Ascot, Epsom, Twickenham and Wembley by chauffeur: event-day travel guide

Updated 6 November 2026 · By the Wimbledon Chauffeur team

Short answer: For Royal Ascot, the Derby at Epsom, Twickenham and Wembley, the key to chauffeur travel is planning drop-off and pick-up points around event-day road closures and agreeing a flexible pick-up window. From Wimbledon, Epsom and Twickenham are short drives, Wembley is across London and Ascot is roughly 20 miles away, and all four see heavy traffic leaving at the end. Book early for the biggest days.

Ascot, Epsom, Twickenham and Wembley by chauffeur: event-day travel guide

Why event days are different

Major venues bring in road closures, parking suspensions, permit zones and stewarded traffic routes on event days. Trains and stations are crowded, especially after the event. A chauffeur avoids the station queues and the parking problem, but cars still face the same roads, so the difference between a smooth and a stressful day is planning where you will be dropped, where the car will wait and where you will meet afterwards.

Venue by venue

Venue	Distance from Wimbledon (approx.)	Busiest times	Planning tip
Ascot Racecourse	About 20 miles	Royal Ascot in June	Book well ahead and confirm the chauffeur drop-off and car park arrangements for your enclosure
Epsom Downs	About 8 miles	Derby Festival in early June	Expect closures across the Downs and allow time to get away after the last race
Allianz Stadium, Twickenham	About 6 miles	Six Nations and autumn internationals	Roads close around the stadium on match days, so meet a short walk away
Wembley Stadium	About 13 miles	Cup finals, internationals, big concerts	Event-day parking restrictions apply in surrounding streets
The O2, Greenwich	About 13 miles	Evening concerts and shows	Agree a meeting point away from the main exits for a quicker getaway

Distances are by road and journey times vary widely with traffic, so allow extra time on event days.

Royal Ascot and race days

Royal Ascot runs for five days in June and is one of the busiest weeks of the year for chauffeurs around London. Dress codes are strict, especially in the Royal Enclosure, so a car means arriving fresh rather than walking from a station in formal dress. Many guests keep the car on as-directed hire for the whole day, which allows a relaxed lunch beforehand and a flexible departure. The Derby at Epsom is similar on a smaller scale, with large crowds on the Downs and slow traffic after the main race.

Book weeks or months ahead for Royal Ascot and Derby day
Check your ticket for car park or drop-off information for your enclosure
Decide in advance whether to leave before or after the last race
Bring a phone charger so you can message the driver at the end

Twickenham, Wembley and the O2

Stadium and arena events finish at a known time, but everyone leaves at once. Expect a wait while traffic clears, and plan a meeting point a short walk away from the stadium, outside the closures. Arriving early also helps: getting to the venue an hour or more before kick-off or doors opening avoids the worst of the inbound traffic and gives time for security checks.

Agree a named meeting point, not just the stadium name
Allow 30 to 60 minutes after the final whistle or encore before the car can get close
Consider a meal or drink nearby after the event to let traffic clear
Keep your phone on so the driver can update you

Choosing the right booking

The right booking type depends on how far the venue is, how long you will stay and how certain the finish time is.

Two separate transfers: cheaper for short local trips such as Wimbledon to Twickenham
Return with waiting: the car stays nearby, best when you are unsure of timings
As-directed day hire: ideal for race days, hospitality and combining the event with dinner
People carrier: good value for groups of four to seven sharing one fixed price

Hospitality and corporate groups

Corporate hospitality at race meetings, rugby internationals and finals often means collecting guests from several offices, hotels or homes and getting them to the venue for a set lunch time. Plan the collections in order, with buffer time between each, and share one running order with every driver if more than one car is involved. For larger groups, several people carriers can keep everyone together without the cost of a coach. At the end of the day, guests rarely leave at the same time, so agree in advance whether cars will wait for the whole group or run guests home in stages, and who on your side will coordinate with the drivers.

Event-day checklist

Event, venue, date and start time
Number of passengers and any luggage or hampers
Ticket or enclosure details that affect drop-off
Pick-up window and named meeting point
Driver's mobile number saved in your phone
Plan B if the event overruns or the weather changes