Goodwood FOS 2025
Discussion
Hi all.
Looking for some advice on the FOS for 2025 please.
We are in Scotland so couldn’t be much further away but thinking of heading down.
We’d be staying in the area Friday and Saturday nights.
We have two kids (3 and 4) as well - do you think they’d hate it being so young?
Does it ever sell out or should it be possible to get tickets on the day?
Any direct experience/advice welcome
Thanks in advance, RUI.
Looking for some advice on the FOS for 2025 please.
We are in Scotland so couldn’t be much further away but thinking of heading down.
We’d be staying in the area Friday and Saturday nights.
We have two kids (3 and 4) as well - do you think they’d hate it being so young?
Does it ever sell out or should it be possible to get tickets on the day?
Any direct experience/advice welcome
Thanks in advance, RUI.
No tickets on the day, it’s pre booked only. Iirc , they sell all tickets out completely , but you do see them for sale on here as peoples plans change .
Accommodation gets booked very quickly locally .
There’s an awful lot of walking to do, especially if you are a little late on arrival and then want to see the rally stage.
It’s a great event , but over a large site , not sure if younger kids would enjoy it .
Accommodation gets booked very quickly locally .
There’s an awful lot of walking to do, especially if you are a little late on arrival and then want to see the rally stage.
It’s a great event , but over a large site , not sure if younger kids would enjoy it .
It definately does sell out for certain days.
For the kids - you know them better than we do, but being that young what is their attention span like ? ultimately you'd be wandering around looking at parked up cars or watching them whizz up the hill, how many times will they need to see that before they don't care any more ? You might understand historical significance of a car / driver but they're just going to see a car.
Yes there is the rally stage and possibly some other stuff (jag had a little demo circuit where they were throwing cars around one year) but its all quite spread out, with kids that young you'll be jumping on the tractor to get around.
If its hot and sunny there isn't a lot of shade, if it rains there's little cover. (in a position where you can watch still) Either hot and irritable or wet and irritable they might find it too much ?
For the kids - you know them better than we do, but being that young what is their attention span like ? ultimately you'd be wandering around looking at parked up cars or watching them whizz up the hill, how many times will they need to see that before they don't care any more ? You might understand historical significance of a car / driver but they're just going to see a car.
Yes there is the rally stage and possibly some other stuff (jag had a little demo circuit where they were throwing cars around one year) but its all quite spread out, with kids that young you'll be jumping on the tractor to get around.
If its hot and sunny there isn't a lot of shade, if it rains there's little cover. (in a position where you can watch still) Either hot and irritable or wet and irritable they might find it too much ?
I took my daughter and her friend twice 9 and 10 and that was just about the sweet spot. They play around in the woodland while I watch the rally stage and can walk up and down the hill without constant whining.
At that age it is going to be ask and you will be getting a good workout towing them in some form of pushchair.
At that age it is going to be ask and you will be getting a good workout towing them in some form of pushchair.
I have done it when our kids where around 5+, there is a small children's play zone at the front and you can hire the off-road buggies to pull little ones around the estate. Well worth it, as a lot of walking, but you can't carry these up the stairs as too heavy, so need to use the track crossings which are open at certain points or a lot of waiting around.
I would strongly recommend ear defenders as it is very loud for kids, mine had them on most of the day.
We also took lots of snacks and food as everything is expensive.
I am not sure it was really worth it for the kids at that age, and being parents we didn't get to see that much either. I much prefer it now mine are 10+ as they get to walk on their own and can participate in much more.
I would strongly recommend ear defenders as it is very loud for kids, mine had them on most of the day.
We also took lots of snacks and food as everything is expensive.
I am not sure it was really worth it for the kids at that age, and being parents we didn't get to see that much either. I much prefer it now mine are 10+ as they get to walk on their own and can participate in much more.
If you're wanting to do Goodwood with kids I can recommend the members meeting.
I did it last year with my wife (least into cars in the family - i.e. Not at all) and my 3 year old and 1 year old. We all had a great time. It's the quietest event, has lots to see, and is manageable with one pram and my shoulders.
