Silverstone F1, what time to arrive on race day

[NeilPot]

Hi,

For someone who is attending Silveretone for the F1 race only, so the Sunday.

What time do you reckon on getting there to find some space? I’ve heard in the past gates open at 5 or 6 am (?) and q’s begin from something like 4am, or was that nonsense?

They’ll also need to find car parking- does that need to be pre booked?

Then where’s a good place to pitch up for the day?

[Sandpit Steve]

Silverstone’s own website has a pretty comprehensive FAQ section about the event.
https://help.silverstone.co.uk/hc/en-gb/categories...

Gates open 06:30 on Sunday, and yes there will be queues. If you’re General Admission you want to be there as early as possible to get a good spot.

Where the good spots are seems to vary by year, as the circuit develops and more grandstands go in. Bear in mind there will have been thousands of people spending Friday and Saturday walking around the circuit, planning exactly where they want to sit on Sunday! I haven’t been for a while, but this guide from last year might be useful.
https://oversteer48.com/silverstone-general-admiss...

Parking definitely needs to be booked, Stowe School is a popular one, cheaper than the official parking and well-placed for the exit, but you’ll need to walk a mile or so to the circuit.

Oh, and you can expect any three of the four seasons in terms of weather, so be prepared for all eventualities!
Have fun!

Edited by Sandpit Steve on Friday 2nd May 08:22

[F355GTS]

In the heyday of Mansell people started the queue the evening before!

Also if you want to get onto the track to the podium after the race then if it's the same as last Year access is limited to those on the Vale bank and that is also limited to a max of I think 10k or 15k people

[Dazzled]

You’ll need to be there for when the gates open.
For parking use Silverstone Schools Parking. They have sites in the village within easy walking distance of the circuit are very well organised and the money raised goes to a good cause.

[paulguitar]

I agree with the post above about parking at Silverstone Schools. This can save you, quite literally, hours when leaving after the event.


Here's the best guide online I have found. This website is an absolute goldmine:



https://oversteer48.com/f1-circuits/#silverstone


ETA Oops, looks like Steve has already linked this site!

[Sir Bagalot]

Attending the F1 then there is only really one place to park

https://silverstoneschoolparking.co.uk

Edited by Sir Bagalot on Saturday 3rd May 15:01

[paulguitar]

Sir Bagalot said:

Attending the F1 then there is only really one place to park

[url]https://silverstoneschoolparking.co.uk/[/url}

I'm parking in their Church Road location this year. Always parked at the school itself before. Just trying something different.

[Dazzled]

Top tip Paul. Research where the local footpaths are from Church Street to your chosen gate at the circuit. You’ll save yourself a ton of time and distance. Most are hard surfaced from the car park.

[paulguitar]

Dazzled said:

Top tip Paul. Research where the local footpaths are from Church Street to your chosen gate at the circuit. You’ll save yourself a ton of time and distance. Most are hard surfaced from the car park.

Will do, thanks for the tip.

[whoareyou]

Hi all.

Me and my son are visiting for the Fri and Sat, but don't have tickets for the actual race.

Any one know of anywhere to watch it on screens?

Thanks

[illmonkey]

Last 4 or 5 times I've been I used the P&R. Would get into the circuit for 8 or 9 and hit the beer tent for brekki. Would then stay all day until about 9 or 10pm (last bus), enjoy the music etc and it's quiet by then!

Buses have priority so it's fairly seamless, never had a delay.

On the flip side, I've driven on raceday and it was gridlock for 2 hours when we left just after the race.

[48k]

Sir Bagalot said:

Attending the F1 then there is only really one place to park

Come on, this is PistonHeads! The really only one place to park is whichever pad ATC clear you to land on.

Inside the Cockpit flying into the Worlds Busiest Heliport - Silverstone 2024

[paulguitar]

48k said:

Sir Bagalot said:

Attending the F1 then there is only really one place to park

Come on, this is PistonHeads! The really only one place to park is whichever pad ATC clear you to land on.

Inside the Cockpit flying into the Worlds Busiest Heliport - Silverstone 2024

I did the helicopter transfers once. It really is the way to do it.

[Sandpit Steve]

48k said:

Come on, this is PistonHeads! The really only one place to park is whichever pad ATC clear you to land on.

Inside the Cockpit flying into the Worlds Busiest Heliport - Silverstone 2024

Way offtopic for this thread, but that’s a really cool video of the helo pilot’s view of the chaos, for the aviation enthusiasts, as someone who just sees the massive airspace restriction on Cessnas and gliders on race weekend, and stays as far away as possible from Silverstone.

[rallye101]

Mates doing the weekend, £170 for parking!....
Sky hd for me cheers

[Badgerboy]

Well I just had a lovely hospitality parking pass land on the mat this morning. (P26 - Red Route)

No idea if it means less hassle getting in or out, but at least its a very short walk to the track! Aiming to get there for about 08:30, so hopefully that's not a stupid move.

[matt21]

Always park at West End Paddocks and come into Silverstone the back way. No issues and into the circuit quickly. Get there about 10am race day

[pauloroberto]

I’ve paid for the silverstone parking but don’t seem to have received a ticket for it. How does that work?

[theguvernor15]

This is our second year, we camp at The Pavillion in the Silverstone Village, they do parking for the whole week.
It's about 20 mins walk to the circuit, according to their website, parking £50 for the whole weekend.

https://www.pavilliongpcamping.com/

[F355GTS]

Just a heads up for those travelling to Silverstone this weekend, the A34 Northbound is shut between the M4 junction and nr Didcot from 9pm Friday to 6am Monday

diversion is incredibly long via M4 Maidenhead, A404, M40