or out at the roundabout
- A collection time and meeting spot agreed before you walk in
- Plans changed? Call 01753 858585 or send a WhatsApp and we move the pick-up
A clear plan for the return matters most here. When racing finishes, crowds leave the Downs all at once, and the queues for trains and shuttle buses build quickly. Having a car waiting at a place you already know saves a lot of hassle at the end of a long day. It is the same arrangement we use for our long-distance journeys and our late-night pick-ups.
How does a chauffeur compare with parking, trains and shuttles?
Parking at the Derby Festival is free, but it is not the easy option. The car parks are colour-coded, with a label you display to show which one you are using, and the racecourse recommends booking ahead if you want a particular location. After that, you still have the walk in, a designated driver and the queue out.
By rail, three stations serve the course: Tattenham Corner, Epsom and Epsom Downs. Shuttle buses run from Epsom station to the racecourse from 09:30 to 14:00 and back into Epsom town centre from 15:30 to 19:30, at £3 single or £5 return, cash only. From South Bucks, though, getting to any of those stations involves crossing London first, which is why a direct car along the M25 is usually simpler for our area.
Which Derby enclosure are you in, and what do you need to wear?
The strict dress code applies only to the Queen Elizabeth II Stand on Derby Day. The rest of the course follows a "dress to feel your best" approach. The Derby, first run in 1780, is a Group 1 race for three-year-olds over 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards, on a course the racecourse says climbs the height of Nelson's Column.
- Queen Elizabeth II Stand (Derby Day): black or grey morning dress with a top hat, service dress or full national costume; for women, formal day dress or a tailored trouser suit with a hat or fascinator. This also applies to hospitality guests in the stand.
- Grandstand Enclosure: no official dress code, but fancy dress deemed offensive can be refused and team kits are not permitted.
- Upper Tattenham and The Hill: no official dress code either.
A top hat and morning coat are easier to keep neat on a car seat than on a packed train. If Epsom is one of several summer events for you, we also run Royal Ascot, which in 2027 starts ten days after Derby Day, and Wimbledon.
What to tell us when you book the Derby
- Which day: Ladies Day on Friday or Derby Day on Saturday
- Your enclosure, which tells us how formal the day is and when you want to arrive
- Group size: up to 4 in an E-Class, 7 in a V-Class, 8 in the Tourneo
- Pick-up addresses if people are joining from different villages
- Your preferred return: straight after the Derby or after the last race
- Company hospitality? Use a corporate account for invoicing
Derby Day collections around South Bucks
We collect from Gerrards Cross, Chalfont St Peter, Chalfont St Giles, Little Chalfont, Beaconsfield, Fulmer, Stoke Poges, Farnham Common, Denham, Iver, Amersham, Seer Green, Penn and Slough, and also drop off at hotels in Epsom and Leatherhead.
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Epsom Derby Travel Questions
When is the Epsom Derby in 2027?
The Betfred Derby Festival 2027 is on Friday 4 June (Ladies Day, with the Betfred Oaks) and Saturday 5 June (Derby Day). Epsom Downs Racecourse lists the Derby itself at 4pm on the Saturday, with gates opening at 11am and the first race at 1:30pm on both days (provisional timings).
Where is the taxi drop-off at the Epsom Derby?
Car Park 8, outside the Derby Arms pub, is the racecourse's pick-up and drop-off point for the Derby Festival. The racecourse asks drivers not to let passengers in or out on the roundabout, so your chauffeur stops inside the car park itself.
How long does it take to get to Epsom Downs from Gerrards Cross?
Around 75 to 90 minutes on a normal day via the M25, which is the figure in our Epsom Derby travel guide. On Derby Day the local roads around the Downs are far busier, so we leave extra time on top and agree the pick-up time with you in advance.
Which way do you drive to Epsom from South Bucks?
We join the M25 at Junction 16 and go clockwise to Junction 9, then take local roads to the racecourse on Tattenham Corner Road, Epsom, KT18 5LQ. On the day we follow the yellow AA signs and the racecourse signage rather than relying on a sat nav.
Is parking free at the Derby?
Yes, car parking is free for everyone at the Betfred Derby Festival, but the car parks are colour-coded and the racecourse recommends booking your space in advance to get your preferred location. With a chauffeur you skip the car park entirely and are dropped off at Car Park 8.
Are there shuttle buses from Epsom station?
Yes. The racecourse lists shuttle buses from Epsom station to the course from 09:30 to 14:00, and back to Epsom town centre from 15:30 to 19:30, costing £3 single or £5 return, cash only. Tattenham Corner and Epsom Downs stations also serve the course.
What is the dress code for the Queen Elizabeth II Stand on Derby Day?
On Derby Day the Queen Elizabeth II Stand requires black or grey morning dress with a top hat, service dress or full national costume for men, and formal day dress or a tailored trouser suit with a hat or fascinator for women. The Grandstand, Upper Tattenham and The Hill have no official dress code, but team kits are not allowed.
Can you take a group to the Derby in one vehicle?
Yes. The Ford Tourneo carries up to 8, the Mercedes-Benz V-Class up to 7 and the SEAT Alhambra up to 6, so a party can travel together and be dropped off at Car Park 8 together.
Is the fare fixed on Derby Day?
Yes. The fare covers the outbound run and the agreed collection, and it is fixed when you book, so standing traffic on the Downs does not change what you pay.
Useful guides before you travel
Book your Epsom Derby car
Tell us your race day, your enclosure and how many are travelling, and we will quote one fixed fare.
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