By MinicabTransfer editorial team · Updated
To arrive at Royal Ascot from central London with time to settle in before the Royal Procession at 2pm, leave between 10am and 11am. Hiring a car and driver by the hour for the whole day means the car can wait nearby and collect you whenever you choose to leave, rather than at a set time in the busiest traffic of the evening.
Royal Ascot runs for five days in June, Tuesday to Saturday. Operators’ race-week cars are in high demand, so the earlier you plan, the more choice you have. Here’s everything to think about.
When to leave London
Ascot racecourse is in Berkshire, roughly 25 miles west of central London. On an ordinary day it’s about an hour’s drive via the M4 or M3. During Royal Ascot, the final few miles are much slower as tens of thousands of racegoers arrive in the same window.
| Starting from | Leave by (race days) |
|---|---|
| Mayfair, Belgravia, Kensington | 10:00–10:30am |
| The City or Canary Wharf | 9:30–10:00am |
| Richmond or south-west London | 10:30–11:00am |
| Heathrow area hotels | 11:00–11:30am |
The Royal Procession arrives at 2pm each day, and the first race follows at 2:30pm. Most guests like to be through the gates by around midday to enjoy lunch, find their friends and see the procession without rushing.
Early is easier. The enclosures and restaurants open well before racing, and arriving in the first wave means a calmer drop-off.
How drop-off and parking work
Chauffeur-driven and private hire cars use the racecourse’s designated drop-off points and car parks. Arrangements, and which car park you can use, depend on your enclosure and any parking pass that comes with your badge or hospitality package. Tell your operator what you hold when you request a quote, and ask them to confirm the current year’s arrangements.
- Drop-off. Cars drop you as close to your entrance as the racecourse allows, then park in the allocated area.
- During the day. With hourly hire, the driver usually stays nearby, so a change of shoes or a coat left in the car is a phone call away. Check this with your operator.
- Car park picnics are a Royal Ascot tradition. If you’d like to entertain from the car, mention it in your quote request so the operator can plan around it.
The dress code, in brief
Royal Ascot is known for its dress code, which is enforced at the gates and published by the racecourse each year. The essentials:
Royal Enclosure
Gentlemen wear black or grey morning dress, including a waistcoat and tie, with a black or grey top hat. Ladies wear formal daywear with a hat. Rules on hat and headpiece sizes, hemlines and straps are specific, so read the current guidance before you shop.
Queen Anne Enclosure
Gentlemen wear a full-length suit with a jacket and tie. Ladies are expected to wear a hat, headpiece or fascinator and formal daywear.
Other enclosures
Dress codes are more relaxed elsewhere, but smart is the rule throughout.
Always check the official Royal Ascot dress code for the year you attend. It’s updated regularly, and it’s far better to know before you leave home than to find out at the gate.
Choosing the car. Morning dress, top hats and wide-brimmed hats take up room. A larger luxury saloon or an MPV gives you space to travel without crushing anything.
Leaving the racecourse
Getting away is harder than arriving. Traffic around the course is at its heaviest straight after the last race. Many guests stay on for the traditional singing around the bandstand and let the first rush clear before heading home.
This is where hiring by the hour makes the difference. You message the driver when you’re ready, they bring the car to the agreed collection point, and you leave on your schedule, not at a pickup time you set that morning.
Arranging your Ascot car
For a race day, most people hire a car for eight to ten hours of hourly hire, from pickup in London to drop-off at home or a dinner afterwards.
As a guide, nine hours in an Executive car is £900. Groups of up to seven can travel together in an MPV. Choose your hours in the form above to compare fares from TfL-licensed operators, then request a quote from the one you prefer. The operator contacts you directly to confirm the final price, waiting arrangements and cancellation terms.
For a group arriving together, such as corporate hospitality or a family party, ask the operator whether they can provide several matching cars. Our events page covers the rest of the summer season too: Wimbledon, Henley, Goodwood and Silverstone.