MTC tour - worth it?
Discussion
Right, this is going to sound a bit churlish and first world problems but please bear with me!
I've got a significant birthday in April. I'm really not bothered about making a fuss, not my style. I'm planning to take a couple of days off and enjoy some stuff I like doing. I've come close to buying a Mclaren of some form (570s or 720s) a couple of times but haven't done for one reason or another as other requirements, not wanting to sell what I have got etc has got in the way (so far). As such, in terms of fun stuff I've currently got a 991, an Elise and a 458.
I think my wife has arranged for us to visit the MTC on 10/04/25 as a birthday treat. I know you can't just book MTC tours so I assume she's reached out to the local dealer or similar as I presume they do visits occasionally for owners and prospective owners. For us it's a 7 hour round trip (she's often terrible with travel time judgement so I'm not sure she has fully twigged that) and the timings she is giving me as to when we'd leave and then be back home (dog in day care for the day so there's a limit) would mean only time for 3 hours at the MTC, basically spread over lunchtime.
I've been to loads of car factories either through work or interest, both big stuff (e.g. Longbridge back in the day) and more bijoux stuff like Lotus and they're fine but there's some element of "seen one, seen them all". I've also been fortunate enough to have been up close to various interesting F1 cars and (admittedly ages ago) sat in and had a good poke round an F1 road car.
So, if I'm right and it is that she's booked (she mentioned trying to do it ages ago slightly by accident and in her calendar (she forgot I can see it) it just says "Mclaren" on the 10th) is it worth it for what will be a stressful rush to get there and back for a couple of hours whizz round the factory and look at the cars in reception?
At the moment, I can't see it.
I've got a significant birthday in April. I'm really not bothered about making a fuss, not my style. I'm planning to take a couple of days off and enjoy some stuff I like doing. I've come close to buying a Mclaren of some form (570s or 720s) a couple of times but haven't done for one reason or another as other requirements, not wanting to sell what I have got etc has got in the way (so far). As such, in terms of fun stuff I've currently got a 991, an Elise and a 458.
I think my wife has arranged for us to visit the MTC on 10/04/25 as a birthday treat. I know you can't just book MTC tours so I assume she's reached out to the local dealer or similar as I presume they do visits occasionally for owners and prospective owners. For us it's a 7 hour round trip (she's often terrible with travel time judgement so I'm not sure she has fully twigged that) and the timings she is giving me as to when we'd leave and then be back home (dog in day care for the day so there's a limit) would mean only time for 3 hours at the MTC, basically spread over lunchtime.
I've been to loads of car factories either through work or interest, both big stuff (e.g. Longbridge back in the day) and more bijoux stuff like Lotus and they're fine but there's some element of "seen one, seen them all". I've also been fortunate enough to have been up close to various interesting F1 cars and (admittedly ages ago) sat in and had a good poke round an F1 road car.
So, if I'm right and it is that she's booked (she mentioned trying to do it ages ago slightly by accident and in her calendar (she forgot I can see it) it just says "Mclaren" on the 10th) is it worth it for what will be a stressful rush to get there and back for a couple of hours whizz round the factory and look at the cars in reception?
At the moment, I can't see it.
I doubt you will see anything you haven’t seen before.
It’s worth going if it’s for a car launch, tour of the F1 side, test drives, etc. I don’t think you’ll see much of the current F1 cars as they’ll be hiding them behind the opaque glass walls until later in the season.
It’ll probably be a walk down the boulevard, which is interesting if you are into McLaren history. You might get to see the historic bays, then a walk through the trophy cabinets (there are many) and a look at General Assembly from above.
It’s worth going if it’s for a car launch, tour of the F1 side, test drives, etc. I don’t think you’ll see much of the current F1 cars as they’ll be hiding them behind the opaque glass walls until later in the season.
It’ll probably be a walk down the boulevard, which is interesting if you are into McLaren history. You might get to see the historic bays, then a walk through the trophy cabinets (there are many) and a look at General Assembly from above.
I've been several times and always enjoyed it. There are some fantastic historic cars they rotate on the boulevard, the staff and hosts there are very friendly and helpful and the trophy cabinet is something I could spend an hour perusing by itself. It's actually a better experience than the Maranello road car factory for me. At Ferrari it really does feel quite rushed and especially in recent years quite like a generic car factory.
If you have access to Fiorano, Enzo's house and the Classiche section that is something else entirely and very special indeed but Ferrari don't usually allow visitors to see those parts unless arranged. At McLaren that part of things is much more accessible.
