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Events diary (by Shane Conway)

Last updated 15 December 2024

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This page lists events, rallies, museum open days and running days of interest to the classic bus enthusiast, although I don't always record auctions and sales etc. Please let me know if you have any new entries or corrections. Details of events for 2025 will be published as they are received. Look for the *NEW* symbol for new events. The county or district is shown at the end of each entry, by request of some visitors who find it easier to scan the list and see immediately what's happening in their particular area.

Please note that I cannot guarantee that any event listed below will actually take place - merely that it was intended to. I also don't guarantee the accuracy of the information, but I do my best....

Please send details of any suitable event that you know about, and I will list it. Please include a postcode if possible (for static events). Photos and/or reports of events would also be welcome to add to our rally reports pages.

The livery on this page is a tribute to Surrey Motors. Aaaah - sadly missed.....

Events Diary 2024/2025

DECEMBER

• 20 Dec: The Omnibus Society, Herts and Beds branch Christmas presentation in Luton. Bedfordshirexeo
• 22 Dec: Oxford Bus Museum Christmas event, bus rides and visit from Santa. Oxford.
• 27 Dec: Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Guided tours of Bridgeton Bus Depot (pre-booking essential). Glasgow.

Events Diary 2025

JANUARY

• Wednesday 1 January: Chester and Wrexham charity heritage bus running day. Large selection of vehicles running on free service 1H. Cheshire.
• Wednesday 1 January: King Alfred Mini-Running Day. Based on Winchester Broadway with a selection of King Alfred vehicles operating free vintage bus services approx 0930 to 1630. Hampshire.
• Wednesday 1 January: Oxford Bus Museum bus running day. Oxford.
• Sunday 5th January: Chesterfield 123 Preservation Group and the 'riding with Rodoeste' Preservation Group, running day departing Chesterfield 10.00, returning at 17.00. Details from Neville Whitmore on 07709 987478.
• Saturday 11 January: Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Guided tours of Bridgeton Bus Depot (pre-booking essential). Glasgow.

FEBRUARY

• Saturday 1 February: Enfield Transport Bazaar, St. Stephen's Church Hall, Village Road, Enfield EN1 2EY. 11:00 to 14:30, £3. Short distance from Enfield Town, and bus routes 329 and W8 stop outside. Email for details. North London.
• Sunday 9 February: Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Guided tours of Bridgeton Bus Depot (pre-booking essential). Glasgow.
• Sunday 9 February: Open day and free bus trips from 10.00 to 16.00 Nottingham Heritage Vehicles Charity. Heritage Bus Depot, Portland Road, Hucknall. NG15 7SF. Nottinghamshire.
• Saturday 15 February: Statbus at night event - Statfold Country Park (with involvement of Transport Museum Wythall), display of modern and preserved vehicles at the Staffordshire Railway attraction. Shuttle bus from Birmingham Alexander Theatre 10.30. Entry form available here.Staffordshire. B79 0BU.
• Friday 21 - Saturday 22 February: 3rd Wellingborough transport fair, 10:30 to 16:00. Photos, slides, books and general transport ephemera. Free entry. Debit and credit cards accepted. Light refreshments available and free local parking. At Wellingborough museum, Castle Way, Wellingborough NN8 1XB. Follow the 794 Preservation Group on Facebook @GRP794L. Northamptonshire.
• Sunday 23 February: Morris Minor display at Greater Manchester Museum of Transport from 10.00 to 15.00. Manchester.

