Trooping the Colour Chauffeur Hire
The Sovereign's official birthday parade - central London locked down for diplomatic and royal guests.
Trooping the Colour - the day at a glance
All prices shown are indicative lead-in fares for the vehicle named and are subject to change - your final quote is confirmed in writing at the time of booking.
Arrival and access at Horse Guards Parade
Routes pre-agreed with embassy security. Pickups staged outside the cordon at Trafalgar Square or Birdcage Walk.
- Where the car sets down
- Outside the closure ring - typically Piccadilly, Victoria or Trafalgar Square, with a walk to Horse Guards.
- Where it waits
- Cars hold well outside the cordon; central London is closed to traffic for the duration.
- What travels with you
- None - security screening at the stands is strict.
A typical Trooping the Colour day with K2
- 07:45Collection
Hotel or residence pickup before the closure ring goes live.
- 08:30Set-down
Nearest permitted point outside the cordon.
- 13:00Flypast
Roads stay closed until the Royal Family leaves the balcony.
- 14:00Collection
Meet point agreed in advance, once the cordon lifts.
Vehicles for Trooping the Colour
Mercedes S-Class or Maybach
Two guests, extended rear cabin. For arrivals that are photographed.
Two to three guests, two cases. Our standard executive car.
Up to six guests in individual rear seats, with room for kit and hampers.
All prices shown are indicative lead-in fares for the vehicle named and are subject to change - your final quote is confirmed in writing at the time of booking.
Why guests at Trooping the Colour travel with K2
- 01Drivers briefed on Met Police diplomatic corridor protocols
- 02Close-protection partnership where required
- 03Discreet S-Class arrivals at The Mall and Horse Guards
Things worth knowing
- The Mall, Horse Guards and Whitehall close from early morning - no vehicle reaches the venue, whatever the ticket says.
- The cordon does not lift at the end of the parade; it lifts after the flypast and the balcony appearance.
- Guests staying at a Mayfair or St James's hotel often walk in and use the car only for the return.
Trooping the Colour chauffeur hire - frequently asked questions
How close can a car get to Horse Guards Parade?
It cannot. The Mall, Horse Guards Road, Whitehall and Birdcage Walk close to all traffic from early morning, regardless of what your ticket says. The nearest realistic set-down is outside the closure ring - typically Piccadilly, Victoria or Trafalgar Square - with a walk of ten to fifteen minutes. We agree that point with you the day before so nobody is searching for the car in a closed street.
When do the roads actually reopen afterwards?
Later than the parade ends. The cordon stays in place through the RAF flypast and the balcony appearance, and only lifts once the Royal Family has withdrawn and the crowd on The Mall disperses - usually early afternoon. We plan the collection against that, not against the parade's finish time, and hold the car outside the ring in the meantime.
Should we use the car in both directions?
Often not. Guests staying in Mayfair, St James's or Westminster frequently walk in - the closures make it faster than any vehicle - and use the chauffeur only for the return, when the cordon has lifted and the walk in formal dress is less appealing. We are happy to quote a one-way collection rather than pretending a morning drop-off adds value.
Can we leave bags or coats in the car?
Yes, and you should. Security screening at the stands is strict and there is no cloakroom, so anything beyond a small personal item needs to stay with the vehicle. Because the car is held outside the cordon, plan to hand over coats and bags at set-down rather than expecting to return to it mid-morning.
What does a day-rate booking for Trooping the Colour include, and when is a single transfer enough?
A day-rate booking keeps the same chauffeur and the same vehicle with you for the whole of Trooping the Colour - the car holds your coats and kit, there is no waiting charge, and an overrun simply extends the agreed hours. A single transfer suits guests attending one session with a firm finish time. Lead-in pricing for Trooping the Colour starts at £190 in the Mercedes-Maybach; day hire is quoted on the hours and vehicle you need. All prices shown are indicative lead-in fares for the vehicle named and are subject to change - your final quote is confirmed in writing at the time of booking.
Which vehicle actually suits Trooping the Colour, rather than which is most expensive?
Mercedes S-Class or Maybach Bear in mind what travels with you: none - security screening at the stands is strict. The Mercedes-Maybach is our recommendation here. Tell us the passenger count, the luggage and whether anyone is in formal dress, and we will specify the car on that basis rather than upselling you into a larger one you do not need.
What does your chauffeur know about Horse Guards Parade, SW1 that an app driver will not?
Routes pre-agreed with embassy security. Pickups staged outside the cordon at Trafalgar Square or Birdcage Walk. Our drivers are briefed on the approved set-down (outside the closure ring - typically piccadilly, victoria or trafalgar square, with a walk to horse guards) and on where the vehicle may legally hold between drop-off and collection. That briefing is the difference between a car that meets you and a car that cannot reach you.
Can you collect guests from several addresses and run more than one car for Trooping the Colour?
Yes. Multi-pickup and multi-vehicle work is routine for Trooping the Colour: we plan the route so the whole party arrives together, run two or three cars in convoy where needed, and give you one dispatch contact and one booking reference for all of them. Convoy work is quoted per vehicle rather than at the lead-in fare, and is confirmed in writing before the day.
Other society dates in the calendar
Five days that bring the Royal Family, garden designers and international press into a single congested square mile of Chelsea.
The Festival of Speed hill climb and Revival's 1950s dress code draw collectors, manufacturers and well-heeled enthusiasts from across the world.
Blazers, boaters and the Stewards' Enclosure. We move you river-side without a crease and stay through the prize giving.
Reserve your Trooping the Colour chauffeur.
We hold limited capacity for Trooping the Colour. Reserve early to lock in your driver and vehicle.