Epsom and Walton Downs

Epsom and Walton Downs

The Downs are private land owned by Epsom Downs Racecourse and managed by the Epsom and Walton Downs Conservators through an Act of Parliament.

The Conservators’ principal obligations are to enable the training of the 150 racehorses and associated staff that currently use the gallops up until noon every day, to preserve the Downs in their natural state of beauty, to maintain the public’s right of access and to ensure that the various users respect each other’s rights and the Downs environment.

Membership of the Conservators is prescribed by the Epsom & Walton Downs Regulation Act 1984, and is made up of  borough councillors, Jockey Club Racecourses and the Betting Levy Board.  The meetings of the Conservators are not Council meetings and Borough Council sitting as Conservators are required to act in accordance with their duties under the 1984 Act. This is very different from their role and functions as councillors.

  • The public are invited to visit the Downs after 12 noon to allow racehorse training to take place safely.
  • Barbecues, camping stoves and open fires are not permitted on the downs except on specific days (eg the Derby).
  • Please take your litter home with you and please dispose of cigarettes and matches responsibly.

For all other enquires, please email contactus@epsom-ewell.gov.uk

All Metal Detecting Licence requests for 2023 have now been received, and applications are closed.
If you’d like to submit a new licence application, you can do so from 1 April 2024.
Please note, that if you are a current licence holder, your licence will have been automatically extended until 31 March 2024.

Two habitat management plans have been produced to inform the management of the biodiversity of the areas of land which are not used for horse racing and not part of the golf course. The latest versions can be found using the link below.