MARCH

• Saturday 8 March: Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Guided tours of Bridgeton Bus Depot (pre-booking essential). Glasgow.
• Sunday 16 March: Spring Heritage Bus Running Day, North West Museum of Road Transport, 10:00 to 16:00. Free bus rides around St.Helens, sales stalls, model railways and refreshments. Hall St, St.Helens, Merseyside. WA10 1DU
• Saturday 22 - Sunday 23 March: Back to the future (buses from 1980s to 2000s at Greater Manchester Museum of Transport from 10.00 to 15.00. Manchester.
• Sunday 23 March: 4th Cotswolds Road Run in association with Troopers Lodge Motor Services - starting at Bourton Link, Bourton on the Water 10.00. Open to all kinds of bus, coach or classic commercial. Entries via email please.Gloucestershire.
• Sunday 23 March: West Surrey Running Day, Guildford, organised by the Southern Bus Preservation group
• Saturday 29 March: Route 19 (Finsbury Park to Battersea) running day by the London Bus Museum.
• Sunday 30 March: Dewsbury bus museum, Spring running day at the Dewsbury bus museum, Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury. Email for an entry form.Yorkshire.
• Sunday 30 March: (REVISED DATE) Southport Running Day, North West Vehicle Restoration Trust. Merseyside.
• Sunday 30 March: Classic buses from Rickmansworth to Loudwater Village, organised by the Amersham and District motor bus society. Hertfordshire.

APRIL

• Saturday 5 April: South East Bus Festival and Heritage Transport Show at the Kent Showground, Maidstone, ME14 3JF. Kent
• Sunday 6 April: Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Bridgeton Bus Depot Open Sunday. Glasgow.
• Sunday 6 April: Free heritage bus rides at Greater Manchester Museum of Transport from 10.00 to 15.00. Manchester.
• Saturday 12 April: 30th Annual Bus and Rail Collectors Fair and free vintage bus rides at Pudsey Civic Hall, Dawsons Corner, Pudsey near Leeds, LS28 5TA. Open 10.00 to 15.00, admission £3. For enquiries email Barry, or phone 0113 236 3695. West Yorkshire.
• Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 April: Wellingborough Bus Rally from 10.00 to 16.00. Based at Wellingborough Museum, Castle Way with buses on display and some running free services in the local area. Sales stalls and refreshments available in the museum. Information will be available on the NT Heritage website and Facebook page.
• Sunday 13 April: Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Guided tours of Bridgeton Bus Depot (pre-booking essential). Glasgow.
• Sunday 13 April: Spring Gathering, London Bus Museum, Brooklands, Surrey.
• Sunday 20 April: Penzance vintage bus running day, Thames Valley & Great Western Omnibus Trust with the Cornwall Bus Preservation Society. Penzance Bus Station, Cornwall.
• Sunday 20 April: Museum Volvo running day and free bus trips from 10.00 to 16.00 Nottingham Heritage Vehicles Charity. Heritage Bus Depot, Portland Road, Hucknall. NG15 7SF. Nottinghamshire.
• Sunday 20 April: Free heritage bus rides at Greater Manchester Museum of Transport from 10.00 to 15.00. Manchester.
• Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 April: Bristol Vehicle Owners display from 10.30 to 16.30 at Wythall transport museum.. Shuttle bus from Birmingham Alexander Theatre 10.30. Entry form available here. Worcestershire. B47 6JA.

MAY

• Saturday 3 May: Theydon Bois Transport Bazaar, Theydon Bois Village Hall (opposite village green) CM16 7ER. 1100-1500, £3, refreshments. Large public car park. Email for details. Essex.
• Saturday 3 - Sunday 4 May: Leyland National 53, everything Leyland National and much more.Workington Heritage Transport Trust, Whitehaven, Cumbria.
• Sunday 4 May: Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Bridgeton Bus Depot Open Sunday. Glasgow.
• Sunday 4 - Monday 5 May: Spring bank holiday open weekend fropm 10.30 to 16.30 at Wythall transport museum. Shuttle bus from Birmingham Alexander Theatre 10.30. Entry form available here. Worcestershire. B47 6JA.
• Monday 5 May: The Original King Alfred Buses Running Day based on Winchester Broadway with all available King Alfred vehicles operating free vintage bus services plus visiting vehicles. Approx 0930 to 1630. Hampshire.
• Sunday 11 May: Free heritage bus rides at Greater Manchester Museum of Transport from 10.00 to 15.00. Manchester.
• Saturday 17 - Sunday 18 May: Weekend based at the Isle of Wight Bus Museum, Ryde. Email for vehicle entries. Isle of Wight.
• Saturday 17 - Sunday 18 May: Faversham Transport Weekend. Bus event on the Saturday. Details available at (facebook page) or email Noel Young for information. Faversham, Kent.
• Saturday 17 - Sunday 18 May: The Great Central Railway and Leicester Transport Historic Trust Bus & Rail event. Details available by email. Leicestershire.
• Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 May: Bedford OB celebration from 10.30 to 16.30 at Wythall transport museum..Entry form available here. Worcestershire. B47 6JA.
• Sunday 25 May: Oxford Bus Museum Ernie's Retro wheels classic bus day. Oxford.
• Sunday 25 - Monday 26 May: Bank holiday open weekend - theme to be confirmed at Wythall transport museum. Shuttle bus from Birmingham Alexander Theatre 10.30. Entry form available here. Worcestershire. B47 6JA.

JUNE

• Sunday 1 June: The North West Vehicle Restoration Trust Annual running and open day based at Charleywood Road, Kirkby, Liverpool L33 7SG. Network of free bus services, sales, refreshments etc. Merseyside.
• Sunday 1 June: Classic buses from Dorking bus station, organised by the Amersham and District motor bus society. Surrey.
• Sunday 1 June: Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Bridgeton Bus Depot Open Sunday. Glasgow.
• Sunday 1 June: Free heritage bus rides at Greater Manchester Museum of Transport from 10.00 to 15.00. Manchester.
• Sunday 8 June: Fenland BusFest, Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire. More details later.
• Sunday 8 June: Free heritage operation on London bus route 418 (Kingston - Epsom) from 10:00 - 17:00. Surrey.
• Saturday 14 June: Transport Day at Abington Park Museum, Northampton from 10.00 to 16.00. Classic vehicle display with heritage buses running free bus trips in conjunction with the Museum event. Stagecoach services 1,16 and X46 stop nearby. Information will be available on the NT Heritage website and Facebook page.
• Saturday 14 June: London comes to Wythall from 10.30 to 16.30 at Wythall transport museum.. Entry form available here. Worcestershire. B47 6JA.
• Sunday 15 June: Nottingham Heritage Vehicles Charity Derbyshire bus and train festival at Rowsley South Station 10.00 to 16.00. DE4 2LF. Derbyshire.
• Friday 20 June: Royal Blue run Thames Valley and Great Western Omnibus Trust.
• Saturday 21 June: North West rail and transport collectors fair, Crewe Alexandra Football Club CW2 6EB. Phone 07787 258211. Cheshire.
• Sunday 22 June: Summer Festival at London Bus Museum, Brooklands. Bus display, free bus rides, trader's market from 10:00 to 17:00. Surrey.
• Sunday 22 June: Free heritage bus rides at Greater Manchester Museum of Transport from 10.00 to 15.00. Manchester.
• Sunday 29 June: Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust West End Bus Fest. Glasgow.
• Sunday 29 June: Open day and free bus trips, from 10.00 to 16.00 Nottingham Heritage Vehicles Charity. Heritage Bus Depot, Portland Road, Hucknall. NG15 7SF. Nottinghamshire.

