Silverstone advice
Discussion
Im going to silverstone for the formula 1 this year, I've got general admission tickets for the Sunday only but the thing is travelling up and staying somewhere the night before is not an option. AA Route planner says my journey from Cornwall will take 5 hours but realistically what time do I need to get there for to park up and get a good spot for the race? It will be my first time so any advice is much appreciated!
5 hours to get to the A43. 5 hours to get into Silverstone.........
It is a pain in the arse together into Siverstone, even with the A43 being a dual carriageway. Sheer volume of traffic, added to which if it is wet the car parks will be unusable makes for an uncomfortable journey ino the circuit.
Also I find tha traffic marshalls make things even worse - if they let the motorists sort themselves out it would make things slightly easier.
My advice is to get to Silverstone very very early on the Sunday morning to avoid the traffic.
As an example - last year I went to the Silverstone Classic meeting a couple of weeks after the GP. I stayed in a guest house 10 miles from Siverstone.
It took me two hours to drive that 10 mile distance.........
It is a pain in the arse together into Siverstone, even with the A43 being a dual carriageway. Sheer volume of traffic, added to which if it is wet the car parks will be unusable makes for an uncomfortable journey ino the circuit.
Also I find tha traffic marshalls make things even worse - if they let the motorists sort themselves out it would make things slightly easier.
My advice is to get to Silverstone very very early on the Sunday morning to avoid the traffic.
As an example - last year I went to the Silverstone Classic meeting a couple of weeks after the GP. I stayed in a guest house 10 miles from Siverstone.
It took me two hours to drive that 10 mile distance.........
How much is going the night before and staying over not an option? What's the issue with that?
If you're talking about the Sunday, it will take you a good couple of hours on top of the journey time to get in, assuming that you have a pass that will let you drive to the circuit?
My preference would be to go overnight and kip in a car park if needs be, even if it means leaving at midnight (and actually on that basis you'd only just be there when the gates open).
If you're talking about the Sunday, it will take you a good couple of hours on top of the journey time to get in, assuming that you have a pass that will let you drive to the circuit?
My preference would be to go overnight and kip in a car park if needs be, even if it means leaving at midnight (and actually on that basis you'd only just be there when the gates open).
It will be a case of sleeping in the car as finding somewhere to stay will be nigh on impossible.
Im not going this year - can't be arsed with the traffic & the hassle.
Currently trying to to get accommodation for this years Silverstone Classic. So far the nearest place I have found is 20 miles away....... So good luck trying to find anything for the GP!
Im not going this year - can't be arsed with the traffic & the hassle.
Currently trying to to get accommodation for this years Silverstone Classic. So far the nearest place I have found is 20 miles away....... So good luck trying to find anything for the GP!
Jimmytno1 said:
I've got a wedding to go to on the Saturday and really need to be present all evening, looks like I might have to set off stupidly early! The person I'm going with doesn't drive so I can't even split the driving duties, balls!
Yep I'd go with leaving after the wedding - can you add another driver to your group to make it easier? If you don't leave Cornwall until 5am, it'll be 10am by the time you get to Silverstone and then the traffic will be a nightmare and they'll be absolutely nowhere to get a decent spot.
Slight change of plan, turns out we have got some grandstand tickets, not sure which grandstand but I'm assuming this means we will have allocated seats and won't need to fight for a spot on the morning, I'm planning on leaving Cornwall at 9pm on the Saturday night and getting a few hours kip in the car on Sunday morning, can I park at silverstone at 2.00 am to do this? Also, what time can we get into silverstone in the day?
Jimmytno1 said:
Slight change of plan, turns out we have got some grandstand tickets, not sure which grandstand but I'm assuming this means we will have allocated seats and won't need to fight for a spot on the morning, I'm planning on leaving Cornwall at 9pm on the Saturday night and getting a few hours kip in the car on Sunday morning, can I park at silverstone at 2.00 am to do this? Also, what time can we get into silverstone in the day?
Gates open around 6.00am I think. Not sure if the gates will be open on the car parks at 2.00am though? Jimmytno1 said:
Slight change of plan, turns out we have got some grandstand tickets, not sure which grandstand but I'm assuming this means we will have allocated seats and won't need to fight for a spot on the morning, I'm planning on leaving Cornwall at 9pm on the Saturday night and getting a few hours kip in the car on Sunday morning, can I park at silverstone at 2.00 am to do this? Also, what time can we get into silverstone in the day?
You could camp at dadford road for £25 per pitch, then when you get there at 2am, have a lie in. http://www.silverstone-campsite.co.uk/f1-campingThey allow day parking there too but not until 5am.
I think if i was you i might be tempted to maybe get a travelodge at the location of the park and rides if possible.
Went spectating in 2010.
We stayed in Travellodge in Coventry (a bit of a drive and earlish start but not too bad).
We used the park and ride - cant recommend it highly enough.
Park up at airfield, bus to track, enjoy the race, bus back to airfield.
The BIG advantage was that the buses have their own lane in and out of the track on the dual carriageway, so was really quick. (no waiting in the seemingly endless queue of cars).
Im not saying that the park and ride is suitable for the original poster, but its definetly something for any spectator to consider. I for one would use it again without hesitation.
We stayed in Travellodge in Coventry (a bit of a drive and earlish start but not too bad).
We used the park and ride - cant recommend it highly enough.
Park up at airfield, bus to track, enjoy the race, bus back to airfield.
The BIG advantage was that the buses have their own lane in and out of the track on the dual carriageway, so was really quick. (no waiting in the seemingly endless queue of cars).
Im not saying that the park and ride is suitable for the original poster, but its definetly something for any spectator to consider. I for one would use it again without hesitation.
Glad you are sorted. It might be worth taking something like an old brightly coloured scarf or something similar that you can tie to your car's ariel, that way it makes it a bit easier to find your car again when you get back(you can lose track of where you are parked and it just makes it a bit easier to find from a distance).
Enjoy youself.
Enjoy youself.
Edited by MarshalRay on Thursday 13th June 13:09
Forums | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff