The British Grand Prix in England. Photo courtesy of Amanda Longhurst via Flickr.
From July 6th until July 8th this year, the green and pleasant lands of Northamptonshire, England will rumble to the sound of Formula One cars racing it out in the British Grand Prix.
This is one of the races on the FIA Formula One World Championship calendar and has been run on this historic Silverstone Circuit on and off since 1950. Once the world’s fastest F1 track, the circuit has been modified for safety and to suit modern racing. Recently Silverstone secured the deal to host the race until 2026.
The Silverstone Circuit is located 72 miles (115 kilometers) north of London on the border of the counties of Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire. It’s not a city circuit like some, but is out in the countryside amongst fields and woods. The nearest large towns are Northampton and Milton Keynes, but these are still around 20 miles (30 kilometers) away. If you want to attend the British Grand Prix you need to plan ahead for getting there and back. Most people drive because there are major motorways nearby (the M1 to the A43, or the M40) but this means parking can be problematic, although they have expanded the parking areas for this year.
If you wish to travel by bus or train you’ll find the closest places you’ll get to are Northampton and Milton Keynes and from there you’ll need to catch a taxi. If you want to take special charter coaches you will need to book ahead. Of course, since this is a Grand Prix, which means big money, there are helicopter shuttles going from London to Northampton for those who can afford it.
Hotels in the small villages nearby (Towcester, Brackley and Buckingham) get very booked up early and there is camping available onsite but it is not cheap and is only for holders of three-day tickets.
Tickets to the Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix tend to sell fast. Single qualifying-day tickets cost from £60 for the Friday, £80 for the Saturday and £135 for early bird deals or up to £240 for the day of the main race on Sunday. Three-day tickets are a much better deal for £155 if you have the time and passion for three days of fast cars and high volumes. This year they are also offering family package tickets to make it more affordable.
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June 29, 2012 by Viator
Festivals & Events, Unforgettable Experiences