World Darts Championship from Birmingham: Taxi to Alexandra Palace & Late-Night Returns

Going to the World Darts Championship from Birmingham means a trip of around 115 miles to Alexandra Palace in north London, usually two to two and a half hours by road. The 2026/27 Championship runs from Friday 11 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, with the usual Christmas break from 24 to 27 December. For the first time, the tournament moves into Alexandra Palace’s Great Hall, which holds more than 5,200 spectators, compared with around 3,200 in the West Hall.

The bigger challenge is getting home. Evening sessions finish late, Alexandra Palace sits on top of a hill, and trains back to the Midlands over the festive period can be limited. This guide explains how a pre-booked taxi from Birmingham works for a darts night at Ally Pally. It covers when to leave, where to be dropped off and collected, and what to expect on the late journey home.

World Darts Championship 2026/27 at a glance

Session times vary from day to day. Check your ticket for the exact doors and start times before you travel.

What’s new for 2026/27

The move to the Great Hall

For 19 years, the World Championship was played in Alexandra Palace’s West Hall. This year, it moves to the much larger Great Hall, which holds more than 5,200 spectators. The PDC has said the tournament will stay in the Great Hall until at least 2031.

More tickets, more crowds

With a record 180,000 tickets on offer, more fans will be arriving and leaving at the same time. That’s good news if you want a ticket, but it also means busier roads and longer queues for public transport at the end of each session.

Tickets by ballot

The PDC introduced a ballot for this year’s tickets. If you missed out, check the PDC’s official ticketing channels for any returns, and avoid unofficial resellers.

Getting from Birmingham to Alexandra Palace by taxi

The route

Most journeys from Birmingham head south on the M6 and M1, then join the A406 North Circular towards Wood Green and Alexandra Palace. Depending on traffic, some routes use the M40 and M25 instead. The final stretch climbs up through Alexandra Park to the palace.

Journey time

In normal traffic, the drive usually takes around two to two and a half hours. The M1 and North Circular can be slow at peak times, and December adds Christmas shopping traffic. Allow a generous buffer, especially for weekday evening sessions.

London charges

Alexandra Palace is inside London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone, which covers the whole of Greater London, but outside the central Congestion Charge zone. Because your fare is fixed when you book, charges and diversions don’t change what you pay. Our guide to fixed-price and metered taxis explains why that matters on a long journey.

Afternoon and evening sessions

Two sessions a day

On most days of the tournament, there’s an afternoon session and an evening session. Each one has its own tickets, so check which session you’re attending before you plan your journey.

Afternoon sessions

For an afternoon session, you’ll leave Birmingham in the morning and finish in the early evening. That makes the journey home easier, because you avoid the latest finishes and the busiest late-night queues.

Evening sessions

Evening sessions are the most popular, and the atmosphere builds through the night. However, they finish late, often well after 10pm. That leaves a long drive back to the Midlands, and only a few late trains if you’re relying on rail.

Drop-off and pickup at Alexandra Palace

Arriving at the palace

Alexandra Palace sits on high ground, with roads leading up through the park to the building. Taxis can usually drop off close to the venue, following event-day signs and any directions from stewards. If you have mobility needs, tell us when you book, so we can plan the closest practical drop-off.

Agreeing a pickup point

At the end of a session, more than 5,000 people leave the hall at once. Before you go in, agree a specific pickup point with your driver and share it with your group. A clear meeting point makes it much easier to find each other in the dark and the crowds.

Pre-booked taxis and ride-hailing

Ride-hailing apps can be very busy after an evening session, with long waits and higher prices. A pre-booked taxi with an agreed pickup time avoids both. Keep your phone charged, and let your driver know if you’re running late.

If you’d like a fixed price for your trip to Ally Pally, you can get a quote online for the journey there and back.

Taking the train instead

The route

Trains run from Birmingham to London Euston. From there, you’ll need to cross London to Alexandra Palace station, or take the Piccadilly line to Wood Green and catch a bus up the hill. Alexandra Palace station is at the bottom of the hill, so expect an uphill walk to the venue.

The return journey

After an evening session, the return is the hardest part. Stations near the palace get busy, the buses up and down the hill fill quickly, and you then need to reach Euston in time for a late train to Birmingham. Check the time of the last train before you set off.

Christmas and New Year rail works

Major rail engineering works often take place over Christmas and New Year, which can mean replacement buses or closed lines. If you’re relying on the train, check for planned works on your dates well in advance. Our taxi vs public transport guide explains the trade-offs on longer journeys.

Taxi vs train vs driving

Why groups choose a taxi

Darts nights are often group outings, from work Christmas parties to stag and birthday celebrations. With a pre-booked taxi, nobody has to drive, and everyone travels together both ways. Splitting the fare across the group also makes the cost easier to manage.

Late-night returns to the Midlands

Planning for a late finish

Evening sessions can run late, especially when matches go the distance. Agree a pickup time with your driver based on the scheduled finish, and keep them updated if play overruns.

The drive home

Late at night, the M1 and M6 are usually quieter, so the journey home is often quicker than the trip down. Many fans sleep on the way back. Our guide to late-night taxis in Birmingham explains what to expect when travelling after dark.

New Year’s Eve and the final days

The tournament carries on after New Year’s Eve, with the final on Sunday 3 January 2027. Demand for taxis and trains is high around New Year, so book your transport early if you’re going to a session in the final week.

Choosing the right vehicle

Groups of up to seven

For groups of friends or colleagues, the Mercedes V-Class seats up to seven passengers, so everyone can travel together.

Smaller groups

If there are only two or three of you, the Mercedes E-Class is comfortable for the motorway. For a special occasion, the Mercedes S-Class offers extra space.

Corporate Christmas outings

Many businesses use the World Championship for staff Christmas parties or to entertain clients. Our corporate travel service invoices journeys monthly rather than per trip, which suits group bookings.

Tips for a night at Ally Pally

Before you go

• Check your session time and doors time on your ticket.
• Bring photo ID if your ticket conditions require it.
• Check the venue’s bag policy before you travel.
• Plan how you’ll get home before the session starts.

Fancy dress

Fancy dress is a big part of the World Championship atmosphere. If your group is dressing up, check the event’s conditions of entry for any restrictions, especially on masks or props.

December weather

The palace stands on an exposed hill, and December evenings can be cold, wet and windy. Wear warm layers for queuing outside, and allow extra time on the roads in bad weather.

Making a night of it

Eating before the session

Food and drink are available inside Alexandra Palace on match days, but queues build before each session. Muswell Hill and Wood Green, at the foot of the hill, both have plenty of places to eat. If you’d like to stop for a meal on the way, tell us when you book, and we’ll build it into your timings.

Staying overnight

Some groups make a weekend of it and stay in London after an evening session. If you do, we can drop you at your hotel after the darts and collect you the next day. That’s a good option if you’re going to sessions on two days in a row.

Accessibility

If anyone in your group needs accessible seating or support at the venue, contact the ticket provider or Alexandra Palace before your visit. Tell us about any wheelchair or mobility aid when you book, so we can plan the closest practical drop-off.

Pickups across Birmingham and the Midlands

We collect from homes, offices and hotels across the region. That includes pickups through our Birmingham taxi service, as well as from Solihull, Coventry and Wolverhampton. Our coverage area page lists every town we serve.

Book your World Darts Championship taxi

NET Airport Transfers runs pre-booked, fixed-price taxis from Birmingham and the Midlands to Alexandra Palace for the World Darts Championship, and back again after your session. Tell us your date, session and group size, and we’ll plan the pickup around the start time and the late finish. Book your darts taxi online, or contact us for group and corporate bookings.