Silverstone Circuit, home of the British Grand Prix, sits across the border between Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire. It is built on the site of RAF Silverstone, a Royal Air Force bomber station from World War II.
It first hosted the British Grand Prix on October 2nd, 1948, when the circuit was 3.7 miles long and was marked out with straw bales and oil drums. The race was won by Luigi Villoresi in a Maserati. After that, the race was rotated between Brands Hatch, Aintree and Silverstone until 1987, when Silverstone became the permanent base.
Silverstone was also the location of the first Formula One Grand Prix, which was held in 1950. In 88 years of the Grand Prix, it has been won by 12 British drivers. Jim Clark is the most successful British Driver, winning four British Grand Prix, two of which were at Silverstone in 1963 and 1965.
Tickets are sold for individual events, and the prices for these events differ. The main event in 2024 will be the British Grand Prix, which will be held from July 4th to 7th. The total capacity is 150,000. There are a number of grandstands including International Pits Straight, Copse, Woodcote, Luffield, Becketts and Club Silverstone, Club, National Pits Straight, Stowe, Abbey, Vale and Village. Some seats are covered, but many are not. There is a range of ticket options to choose from, including an allocated seat in a chosen grandstand for the whole three days, or a ticket for one day in your chosen grandstand. Children's tickets are available for 15s and under, but children aged 10 and under can go free on a General Admission ticket. You can find the prices below:
There are many tips to keep in mind when you visit Silverstone Circuit to get the most out of your trip. These include:
There are many ways to get to Silverstone. Here is a guide to the main methods of transport.
You can take the Megabus to Silverstone from dozens of towns and cities all over the UK. This is one of the cheapest ways to travel to the circuit.
There are three Park and Ride sites. Hinton Airfield is located off the M40, and a further two are located off the M1. They are operated by Silverstone, and you can buy a one-day pass. The bus journey to the circuit lasts about 20 minutes.
Head to Milton Keynes, Banbury or Northampton stations if you travel by train. You can book your tickets in advance using thetrainline.com , and by doing this you can save money off the ticket price! From the stations, you can catch a Stagecoach bus or take a taxi, and the journey to the circuit lasts about 30 minutes.
| Method of transport | Approximate journey time | Approximate cost |
|---|---|---|
| Car | 1 hour | £10 |
| Bus | 2-4 hours | £25 |
| Taxi | 1 hour | £60 |
| Train (requires taxi from station) | 1hr 57mins | £20 |
Please note that journey times may be affected during rush hour and on race days. Whilst travelling by car to Silverstone works out at the cheapest option (in petrol), if you need to rent a car, further charges will be incurred. For a list of taxi companies operating from Luton, visit our Luton Airport Taxis page.
There are a number of accommodation options to choose from. Some of the hotels located near to Silverstone include:
Many visitors prefer to camp nearby, and there are a number of campsites located within walking distance from the circuit. These include:
There are many things to do in the area when you visit Silverstone if you don't want to limit your trip to just the racing! The main towns to visit include Towcester, Milton Keynes, Stowe and Buckingham.
In Stowe, one of the main attractions is Stowe Landscape Gardens. These beautiful gardens are popular for days out, and free activity packs are provided for children.
In Buckingham, you could visit the Buckingham Old Gaol Museum and discover more about the history of the area as well as seeing the original prison cells.
