The Derby has been run at Epsom Downs since 1780, and Derby Day is still one of the great days out of the English summer. Coaches and buses have been part of the tradition for generations, with groups arriving together, setting up on The Hill and making a full day of it.
The London Coach Company provides private coach and minibus hire to the Epsom Derby Festival for corporate hospitality groups, social clubs and private parties. Epsom Downs is just inside the M25, a short drive from London, and we collect your group from your office, hotel, pub or home and bring everyone back together after the last race. Request a quote to secure your vehicle early.
The Derby Festival 2027
Friday 4 June 2027 – Ladies Day
The first day of the festival is Ladies Day, headlined by the Oaks, the fillies’ Classic run over the Derby course and distance. It is one of the most popular days of the year for groups of friends and hen parties.
Saturday 5 June 2027 – Derby Day
Derby Day features eight races, with the Betfred Derby itself run at 4.00pm. It is the busiest day of the festival, with tens of thousands of people on The Hill as well as in the ticketed enclosures.
For tickets, enclosures and race times, see The Betfred Derby Festival (opens in a new tab) on the Jockey Club website.
Who we take to the Derby
- Corporate hospitality groups entertaining clients or staff in the enclosures and hospitality boxes
- Social clubs, pubs and sports clubs running their annual Derby outing
- Large private parties, birthdays and family groups heading for The Hill
- Hen and stag groups making a day of Ladies Day or Derby Day
- Racing clubs and syndicates travelling together to watch
Why hire a coach or minibus for the Derby
Trains to Epsom, Epsom Downs and Tattenham Corner are packed on Derby Day, and the walk or shuttle from the station adds time at both ends. Roads around the Downs are busy from mid-morning, and nobody in the group has to be the designated driver.
With your own coach or minibus, your group travels together door to door, dressed for the day, with space for picnics, chairs and bags. It is also one of the most relaxed ways to get home after a long day of racing.
Coaches on The Hill and in the enclosures
Coaches and buses are welcome on The Hill, the free open downland in the centre of the course, where groups can set up for the day with picnics, chairs and gazebos. For 2027, parking across the racecourse is free, including for coaches and buses on The Hill.
If your group has tickets for the Grandstand, the Queen Elizabeth II Stand or a hospitality package, we plan your arrival for the car park or entrance that serves your enclosure. Tell us where you are going when you book and we will arrange the parking in advance.
Every vehicle in our fleet is LEZ and ULEZ compliant, so journeys from anywhere in London carry no emissions charges.
See The Hill (opens in a new tab) and Travel and parking (opens in a new tab) on the Jockey Club website.
On board
Horse racing isn’t covered by the alcohol ban that applies to football coaches, so groups may bring drinks on board in moderation. We ask that everyone respects the driver and the vehicle, and our drivers may refuse travel to anyone who is drunk.
The racecourse has its own rules. Racegoers on The Hill and in the bus enclosures can bring a limited amount of alcohol with a picnic, while the Grandstand and Queen Elizabeth II Stand do not allow outside food or drink. Check the latest rules for your enclosure before you travel.
The current rules are in the Derby Festival FAQs (opens in a new tab).
Planning your Derby day
Getting there
Traffic around Epsom builds from mid-morning, and groups heading for The Hill often like to arrive early to get a good spot. We plan your pick-up time around your enclosure, the race times and the traffic, and confirm it with your organiser beforehand.
Staying on site or drop-off and return
Many groups keep the coach with them all day as a base on The Hill. Others prefer a drop-off and a return pick-up after racing. We will quote for whichever suits your plans.
Getting home
Roads out of the Downs are busy after the last race. We agree a meeting point and departure time in advance. For long days, we plan drivers’ hours in line with UK regulations, which can affect timings or mean a second driver is needed – we explain this clearly when we quote.
Organiser checklist
- Confirm your group size and which day you are attending
- Tell us your enclosure or hospitality package so we can plan parking and arrival
- Decide whether the vehicle stays on site all day or drops off and returns
- Check the dress code and picnic rules for your enclosure
- Name one contact for each vehicle and share mobile numbers
- Tell us about any accessibility needs when you book
Vehicles for every size of group
From 9-seat minibuses for a small party to midi coaches and full-size coaches for large social clubs and corporate groups, we match the vehicle to your numbers. For bigger groups we can run several vehicles together. Browse our full fleet and see our pricing for more detail.
- 9-seat minibuses
- Midi coaches
- Full-size coaches
More days out
We also run group transport for Six Nations coach hire to Twickenham and for days out to Hampton Court Palace, both in south-west London.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2027 Epsom Derby?
The Betfred Derby Festival is on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 June 2027 at Epsom Downs Racecourse. Friday is Ladies Day, featuring the Oaks, and Saturday is Derby Day, with the Derby itself run at 4.00pm.
Can a coach park at Epsom Downs on Derby Day?
Yes. Coaches and buses are a long-standing part of Derby Day, and the racecourse welcomes them on The Hill. Parking at the racecourse is free for 2027, and we arrange the right parking for your group and enclosure in advance.
Can the coach stay with us all day?
Yes. Many groups use their coach as a base on The Hill for picnics and belongings. Tell us whether you want the vehicle to stay on site or drop off and return, and we will plan the day around it.
Can we drink on the coach?
Yes, in moderation. Horse racing isn’t covered by the alcohol ban that applies to football coaches, so groups may bring drinks on board. We ask that everyone respects the driver and the vehicle, and our drivers may refuse travel to anyone who is drunk. The racecourse has its own rules on what you can bring into each enclosure.
Can you take us to a hospitality enclosure?
Yes. We carry corporate and private hospitality groups, and we plan your arrival for the car park or entrance that serves your enclosure.
Where can you pick us up from?
Anywhere in London and the surrounding counties – offices, hotels, pubs, clubhouses and homes. Epsom is just inside the M25, so journeys from most of London and Surrey are short.
Book your coach to the Epsom Derby
Vehicles for Derby weekend book up quickly. Call us on +44 20 3457 2071 or email [email protected] with your group size, pick-up point, enclosure and which day you are going, and we will come back with a quote. You can also see our pricing or request a quote online.