Bedford is big and safe which makes it ideal for beginners. However Brands Hatch is local for you and although it's shorter and potentially more congested, it is not too bad as a first trackday venue.
Novice or OPL? depends on how quickly you intend to get up to speed. You can become quickly frustrated on a Novice day whereas on an OPL day you do your sighting lap as always, chill for 45 minutes or so while the first session rush is on, and then join in when ready. If you need to, you can do a few laps then return to the pits shellshocked for another little break and a few whiskeys to calm the nerves (don't do this).
Personally if I were you I'd go OPL unless you are going to be slow all day. OPL represents better value and you can join or leave the track as you please.
Go for Novice if you are typically really nervous about this kind of thing.

I'd vote for open pit as well, get some instruction to help get you settled in (all TDOs will have instructors available to do 20 minute sessions either free or at a sensible cost) and you'd be fine.

Tricky finding many weekend trackdays at this time of year at the major circuits but Bedford is a good option for this as they don't race there.

Bedford is good for beginners. Goodwood is not. Good luck my friend.

Goodwood has small run off areas, which means if you fail you go into a wall.

At Bedford you just skid along in grass for a bit.

As above. The track is pretty narrow (compared with Silverstone, Bedford and Donington for example) and the run offs are just crash followed quickly by walls. The problem with grass being that (even why dry but particularly when wet) it offers basically no resistance - your tyres will just shred it. So whatever speed you leave the track will be the speed you hit the wall with.

I don't mean to piss on your day, but just remember that when you're out there. Don't want your day to be over prematurely.

Pete

Unless you spend your life crashing on the road, there is no more reason to turn up and crash at Goodwood. Ease yourself into the session gently and build your speed up as you learn the circuit. Try and leave yourself some room on the exit of corners, even when you are more confident and if possible, get some instruction on the day. Remember - unless you are a driving God, you will get overtaken! Make sure that you don't try to follow other cars too quickly, because well driven and well set up cars on good tyres can go much quicker into and around corners than less well set up cars. Most of all, enjoy the day.

Nothing beats the atmosphere at Goodwood, but I would also vote for Bedford as a first time venue, and there's an EasyTrack day there next Saturday.

As said before, there is no reason to come off the track at Goodwood (unless it's wet, you have a mechanical failure, find an oil spill, have to avoid someone else etc.) but the consequences will be much more serious there.

I've just booked a Taster Session at Oulton Park, only £25, albeit for just 20mins track time, but I figured it'd be a good chance to dip my toe in the Track day water... Hopefully my MX-5 will be up to the job!?

I'm experienced, my son isn't.....

He much prefers Open Pit Lane.

On O P He can choose to go out at times when the track is less busy
(it's usually busy and at the circuit's maximum number of cars allowed on a sessioned day).

If when he's out on an O P day he feels intimidated by a particular group of quicker cars maybe not displaying great track etiquette, he just comes in. If he's out and is really enjoying himself, he just stays out (within reason).

Yes you can (and should at your stage) take it easy at Goodwood but because Goodwood is
such a fast track, IMO it's not as much fun as some other circuits at 'novice' speeds.

Hi Steve, have booked Sept 18th...