Everything a first-timer needs for the Derby Festival at Epsom Downs: which enclosure to pick, what to wear, how to get there from London and how tickets work. Part of our horse racing from London guide.
The Derby Festival at a glance
The Derby Festival is two days of Flat racing at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey, held in early June. Ladies Day features the Oaks and Derby Day features the Derby, first run at Epsom in 1780. For this year's exact dates, see our Derby Festival event page.
Short version: go to The Hill for a free, festival-style day with your own picnic, Upper Tattenham for a trackside view with a picnic, the Grandstand for the Parade Ring and a bigger-ticket day, and the Queen Elizabeth II Stand only if you are happy to follow its Derby Day dress code.
Which Derby Festival enclosure should you choose?
The famous free area in the middle of the course, and the heart of the party: a market, a funfair, big screens and track-side viewing. Register for a free ticket. You can bring your own picnic, chairs, tables and gazebo, and there is a designated barbecue area (raised barbecues only).
Best for: groups and families who want the full Derby atmosphere on a budget.
A relaxed trackside spot where the horses turn the famous Tattenham Corner into the home straight. You can bring your own picnic and folding chairs and tables, but not gazebos. There is no access to the Parade Ring, Winners Enclosure or after-party.
Best for: groups who want a picnic and a proper view of the bend.
Unrivalled views of the finish line, with access to the Parade Ring, the O Beach marquee and the after-party. There is no official dress code. Picnics are not allowed.
Best for: first-timers who want to see the horses up close and be at the heart of the action.
The Derby Festival's traditional, formal enclosure, with front-row views, access to the Parade Ring and the Winners' Circle, and the after-party. Picnics are not allowed.
Best for: anyone who wants the full top-hat tradition.
Two more options: DerbyFest! is free to enter (a ticket is recommended and picnics are allowed), and Cedric's is the premium marquee enclosure next to the winning post. Hospitality packages are also available.
What to wear to the Derby
No official dress code. You are encouraged to dress to feel your best, from bright and bold to subtle and sophisticated.
Team colours and football or sports kits are not allowed, and offensive or inappropriate fancy dress may be refused entry.
Men: black or grey morning dress with a top hat, or service dress or full national costume.
Women: formal day dress or a tailored trouser suit, with a hat or fascinator.
The code applies to ticket holders and hospitality guests in the stand. Hospitality elsewhere asks for formal day dress or a tailored trouser suit with a hat or substantial fascinator.
The racecourse can vary dress codes by day and enclosure, so check yours on the official Derby Festival dress code page before you buy an outfit.
Never Miss a London Ticket Drop
Get alerts for ballots, on-sales, resale windows and price drops before the best tickets disappear.
Getting to the Derby from London
By train (recommended): the journey from London takes about 42 minutes, so check National Rail for exact times. Three stations serve the course: Tattenham Corner, Epsom and Epsom Downs. Southern usually runs an amended timetable on Derby Day and the trains and stations are very busy, so travel early and buy your ticket in advance or use contactless.
From Epsom station: a shuttle bus runs between Epsom station and the racecourse on both festival days. Metrobus 460, 480 and 406F services run from Epsom town centre to Tattenham Corner station.
By taxi or car: there is a taxi pick-up and drop-off point at Car Park 8. If you drive, pre-book a car park pass for the car park that matches your enclosure and follow the colour-coded signs. The sat-nav postcode is KT18 5LQ.
Derby Festival tickets and hospitality: how it works
Free areas: The Hill is free but you need to register for a free ticket. DerbyFest! is also free, and a ticket is recommended because entry cannot be guaranteed without one on the day.
Ticketed enclosures: Upper Tattenham, the Grandstand, the Queen Elizabeth II Stand and Cedric's are sold by the day through the racecourse's own ticketing. Hospitality packages sit alongside them, and you can compare packages in the partner panel at the top of this page. A discounted RacePass is available to 18 to 24 year-olds.
On the day: bags are searched on arrival, food and drink on site is card only, and only assistance dogs are allowed in the stands.
The two days of the Derby Festival in brief
The first day of the festival, headlined by the Oaks, a Classic for the best three-year-old fillies.
The big one. The Derby, the greatest Flat race in the world, is the afternoon's feature, alongside the Coronation Cup and a full card of eight races. This is the day the Queen Elizabeth II Stand dress code applies.
The race-by-race programme changes each year. Our Derby Festival event page keeps the current dates and a match preview.
Derby Festival planning checklist
- Choose your enclosure first: it decides your dress code, what you can bring and where you can walk.
- Register for your free ticket if you are going to The Hill, and get a DerbyFest! ticket if you want to be sure of entry.
- Check your enclosure's dress code, especially for the Queen Elizabeth II Stand on Derby Day.
- Plan your train home as well as your journey there: stations and trains are very busy at the end of the day.
- Pack a picnic only if you are in DerbyFest, The Hill or Upper Tattenham, and leave team kits at home.
- Take a card: food and drink on site is card only.
Upcoming horse racing events
Derby Festival FAQs
When is the Derby Festival?
The Derby Festival is a two-day meeting at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey in early June: Ladies Day with the Oaks on the Friday, and Derby Day on the Saturday. The current dates are on our Derby Festival event page.
How do I get to Epsom Downs from London?
By train. Three stations serve the racecourse: Tattenham Corner, Epsom and Epsom Downs. The journey from London takes about 42 minutes, so check National Rail for exact times. A shuttle bus runs from Epsom station on both festival days, and Southern usually runs an amended timetable on Derby Day.
Is The Hill really free?
Yes. Admission to The Hill is free, but you need to register for a free ticket. It is the large open area in the middle of the course, with a market, funfair, big screens and track-side viewing, and you can bring your own picnic, chairs and gazebo.
What is the dress code at the Derby?
There is no official dress code in the Grandstand, Upper Tattenham or The Hill: you are asked to dress to feel your best, and team colours and kits are not allowed. The Queen Elizabeth II Stand has a dress code on Derby Day: black or grey morning dress with a top hat, service dress or national costume for men, and formal day dress or a tailored trouser suit with a hat or fascinator for women.
Can I bring a picnic to Epsom on Derby Day?
Yes, but only in DerbyFest, The Hill and Upper Tattenham. All other enclosures do not allow picnics, alcohol or furniture to be brought in.
Can I get into the Parade Ring?
Only with a Queen Elizabeth II Stand or Grandstand ticket, including hospitality and Cedric’s. Upper Tattenham and DerbyFest tickets do not include Parade Ring access.
Keep planning
Current dates and the match preview.
Stations, enclosures and the venue guide.
Every racing day out worth leaving London for.