Epsom and North Surrey offer easy access into central London and a host of top local and North Surrey attractions including Chessington World of Adventures, Epsom Downs Racecourse and the nearby Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Regular trains run from Epsom station to London Waterloo and Victoria as well as to the wider Surrey area and the South Coast. » Find Accommodation in Epsom
Epsom Racecourse plays host to one of the world's most famous horse races, the Epsom Derby annually on the first Saturday in June.
Epsom Downs Racecourse, home of the world famous Epsom Derby annually in early June, is one of Britain's most historic and treasured racecourses. The first recorded race run here at Epson on the Downs was held in 1779.
The Epsom Derby was firmly established from 1780 and today features within the Investec Derby Festival running over the first weekend in June. The Epsom Derby Race takes place on the Saturday over the one and a half mile legendary course which is widely considered to be one of the world's greatest flat races. To win the Derby at Epsom Racecourse is the coveted prize of every jockey, trainer, owner and breeder!
Between April and October there are 15 race days at Epsom Downs Racecourse with fixtures including alongside The Derby, July's Epsom Live! Evening racing meets followed by live music concerts. Family Funday at Epsom Racecourse takes place on the late August Bank Holiday Monday and features a range of children's entertainment and traditional children's races on the track.
Hospitality and state of the art conference facilities at Epsom Racecourse are superb with a choice of conference packages available. The racecourse is the perfect venue for conference events and situated a mere 30 minutes from central London. Epsom Downs Racecourse also boasts idyllic wedding facilities licensed for Civil Ceremonies and Partnership Ceremonies for up to 250 guests. Wedding receptions at Epsom Racecourse can cater for up to 600 guests.
Epsom Racecourse hotels include the onsite Holiday Inn Express and you'll find a wide choice of fine Epsom hotels and Epsom B&Bs around Epsom town centre within easy reach of the racecourse.
Epsom benefits from great public transport links making it easy to get to Epsom Racecourse by public transport. Epsom Station is served by both South West Trains and Southern Trains with frequent trains to Epsom running from London Waterloo, London Victoria and from the wider Sussex and Surrey area. From Epsom Station Epsom Downs Racecourse is a mere 10 minute bus or taxi ride away. Other railway stations near Epsom Racecourse include Tattenham Corner Station (half a mile walk from the racecourse) and Epsom Downs Station (1 mile walk from the racecourse). By road Epsom Racecourse is just a few minutes drive from Epsom town centre via the B290 Epsom Downs Road. Take Junction 9 off the M25 and follow the signs during race season.
London Airports are also conveniently close to Epsom Racecourse with Gatwick Airport just 18.5 miles from the course and Heathrow Airport just 27 miles away. Ample parking is onsite.
Epsom and Ewell have fascinating historical links to Royalty. Henry VIII once had a palace in Nonsuch Park in Epsom. The first English Spa was built around the well in Epsom Common and most famously the Epsom Derby race, one of the world's most famous horseracing events, is associated with the area. These and other themes in Epsom and Ewell history are explored in-depth at The Bourne Hall Museum in Ewell village, a free entry museum with onsite parking, extensive library, cafe and museum gift shop selling souvenirs and a range of local Epsom and Ewell history books.
Pick up a copy of the Nonsuch Trail leaflet from the Bourne Hall Museum or libraries in Epsom and take a tour of historic Nonsuch Park. In this Epsom Park sat the mighty Nonsuch Palace built by Henry VIII from 1538 around the same time as the building of Hampton Court. Nonsuch Palace was even more elaborate with much more money spent on its building than on Hampton Court. Elizabeth I spent considerable time at Nonsuch, the lost palace which was demolished in 1682 when Barabara Villiers, onetime lover of Charles II and owner of Nonsuch, sold it off to pay her gambling debts. Find out more about Nonsuch Palace and park via the Friends of Nonsuch website.
Epsom, Ewell and North Surrey are wonderfully rural boasting a selection of beautiful parks. The famous Epsom Common just to the southwest of Epsom is Surrey's largest Local Nature Reserve and home to a range of habitats, beautiful woodland and heathland. Over 100 species of birds and many of Britain's native butterflies have been seen on Epsom Common which is also home to a population of roe deer.
Attractions in North Surrey easily accessible from Epsom feature beautiful rural attractions like the restored Cobham Mill, riverside walks and arts in Walton on Thames and numerous events in Leatherhead. The Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Beauty with a stunning landscape of chalk downs is within easy reach of Epsom. This area of the North Downs pushes from Farnham in the west to Oxted in the east and incorporates the Surrey market towns of Farnham, Haslemere, Godalming, Guildford and Dorking.
Entertainment in Epsom features at the Epsom Playhouse which offers a year round eclectic mix of drama, film and Jazz and music concerts. The Epsom Playhouse boasts the Eligo Bar & Bistro onsite. Epsom Odeon Cinema offers the best of mainstream films and adjacent to the Epsom Odeon is The Ashley Shopping Centre, home to a range of favourite high street stores and a selection of restaurants and cafes. Browse the range of Epsom restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars in Epsom on iknow London food and drink listings.
The Ebbisham Centre in Epsom offers superb contemporary conference and business facilities as well as the Chapters Cafe and a selection of more bars and restaurants within the two adjacent squares. Epsom and Ewell are exceptionally well served by public transport with frequent fast trains from London Waterloo and London Victoria to Epsom Station available. Epsom also has direct rail links to the South Coast and the wider Surrey area. Bus services from Epsom connect the town to Gatwick Airport, Kingston and the wider Surrey area including Leatherhead and Cobham.
Visitors based in Epsom accommodation benefit from easy access into London, a range of top attractions like Epsom Racecourse on your doorstep and easy access to an outstanding choice of nearby North Surrey attractions in Cobham, Leatherhead and Walton on Thames.