This year now they'll be 4 and 2 all four of us are doing it again and I'm taking my daughter (4) to the Revival.
I think for kids FOS can be very hot and busy now, and is spread across a large area.
I did it last year with my wife (least into cars in the family - i.e. Not at all) and my 3 year old and 1 year old. We all had a great time. It's the quietest event, has lots to see, and is manageable with one pram and my shoulders.
This year now they'll be 4 and 2 all four of us are doing it again and I'm taking my daughter (4) to the Revival.
I think for kids FOS can be very hot and busy now, and is spread across a large area.
Just another to jump in and say FOS is not the event to take young children to. People do and will but it’s loud, crowded out in the elements which can be very hot or very wet and there’s miles of walking to be done. Wait until they’re a bit older (9 suggested above sounds about right) and it can be a great day.
Obviously everyone's children are different, but to offer a counter view, I went to FoS for the very first time last year with my wife and then three and a half year old daughter and son who was about to turn one and we all had such an amazing day, so much so we bought tickets for this year as early as possible (they arrived in the post on Saturday just gone actually.)
We too read comments suggesting not taking children which worried me but I'm glad we took the plunge.
Things that made it work for us, which again appreciate everyone is different. My wife was happy to spend periods of time with the children in the specific Thakeham family area whilst I went to the nearby free stand to watch cars go up the hill. I prioritised the batches of cars I really wanted to see so as to not leave them too long to get bored / out of control. We'd then put the children in their double pram and go for walks to see other stands etc and then come back for another batch. Lots of snacks / ice cream etc helped unsurprisingly. Does also help that both children already are into cars (they didn't have a chance not to be if I'm honest haha!)
I'll admit we had perfect weather which will have helped a lot. We also were there really early to walk around the paddock when it was quiet so didn't need to do it later in the crowds.
I'd also say that the main thing is that we went with somewhat low expectations as to what we'd be able to do what with two children; but rather made the most of being able to go at all. And again I think this helped as we just took it easy, saw as much as we could knowing that if it went well it would become an annual event anyway. Obviously I didn't get to see everything, for example didn't even attempt to visit the rally stage, but like I say we were frankly just happy to have finally been able to go.
Ultimately it's your decision, how important is it to go as a family? Can you leave the children behind? How bothered would you be if you didn't get to see everything? I'm glad we took them and am looking forward to this year. (Obviously hoping that last year wasn't a fluke / beginners luck and we have another good year this year haha!)
Definitely get good ear defenders for them if you do take them.
We too read comments suggesting not taking children which worried me but I'm glad we took the plunge.
Things that made it work for us, which again appreciate everyone is different. My wife was happy to spend periods of time with the children in the specific Thakeham family area whilst I went to the nearby free stand to watch cars go up the hill. I prioritised the batches of cars I really wanted to see so as to not leave them too long to get bored / out of control. We'd then put the children in their double pram and go for walks to see other stands etc and then come back for another batch. Lots of snacks / ice cream etc helped unsurprisingly. Does also help that both children already are into cars (they didn't have a chance not to be if I'm honest haha!)
I'll admit we had perfect weather which will have helped a lot. We also were there really early to walk around the paddock when it was quiet so didn't need to do it later in the crowds.
I'd also say that the main thing is that we went with somewhat low expectations as to what we'd be able to do what with two children; but rather made the most of being able to go at all. And again I think this helped as we just took it easy, saw as much as we could knowing that if it went well it would become an annual event anyway. Obviously I didn't get to see everything, for example didn't even attempt to visit the rally stage, but like I say we were frankly just happy to have finally been able to go.
Ultimately it's your decision, how important is it to go as a family? Can you leave the children behind? How bothered would you be if you didn't get to see everything? I'm glad we took them and am looking forward to this year. (Obviously hoping that last year wasn't a fluke / beginners luck and we have another good year this year haha!)
Definitely get good ear defenders for them if you do take them.
Thanks for the response.
Against the general concensus (always the way with me!) we have decided to go.