If you have access to Fiorano, Enzo's house and the Classiche section that is something else entirely and very special indeed but Ferrari don't usually allow visitors to see those parts unless arranged. At McLaren that part of things is much more accessible.
Benmac said:
Thanks, that's helpful. Sort of as I expected, nice to do but not really anything that would make it a "must do" on that particular day. I'll have a think. I hope she hasn't spent much money.
She's probably just bought you a voucher to choose the McLaren you wanted but never bought ... (or am I dreaming again ?? ) 
I've been many times and love it ... remember it's not just a Mclaren car factory its the race car stuff that is really interesting. Its all glass so you can see where they prep stuff, you also may get to see race control where they all sit and run the race during race weekends plus the wind tunnel.
Sounds to me like you need to appreciate your wife and the thought she’s put into it more.
I know you’ve got a dog in daycare but why can’t they keep it overnight and you make a nice trip of it, hotel, dinner, the tour, maybe some sight seeing, and importantly time spent with your wife instead of rushing around and her resenting even bothering trying to do something nice
I know you’ve got a dog in daycare but why can’t they keep it overnight and you make a nice trip of it, hotel, dinner, the tour, maybe some sight seeing, and importantly time spent with your wife instead of rushing around and her resenting even bothering trying to do something nice
I'm not sure it's entirely what you have in mind. It's not so much of a 'factory' tour, you do get to see the factory, but you don't get to tour round it. It's more about experiencing the MTC, driving round the iconic lake, a guided tour showcasing McLaren's heritage. You get to compare and contrast the F1 cars, the sports racing cars and the road cars, see the trophy cabinets etc, the tunnel with loads of historic F1 cars in.
I have a similar journey time to yourself and considered it a great day trip out, met up for lunch in Woking with my mate who was accompanying me then went to the MTC.
I have a similar journey time to yourself and considered it a great day trip out, met up for lunch in Woking with my mate who was accompanying me then went to the MTC.
I’d say it’s worth going but a seven hour trip is quite an ordeal (just double check your timing as J10 of the M25 is undergoing major roadworks and is a nightmare - it’s next jnc to MTC). So as above is there anyway you can make it into an overnight - some lovely pubs around in the Surrey Hills to enjoy.
I’ve worked there quite a bit over the years and it is quite a special place - more for the setting and the architecture. I’m not familiar with exactly what you get to see as a tour guest, but I’d imagine the boulevard, race bays through the glass and production centre would be included? Getting to see a selection of historic and iconic cars is always nice. If you were lucky enough with timing they may have some race f1 cars in the bays being stripped back and on show immediately after tests - the current season cars were never visible.
If you get to see the production centre really cool and impressive as it’s so clean and unfactory like, seeing exotic cars in various states of build. In fact everything is pristine and just so - even the silver birch trees planted at the entrance next to the roundabout are ordered perfectly.
As an aside, as I’m not entirely sure how tour visitors enter, but I assume it’s via the VIP entrance. As impressive as it is driving in off the lake, I always felt the best experience was how workers and suppliers would enter.
My first time there I was blown away! You head underground from the car park, and walk down huge very long pure white corridors with no apparent end in sight. When you get to the ‘end’ a secret lift is revealed. A small glass capsule shoots skywards from the darkness, into sudden daylight, shooting you past the iconic F1 road and race cars on ground level, taking you to a James Bond-esque walkway that is suspended high above the boulevard. A thin glass side walkway snakes to reception pods, but you can pause on the walkway and enjoy an elevated view of the cars and to the vast lake outside. Always special.
I’ve worked there quite a bit over the years and it is quite a special place - more for the setting and the architecture. I’m not familiar with exactly what you get to see as a tour guest, but I’d imagine the boulevard, race bays through the glass and production centre would be included? Getting to see a selection of historic and iconic cars is always nice. If you were lucky enough with timing they may have some race f1 cars in the bays being stripped back and on show immediately after tests - the current season cars were never visible.
If you get to see the production centre really cool and impressive as it’s so clean and unfactory like, seeing exotic cars in various states of build. In fact everything is pristine and just so - even the silver birch trees planted at the entrance next to the roundabout are ordered perfectly.
As an aside, as I’m not entirely sure how tour visitors enter, but I assume it’s via the VIP entrance. As impressive as it is driving in off the lake, I always felt the best experience was how workers and suppliers would enter.
My first time there I was blown away! You head underground from the car park, and walk down huge very long pure white corridors with no apparent end in sight. When you get to the ‘end’ a secret lift is revealed. A small glass capsule shoots skywards from the darkness, into sudden daylight, shooting you past the iconic F1 road and race cars on ground level, taking you to a James Bond-esque walkway that is suspended high above the boulevard. A thin glass side walkway snakes to reception pods, but you can pause on the walkway and enjoy an elevated view of the cars and to the vast lake outside. Always special.
thepritch said:
I’d say it’s worth going but a seven hour trip is quite an ordeal (just double check your timing as J10 of the M25 is undergoing major roadworks and is a nightmare - it’s next jnc to MTC). So as above is there anyway you can make it into an overnight - some lovely pubs around in the Surrey Hills to enjoy.
I’ve worked there quite a bit over the years and it is quite a special place - more for the setting and the architecture. I’m not familiar with exactly what you get to see as a tour guest, but I’d imagine the boulevard, race bays through the glass and production centre would be included? Getting to see a selection of historic and iconic cars is always nice. If you were lucky enough with timing they may have some race f1 cars in the bays being stripped back and on show immediately after tests - the current season cars were never visible.
If you get to see the production centre really cool and impressive as it’s so clean and unfactory like, seeing exotic cars in various states of build. In fact everything is pristine and just so - even the silver birch trees planted at the entrance next to the roundabout are ordered perfectly.
As an aside, as I’m not entirely sure how tour visitors enter, but I assume it’s via the VIP entrance. As impressive as it is driving in off the lake, I always felt the best experience was how workers and suppliers would enter.
My first time there I was blown away! You head underground from the car park, and walk down huge very long pure white corridors with no apparent end in sight. When you get to the ‘end’ a secret lift is revealed. A small glass capsule shoots skywards from the darkness, into sudden daylight, shooting you past the iconic F1 road and race cars on ground level, taking you to a James Bond-esque walkway that is suspended high above the boulevard. A thin glass side walkway snakes to reception pods, but you can pause on the walkway and enjoy an elevated view of the cars and to the vast lake outside. Always special.
Funny you say that during one of my earlier visits I was waved in by security as they thought i was an engineer so went in via one of the underground pods then wandered around in the bowels of MTC before finding the lift at one of the long corridors but then mistakenly went up two levels rather than one and came out in front of Ron Dennis' office (thankfully he wasn't in that day!)..went down one more level and presented myself at reception as if I had just got off the bus.I’ve worked there quite a bit over the years and it is quite a special place - more for the setting and the architecture. I’m not familiar with exactly what you get to see as a tour guest, but I’d imagine the boulevard, race bays through the glass and production centre would be included? Getting to see a selection of historic and iconic cars is always nice. If you were lucky enough with timing they may have some race f1 cars in the bays being stripped back and on show immediately after tests - the current season cars were never visible.
If you get to see the production centre really cool and impressive as it’s so clean and unfactory like, seeing exotic cars in various states of build. In fact everything is pristine and just so - even the silver birch trees planted at the entrance next to the roundabout are ordered perfectly.
As an aside, as I’m not entirely sure how tour visitors enter, but I assume it’s via the VIP entrance. As impressive as it is driving in off the lake, I always felt the best experience was how workers and suppliers would enter.
My first time there I was blown away! You head underground from the car park, and walk down huge very long pure white corridors with no apparent end in sight. When you get to the ‘end’ a secret lift is revealed. A small glass capsule shoots skywards from the darkness, into sudden daylight, shooting you past the iconic F1 road and race cars on ground level, taking you to a James Bond-esque walkway that is suspended high above the boulevard. A thin glass side walkway snakes to reception pods, but you can pause on the walkway and enjoy an elevated view of the cars and to the vast lake outside. Always special.
Grey_Area said:
Only you can decide the value, we loved it; great access to people and plenty of questions and coffee/lunch there , probably 3 hours ish..
Think your username perfectly describes the feeling of being inside MTC for while 
It’s cool place for sure. Your photo reminds me of the early days, you’d wander down the walkway opp the restaurant, and the corridor was full of old (some historics) F1 cars. Maybe 20 or so all lined up against the sidewall, all under dust sheets.
It’s funny, I worked on the F1 side for three years just before the move and did many many F1 and road car guided tours for VIP and partners, but have never been into the newer facility. Nearly 25 years ago now, and even remember where my desk was due to be. Oh well. I know staff car parking is a real issue and they may need to build somewhere else soon for R and D projects.
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