A Grand National chauffeur makes most sense on the weekend that sees Aintree Racecourse at its busiest. It runs across three days of racing that build to the National itself on the Saturday. The drive up from Birmingham itself isn't the hard part of the day. Instead, the trouble starts once you're within a few miles of the course. There, car parks fill early and the roads around them slow to a crawl well before the first race.
The route from Birmingham to Aintree
It's around 100 miles up the M6, typically a two-hour drive outside of race weekend traffic. On National day itself, however, the final stretch into the course area is where time gets genuinely unpredictable. A Grand National chauffeur who knows the weekend accounts for that part. They don't simply follow a sat nav's standard estimate.
Why arrival time matters more on National day than any other race day
The main event doesn't run until late afternoon. Even so, the course and its car parks are busy from mid-morning, and general parking areas do fill up. Arriving later than planned on National day can mean a genuinely long walk from wherever you eventually find a space. That isn't what anyone wants in their racing outfit. A confirmed chauffeur drop-off avoids that gamble entirely.
Getting away after the National
The last race of the day draws the single biggest crowd movement of the entire weekend. Everyone tries to leave at once. This is where a pre-booked Grand National chauffeur earns its keep. Your driver knows the return pickup point and time in advance. So you're not trying to find a taxi in a crowd that's just watched the most-watched horse race of the year.
Grand National chauffeur travel for groups and racing parties
National weekend trips are very often a group affair. For a party of up to six, a Mercedes V-Class tends to be the simplest way to travel. That applies both to the drive up and to getting everyone away together afterwards. It also beats splitting a group across separate journeys, with everyone making their own plans.
Booking your Grand National chauffeur
The racecourse confirms race dates well in advance. That's why early booking is genuinely worthwhile for your Grand National chauffeur, rather than just standard advice. Book online or call 0333 533 3530, and use MYAPEX for a discount on your first booking.
Frequently asked questions
How early should I book for Grand National weekend?
As soon as you have your race day tickets. Availability for National day specifically tends to be the first to go across the whole weekend.
Does the drive take longer than usual on National day itself?
Yes, particularly on the approach to the course from around mid-morning onward. Your chauffeur will build extra time into the pickup schedule to account for it.
Can Apex collect a group after the last race, when the course is at its busiest?
Yes, this is exactly the kind of situation a pre-booked pickup suits. We confirm your return time and meeting point in advance, rather than arranging them on the day.
