22Aug
Photo: Hugh Llewelyn · CC BY-SA 2.0
Bus & Coach Events · 10 dated · verified weekly
Bus and Coach Rallies in the UK
Next up: Lyndhurst Bus Rally & Running Day — Sat 22 Aug 2026, Hampshire.
A rally is a field, a few hundred vehicles and a day of looking. Arrivals are half the fun, so regulars get there for opening and watch them come in under their own power. Once parked the bonnets go up, owners stand about ready to talk, and the trade stands sell model buses, old destination blinds, enamel badges, timetables and fleet books you will not find anywhere else.
Showbus in September is the largest in the country and has changed venue over the years, so check the listing before you set off. The South East Bus Festival packs the Kent Showground at Detling in spring. The Alton Bus Rally uses Anstey Park in Hampshire in July, with free buses to the station and the Mid Hants Railway. North Weald runs on the airfield in Essex in June, and Trans-Lancs brings the northern fleets to Heaton Park in Manchester.
Nearly every rally runs a free bus service off the field, usually to the town centre and the nearest station, and it is included in your entry. That is the cheap way to get the riding without planning a running day around it.
August 2026
22Aug
Scottish Vintage Bus Museum Open Weekend
Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, Lathalmond, Dunfermline · Fife
Buses Sat 22 – Sun 23 Aug 202623Aug
31Aug
September 2026
5Sep
Great Harwood Transport Weekend
Great Harwood Showground, Whalley Road, Great Harwood · Lancashire
Buses Sat 5 – Sun 6 Sep 2026October 2026
3Oct
Bridgeton Bus Fest
Bridgeton Bus Garage, 76 Fordneuk Street, Glasgow · Glasgow
Buses Sat 3 – Sun 4 Oct 20264Oct
4Oct
Wirral Transport Show at Hooton Park
Hooton Park Trust Hangars, Airfield Way, Ellesmere Port · Cheshire
Buses18Oct
April 2027
18Apr
Awaiting dates
TBCMar
Cumbria Easter Rally (Kirkby Stephen & Brough Classic Commercial Vehicle Weekend)
Kirkby Stephen East Station and sites across Kirkby Stephen and Brough, Kirkby Stephen · Cumbria
BusesTBCApr
Bus & Coach Rally, Ulster Transport Museum
Ulster Transport Museum, 153 Bangor Road, Cultra, Holywood · County Down
BusesTBCJun
Barry Festival of Transport
Barry Island Promenade and Nell's Point Car Park, Barry Island · Vale of Glamorgan
BusesTBCJul
These run most years but the next date is not announced yet. We check weekly and date them the moment organisers confirm. Get the weekly email and you will not miss it.
More bus & coach events: Bus Running Days · Museum Event Days · Coach & Commercial Runs · all bus & coach events
Bus Rallies: your questions answered
How much does a bus rally cost to get into?
Usually £8 to £12 for adults, with accompanied children free or a couple of pounds. Parking is normally included and so are the buses running off the site. Take cash for the trade stands, as plenty of stallholders still do not take cards.
Are the bus rides free at a rally?
Yes, at nearly all of them the free service is part of your entry. Services usually run from mid-morning to late afternoon on a loop into town or to the station. The last departures often finish before the rally closes, so check the board.
What time should I arrive?
Early, for the arrivals. Gates tend to open around 9am and the hour after that is the best of the day, with vehicles still moving and the light better for photographs. Things start packing up from about 4pm.
Can I bring a dog?
Usually yes, on a lead, since most rallies are outdoor showground or airfield events. On-board rules vary by owner, so ask the driver first. Bring water, because airfields have no shade at all.
Can I enter my own vehicle?
Yes, if it is a bus, coach or commercial and old enough to qualify, which is usually 25 or 30 years. Entry forms go out months ahead and most rallies charge a small exhibitor fee that covers the crew. Contact the organiser through the listing rather than turning up on spec.
Never miss one