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The Trust organises regular displays and vintage bus running days, where you are able to enjoy a wide range of vehicles in their former habitats.

At our running days, you observe first-hand how the vehicles performed in service and build your own sense of how bus and coach travel has developed through the generations.

Our events have gained a nationwide reputation for authenticity and adventure, recreating the full experience of road transport in bygone days. They have become established, popular attractions for local communities and enthusiasts alike.

Why not come along to enjoy the scene and join us for a free bus ride?

 
 

Our principal events from 2023 are listed below and you can find out more from the individual event pages.  Planning for 2024 is underway with dates for our regular events given below.  A number of other special events are being planned and details will appear here in due course.

   
Penzance………….  Come and join TV&GWOT and CBPS in Penzance on Sunday 21 April 2024.
 
Royal Blue Run………. Look out for the spectacle of vintage coaches from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 June 2024
 
Kingsbridge………  Come and explore the South Hams by bus and coach on Saturday 21 September 2024.
 

© H Billington

Penzance Vintage Bus Day – Sunday 16 April 2023

Since the ‘final’ VR running day on the marque’s .withdrawal from service in December 2006, TV&GWOT and the Cornwall Bus Preservation Society have revived services around the West Cornwall peninsula each spring with a vintage bus day on the third Sunday in April giving free rides on preserved buses – do join us for a spectacular day out on 16 April 2023.  As the first GWR Road Motors service between Helston and The Lizard was inaugurated in 1903 linking the mainline railway to desirable destinations, the development of integrated transport solutions over 120 years to the present day is featured in the souvenir programme.  Bus and coach entries are invited here where event details will be updated progressively.

   

South Midland RELH 60th Anniversary Road Run - Sunday 14 May 2023

Coaches retraced parts of the South Midland Oxford-London Express Services route, 60 years after the prototype RELH joined the fleet.

Didcot Festival of Heritage Transport was cancelled with regret as intensive rail replacement services from Didcot Station interchange precluded its use for the vintage bus services.

   

© S Bigley

Royal Blue Long-distance Coach Run – Friday 16 June to Sunday 18 June 2023

The annual Royal Blue & Associated Motorways vintage coach run will set off on the third Friday in June as is TV&GWOT tradition. In 2023 the departure will be from Salisbury for a tour (‘West Country delights’) heading as far south and west as Penzance. Passing through Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall the route wends its way through villages, town and cities, taking in countryside, moorland and coastal scenery. So extensive was the Royal Blue network that many authentic routes will be traced by the vintage coaches for the first time, even after 22 years’ recreating the spectacle of Royal Blue coaching. Details of the route, participating coaches and approximate timings can be found here.

   

© C Billington

Kingsbridge Vintage Bus Day – Saturday 16 September 2023

Each year, on the third Saturday in September vintage buses and coaches converge on Kingsbridge and its small but perfectly formed bus station on the Quay giving free rides to surrounding country and coastal villages – do join us on Saturday 16 September 2023 for a memorable day out. 7’6” wide vehicles are well suited to the narrow lanes, with larger vehicles operating trunk routes to Salcombe, Slapton and Totnes (with its mainline rail connections) giving the event a unique vibrant character. Kingsbridge is home to local operator Tally Ho Coaches who in 2023 celebrate the centenary of the company’s formation – a celebration mirrored in the souvenir programme. Vehicle entries are invited here where event details will be updated in due course. There will be an excursion to Dartmouth on the Sunday for entrants and volunteers.

   

In addition to these and other events organised by the Trust for Supporters, our vehicles also attend events across the country throughout the year. Details are published on the Home page and on our Facebook page.

 
PREVIOUS EVENTS

To get a flavour of TV&GWOT Events from previous years, follow the links below:

Penzance Vintage Bus Days

Didcot Transport Events and Vintage Bus Days

Tavistock Mini Vintage Bus Days

Royal Blue Long-distance Coach Runs

Kingsbridge Vintage Bus Days

Reading-centred Thames Valley Displays and Vintage Bus Days

Victoria Coach Station Anniversary Events

Other Events and Excursions

 
 

(C) Copyright The Thames Valley & Great Western Omnibus Trust

Company Registered in England No. 5035702.  Registered Charity No. 1125980