JULY

• Saturday 5 July: Wythall busfest at Gaydon British motor museum, details at Wythall transport museum.. Shuttle bus from Transport Museum Wythall at 09.00. Entry form available here. Worcestershire. B47 6JA.
• Sunday 6 July: Bournemouth Bus Rally and running day, Kings Park, Dorset.
• Sunday 6 July: Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Bridgeton Bus Depot Open Sunday. Glasgow.
• Sunday 6 July: Cheltenham classic coaches, by the Thames Valley & Great Western Omnibus Trust. Cheltenham Town Football Club GL52 5NA.
• Sunday 13 July: Lowish-floor running day between East Grinstead and Godstone, with feeder services from Crawley, Purley, Redhill and Westerham. Surrey.
• Sunday 13 July: Showbus at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road Station, Station Road, Quainton, Buckinghamshire. HP22 4BY
• Sunday 13 July: Free heritage bus rides at Greater Manchester Museum of Transport from 10.00 to 15.00. Manchester.
• Sunday 20 July: Alton Bus Rally and Running Day at Alton College, Old Odiham Road. Alton. Hampshire.
• Saturday 26 - Sunday 27 July: 100 years of Bury Corporation buses, at Greater Manchester Museum of Transport. Manchester.
• Sunday 27 July: Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Bridgeton Bus Depot Open Sunday, Family & Community Fun Day. Glasgow.
• Sunday 27 July: Classic buses in Hertford, organised by the Amersham and District motor bus society. Hertfordshire.

AUGUST

• Sunday 3 August: Open day and free bus trips, from 10.00 to 16.00 Nottingham Heritage Vehicles Charity. Heritage Bus Depot, Portland Road, Hucknall. NG15 7SF. Nottinghamshire.
• Sunday 10 August: The Kent and East Sussex bus rally 10.00 to 16.00, at K & ESR Tenterden station, TN30 6HE. Email for an entry form. Timetable here. Kent.
• Sunday 10 August: The Big Bus Show at Stonham Barns, Suffolk.
• Sunday 10th August: Blues and Twos Emergency Vehicle day from 10.30 to 16.30, at Wythall transport museum.. Entry form available here. Worcestershire. B47 6JA.
• Sunday 17 August: 4th Cotswold bus rally at Cotswold Barn, Moreton in Marsh. Gloucestershire. GL56 OQZ. Email for details
• Sunday 17 August: Free heritage bus rides at Greater Manchester Museum of Transport from 10.00 to 15.00. Manchester.
• Sunday 24 - Monday 25 August: Summer Bank Holiday Special from 10.30 to 16.30, at Wythall transport museum.. Shuttle bus from Birmingham Alexander Theatre 10.30. Entry form available here. Worcestershire. B47 6JA.
• Monday 25 August: Oxford Bus Museum Heritage skills day. Oxford.
• Saturday 30 - Sunday 31 August: The Great Harwood Transport Festival, Bus Rally and Open Weekend, Great Harwood Showground, Blackburn, organised by The Town and District Transport Trust. Lancashire.
• *NEW* Sunday 31 August: The Sudbury bus rally at the bus station in Sudbury 09.00 to 17.00. Suffolk
• Sunday 31 August: Free heritage bus rides at Greater Manchester Museum of Transport from 10.00 to 15.00. Manchester.

SEPTEMBER

• Saturday 5 - Sunday 6 September: 1980s Weekend from 10.30 to 16.30, at Wythall transport museum.. Shuttle bus from Birmingham Alexander Theatre 10.30. Entry form available here. Worcestershire. B47 6JA.
• Sunday 7 September: Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway bus rally. Details from Andy Hunt by email. Kent.
• Sunday 7 September: The Coalville Garage Anniversary at Snibston Colliery Park, Coalville LE67 3JX. Details available by email. Leicestershire.
• Sunday 7 September: Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Bridgeton Bus Depot Open Sunday. Glasgow.
• Saturday 13 September: Enfield Transport Bazaar, St. Stephen's Church Hall, Village Road, Enfield EN1 2EY. 11:00 to 14:30, £3. Short distance from Enfield Town, and bus routes 329 and W8 stop outside. Email for details. North London.
• Saturday 13 September: Free heritage operation on London bus route 54 (Woolwich - Elmers End) from 10:00 - 17:00.
• Saturday 13 - Sunday 14 September: Road, Rail and Ale from 10.00 to 16.30, at Statfold Country Park.. Shuttle buses running through the day from Tamworth Railway Station. Entry form available here. Staffordshire. B79 0BU
• Saturday 13 - Sunday 14 September: Heritage open days at Greater Manchester Museum of Transport. Manchester.
• Saturday 14 September: Daventry Heritage event. Classic vehicles operating free bus rides from the Market Square on traditional United Counties, Midland Red and Geoff Amos routes to surrounding villages. Information will be available on the NT Heritage website and Facebook page.
• Saturday 20 September: 0900 - 1630 hours- Northampton Heritage Open Day from 09.00 to 16.30. Free bus services operating from George Row to serve venues in Northampton and surrounding towns and villages that are taking part in this national event. Information will be available on the NT Heritage website and Facebook page.
• Saturday 20 September: Kingsbridge vintage bus running day featuring 7'6" wide vehicles on a network of free services. Kingsbridge Bus Station on the Quay. South Devon.
• Saturday 20 - Sunday 21 September: Heritage open days at Greater Manchester Museum of Transport. Manchester.
• Sunday 21 September: Statbus event - Statfold Country Park (with involvement of Transport Museum Wythall), display of modern and preserved vehicles at the Staffordshire Railway attraction. Entry form available here.Staffordshire. B79 0BU.
• Sunday 28 September: Classic buses in Chesham, organised by the Amersham and District motor bus society. Buckinghamshire.

OCTOBER

• Sunday 5 October: Theydon Bois Transport Bazaar, Theydon Bois Village Hall (opposite village green) CM16 7ER. 1100-1500, £3, refreshments. Large public car park. Email for details. Essex.
• Sunday 5 October: West Midlands Municipal running day event from 10.30 to 16.30 at Wythall transport museum.. Shuttle bus from Birmingham Alexander Theatre at 10.30. Entry form available here. Worcestershire B47 6JA.
• Sunday 5 October: Nottingham Heritage Vehicles Charity Derbyshire bus and train festival at Rowsley South Station 10.00 to 16.00. DE4 2LF. Derbyshire.
• Sunday 5 October: Free heritage bus rides at Greater Manchester Museum of Transport from 10.00 to 15.00. Manchester.
• Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 October: Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Bridgeton Bus Depot Annual Open Weekend. Glasgow.
• Sunday 19 October: TransportFest 2025, London Bus Museum, Brooklands, Surrey.
• Sunday 19 October: Classic car show at Greater Manchester Museum of Transport. Manchester.
• Saturday 25 October: Buse by twilight at Greater Manchester Museum of Transport, open until 18.30. Manchester.
• Sunday 26 October: Twilight running day from 11.30 to 19.00 at Wythall transport museum.. Shuttle bus from Birmingham Alexander Theatre 10.30. Entry form available here. Worcestershire B47 6JA.
• Sunday 26 October: Open day and free bus trips, from 10.00 to 16.00 Nottingham Heritage Vehicles Charity. Heritage Bus Depot, Portland Road, Hucknall. NG15 7SF. Nottinghamshire.

NOVEMBER

• Saturday 1 November: 21st Annual Samuel Ledgard Society Transport Collectors Fair at Pudsey Civic Hall, Dawsons Corner, Pudsey near Leeds, LS28 5TA. Open 10.00 to 15.00, admission £3. For enquiries email Barry, or phone 0113 236 3695. West Yorkshire.
• Sunday 2 November: Dewsbury bus museum, Autumn running day at the Dewsbury bus museum, Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury. Email for an entry form.Yorkshire.
• Saturday 15 November: Enfield Transport Bazaar, St. Stephen's Church Hall, Village Road, Enfield EN1 2EY. 11:00 to 14:30, £3. Short distance from Enfield Town, and bus routes 329 and W8 stop outside. Email for details.North London.
• Saturday 22 November: 10th Annual Northampton Collectors Fair at Roade Village Hall, Bailey Brooks Lane, Roade, NN7 2LS. Free bus provided by Northampton Transport Heritage from Northampton. £2.50 adult - children Free. Open 1000 - 1500 hrs. Lots of free parking. Refreshments available.

DECEMBER

• Saturday 6 - Sunday 7 December: Christmas tunning weekend at Greater Manchester Museum of Transport. Manchester.

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