Tips for visiting Silverstone

KraniX

KraniX

KraniX

Soldato
Joined
23 Mar 2004
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Location
Yorkshire
Hi all,

My lovely wife presented me with tickets for the British GP this year for Xmas, very excited as been a big F1 fan for years but first time seeing a live race.

Just wondered if you guys had any tips or advice for visiting Silverstone? We have tickets for all 3 days.

We're lucky in that we have some family in Milton Keynes we can stay with thus avoiding the annoying massive hotel price increases that weekend but was thinking taking my car to the circuit to park will be a nightmare, is it that bad as supposedly they have improved things?

We have good seats for the race but I understand that for Friday and Saturday there isn't any reserved seating and is first come first served or something... is that right as thought a bit odd?

Any other general advice would be most appreciated.

Cheers!
 
Taking the car would be a nightmare, best to use one of the park and rides. While it is improved you will still find yourself sitting in traffic for hours. Friday and Saturday you can sit where you want. Take food and drinks in with you if you don't want to pay the expensive food prices in the circuit.
 
Parking is fine if its dry. If it rains then it can be problematic. The one way system works great and I've had no issues parking at the track. I even has no issues last year because I knew the back route out of the carpark through the forest ;).

You will need to make a decision though as parking or park and ride needs to be pre booked. You won't be able to make your mind up on the day.

Grandstand tickets give you a designated seat Sunday, and roaming grandstand Friday and Saturday. Its brilliant. Don't worry about things being full, Friday and Saturday are less busy so basically walk around the whole track and sit in any grandstand you like. If its your first time then walk the whole track to take it all in, sit in all the grandstanded to check out all the views.

Where are you race day?

The atmosphere is always great at Silverstone. The facilities are not brilliant though, the toilets are poor and all food is burger van style and frigging expensive.
 
I agree with the other guys. Driving friday is fine but the park and rides work quite well sat/sun. Just be prepared to queue for an hour to get out after the race and probably the same to get out of where you car is parked at the bus stop.

Friday, walk a full lap and stop off every now and then for a while to check out the view from where you are. Some stands are corporate only but not many. You can do a helicopter trip round the track but it's usually very expensive for not a lot. I think when I was there in '11 it was about £50 for literally 5-6 minutes in the air. Depends if you think that's worth it. I didn't.

Saturday is similar to friday but you'll find people start to sit down for qually at least an hour before it starts. So make a note of where you were friday, decide which is the best place for saturday and make a beeline for that when you get there. You can hover around some of the other stands etc but I'd think about getting my seat in good time.

Sunday you'll have an allocated spot but it's worth getting there early to watch the build up races and all the pre-race stuff like the drivers parade, demo laps, air display etc.

Enjoy :) Race day atmosphere is great.
 
Can't add much to the above - check out the views on Friday and watch P1/2/3 and qually from different stands to where you have race seats for.

First time seeing a live race? You'll love it :cool: I'm going on the Friday to get my fix.
 
Good point from Kevin, make sure you watch everything, the GP2 and GP3 are always good. I've never understood the people who turn up 5 minutes before qualifying or the race, and leave 5 minutes after it finishes.

There is a music gig after the race which is average, but they normally get a bunch of drivers on stage for a chat before it which is great. I would head over for that rather than heading straight for the bus, it means you won't hit massive queues.
 
I've been a couple of times and camped both times and walked into the circuit.

The only thing I can add to what's already been said is the race seems to go by very quickly compared to watching it on TV.

Take a cap or a hat, if it stays dry you will get sunburned even if it's cloudy.

Take a radio and headphones so you can listen to Silverstone Radio, it helps you follow the race better if you can't hear the commentary over the P.A system.
 
The MK side is worse than the Brackley side for access and exit, that said their one way system works really well. Get track parking if you can. The rain was freak last year and they've made further provisions just in case.
 
Cheers all for the info, I think we'll take the car then, might have to sit in bit of traffic but I'd rather be in my own car that having to wait for some bus for ages in the rain...

Will def. move around the circuit to check out the different views over the course of the days, am very excited to see my first race, the sounds and the smells... can't wait!
 
Park in the village down stewart drive and walk it (Its only 15 mins to the track from there). You know it makes sense, plus you get to pee the locals off (I used to be one of those locals).
 
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