But there’s a compromise; the mrs is taking the youngest (he’ll be three by then) for the day somewhere and dropping myself and the eldest (she’ll be four) at the show.
So a little less full on and hopefully more chance of success!
I’ll be buying my ticket on pay day (Friday!)
Against the general concensus (always the way with me!) we have decided to go.
But there’s a compromise; the mrs is taking the youngest (he’ll be three by then) for the day somewhere and dropping myself and the eldest (she’ll be four) at the show.
So a little less full on and hopefully more chance of success!
I’ll be buying my ticket on pay day (Friday!)
RUI488 said:
Thanks for the response.
Against the general concensus (always the way with me!) we have decided to go.
But there’s a compromise; the mrs is taking the youngest (he’ll be three by then) for the day somewhere and dropping myself and the eldest (she’ll be four) at the show.
So a little less full on and hopefully more chance of success!
I’ll be buying my ticket on pay day (Friday!)
Might be easier to get dropped off at the station and get the shuttle in. Can’t imagine it being that fun trying to drop off and collect unless you plan to be on site at 7am?Against the general concensus (always the way with me!) we have decided to go.
But there’s a compromise; the mrs is taking the youngest (he’ll be three by then) for the day somewhere and dropping myself and the eldest (she’ll be four) at the show.
So a little less full on and hopefully more chance of success!
I’ll be buying my ticket on pay day (Friday!)
There’s a shuttle from Chichester Station. Arrive early to avoid traffic (7am) roads in the area for the event will be gridlocked. At busy times.
The usual tip is arrive early and leave late but with a young child might not work.
You can take food and drink in with you but will have to carry it all day. Food is around £10-14 for a burger and chips beer £7.50ish and soft drinks £3ish free water refills available.
The usual tip is arrive early and leave late but with a young child might not work.
You can take food and drink in with you but will have to carry it all day. Food is around £10-14 for a burger and chips beer £7.50ish and soft drinks £3ish free water refills available.
RUI488 said:
Wonder whether i should try and arrive late!? Lol.
I am going to check the FoS website and see if there’s a cut off to the time the shuttle will take you from the station to Goodwood.
You’re better going early and leave early rather than arrive late leave late but you don’t follow advice I am going to check the FoS website and see if there’s a cut off to the time the shuttle will take you from the station to Goodwood.
that way everything just a little less busy and you can see the F1 paddock. In the afternoon it’s almost impossible to move about in the paddocks. The bus runs from 0700 through to 2000 and is operated by stagecoach.
RUI488 said:
Wonder whether i should try and arrive late!? Lol.
I am going to check the FoS website and see if there’s a cut off to the time the shuttle will take you from the station to Goodwood.
Best way is coming from the North so if you can get a hotel North of Chichester then you are golden. You also get into the better car park which is closer to the paddocks. Arrive early (6am) and leave late late (7pm) to avoid traffic. I am going to check the FoS website and see if there’s a cut off to the time the shuttle will take you from the station to Goodwood.
Start at the paddock. Have a mooch around the manufacturer stands then make your way up to the rally stage for the afternoon. Plenty of free stands up that way to watch the cars too.
You have tractors taking you to rally stage too if you need plus the kids will like it.
That is the best way to see as much as possible in 1 day.
BricktopST205 said:
Best way is coming from the North so if you can get a hotel North of Chichester then you are golden. You also get into the better car park which is closer to the paddocks. Arrive early (6am) and leave late late (7pm) to avoid traffic.
Start at the paddock. Have a mooch around the manufacturer stands then make your way up to the rally stage for the afternoon. Plenty of free stands up that way to watch the cars too.
You have tractors taking you to rally stage too if you need plus the kids will like it.
That is the best way to see as much as possible in 1 day.
You’ve forgotten the 4 year old in tow. No way are they doing the usual start early leave late. Start at the paddock. Have a mooch around the manufacturer stands then make your way up to the rally stage for the afternoon. Plenty of free stands up that way to watch the cars too.
You have tractors taking you to rally stage too if you need plus the kids will like it.
That is the best way to see as much as possible in 1 day.
Gassing Station | Goodwood Events | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff