Discussion
I have never been to Laon before. I am looking at it for 2026 with a group of friends. Is this an event where you really need to go with a tour or can you DIY it as a small club and get tickets to whatever events there are as we have done in Le Mans or Spa? their website is rather lacking in info. Thanks Trev
https://www.sceniccartours.com/laon-historique
I`ve been to Laon three times, all with these guys. Never had any issues with them, good service.
The event was great fun, hotel car parks are a classic car show wonderful atmosphere. On the Saturday your off with a "Tulip" road book, no time controls etc, easy to follow, as long as you get to the lunch halt and back to Laon for a few beers.
Next day they close the road up to the old town. If you pick the right time in between the old slow stuff, you can give your car a real blast. Its possible to go up and down many times.
I`ve been to Laon three times, all with these guys. Never had any issues with them, good service.
The event was great fun, hotel car parks are a classic car show wonderful atmosphere. On the Saturday your off with a "Tulip" road book, no time controls etc, easy to follow, as long as you get to the lunch halt and back to Laon for a few beers.
Next day they close the road up to the old town. If you pick the right time in between the old slow stuff, you can give your car a real blast. Its possible to go up and down many times.
@Trevorfox Are you better off trying to get in-town lodging which looks to be difficult to find parking, or stay on the edge of town and drive/bus/walk in for the car viewing events?
We're seriously considering going next year and this seems to be the biggest question we're wrestling with.
We're seriously considering going next year and this seems to be the biggest question we're wrestling with.
Steve-B said:
@Trevorfox Are you better off trying to get in-town lodging which looks to be difficult to find parking, or stay on the edge of town and drive/bus/walk in for the car viewing events?
We're seriously considering going next year and this seems to be the biggest question we're wrestling with.
It will be very busy, accommodation will be booked up months in advance, most restaurants too.We're seriously considering going next year and this seems to be the biggest question we're wrestling with.
I suppose it depends on if you take a classic car and want to be part of the rally action. If so book with Scenic, then you are guaranteed a hotel room with parking, entry etc in Laon.
If not out of town b&b, camping? and get a bus in.
Thanks @OldMerc will do so as I was already looking at booking with them, good to get a reference!
Old Merc said:
If you go with Scenic I suggest book the Ibis Laon Town, it s in a very convenient location, has a bar, restaurant and good parking. Also book the restaurant table BEFORE you arrive.
This will be our third visit, twice with scenic Car Tours. We've decided to DIY this time and we are having a couple of extra days either side and staying in a house a few miles west of Laon. The event is great and the rally is always a fun event with loads of villagers turning out to cheer the cars along.
One question for anyone who has booked to go this year, have you heard anything back from the organizers yet?
One question for anyone who has booked to go this year, have you heard anything back from the organizers yet?
I spoke with the aforementioned tour company last week and they confirmed a lot of details will be coming in March.
In the interim we discovered the car gathering in Bethune the same weekend and are staying at Le Vieux Beffroi (which is right on the town square where the cars will park up) there Wed/Thurs nights before going onto Laon. Bethune's also got an underground car park at the square we'll be using as the car event starts on Friday.
Right now we're debating after Laon heading to the Swiss Alps to do a set of passes, and other such fun!
In the interim we discovered the car gathering in Bethune the same weekend and are staying at Le Vieux Beffroi (which is right on the town square where the cars will park up) there Wed/Thurs nights before going onto Laon. Bethune's also got an underground car park at the square we'll be using as the car event starts on Friday.
Right now we're debating after Laon heading to the Swiss Alps to do a set of passes, and other such fun!
Steve-B said:
I spoke with the aforementioned tour company last week and they confirmed a lot of details will be coming in March.
In the interim we discovered the car gathering in Bethune the same weekend and are staying at Le Vieux Beffroi (which is right on the town square where the cars will park up) there Wed/Thurs nights before going onto Laon. Bethune's also got an underground car park at the square we'll be using as the car event starts on Friday.
Right now we're debating after Laon heading to the Swiss Alps to do a set of passes, and other such fun!
Thanks Steve, we'll be there in a Westfield and a Morgan hopefully In the interim we discovered the car gathering in Bethune the same weekend and are staying at Le Vieux Beffroi (which is right on the town square where the cars will park up) there Wed/Thurs nights before going onto Laon. Bethune's also got an underground car park at the square we'll be using as the car event starts on Friday.
Right now we're debating after Laon heading to the Swiss Alps to do a set of passes, and other such fun!
Sideways Tim said:
Thanks Steve, we'll be there in a Westfield and a Morgan hopefully
Excellent Tim, we'll be in a 1973 Damson red TR 6. Will you be joining in on the Bethune event or going further after Laon? PS> Decided to pay extra to take Le Shuttle as the queues in Dover can be crazy for the ferry, especialy when sitting in a classic car depending on the weather vs. drive straight on / off of train...
Steve-B said:
Excellent Tim, we'll be in a 1973 Damson red TR 6. Will you be joining in on the Bethune event or going further after Laon?
PS> Decided to pay extra to take Le Shuttle as the queues in Dover can be crazy for the ferry, especialy when sitting in a classic car depending on the weather vs. drive straight on / off of train...
We're sailing to Le Harvre and having a night in St Marie Des Champs so Bethune is a bit of a detour for us. I really can't be arsed with Dover, just getting there from Cheshire is a pain in the arse, so we tend to favor Portsmouth and have a bit more driving in France.PS> Decided to pay extra to take Le Shuttle as the queues in Dover can be crazy for the ferry, especialy when sitting in a classic car depending on the weather vs. drive straight on / off of train...
Doing all the events at Laon though. See you there
Despite trying to contact the organisers we've still heard nothing, so we're just planning on turning up at the events as per the details on their website.
We'll be heading down from leafy Cheshire to Dorset on Tuesday and staying overnight then getting the ferry to Le Harvre and having a couple of days relaxing in France before the event begins. The Morgan is sadly in about one million pieces as getting hold of parts has proven problematic, so we will be there in the yellow Westfield and another car tbc - either a Lotus Europa, a 1965 Beetle or possibly a Willys Jeep, fingers crossed!
We'll be heading down from leafy Cheshire to Dorset on Tuesday and staying overnight then getting the ferry to Le Harvre and having a couple of days relaxing in France before the event begins. The Morgan is sadly in about one million pieces as getting hold of parts has proven problematic, so we will be there in the yellow Westfield and another car tbc - either a Lotus Europa, a 1965 Beetle or possibly a Willys Jeep, fingers crossed!
Tim, did you book with Scenic or did you try to freestyle it?
They've arranged a stopover at Le Tourquet on the Thurs nite for a beachfront display on Friday then scenic drive to Laon.
We'll be there in our carmine red 1973 TR6, staying at the Ibis Laon.
Not sure what we're doing on the Monday, as we are booked to return on Le Shuttle on Wed.
PS> Still trying to get our PH sticker applied to the back of our car!
They've arranged a stopover at Le Tourquet on the Thurs nite for a beachfront display on Friday then scenic drive to Laon.
We'll be there in our carmine red 1973 TR6, staying at the Ibis Laon.
Not sure what we're doing on the Monday, as we are booked to return on Le Shuttle on Wed.
PS> Still trying to get our PH sticker applied to the back of our car!
Steve-B said:
Tim, did you book with Scenic or did you try to freestyle it?
They've arranged a stopover at Le Tourquet on the Thurs nite for a beachfront display on Friday then scenic drive to Laon.
We'll be there in our carmine red 1973 TR6, staying at the Ibis Laon.
Not sure what we're doing on the Monday, as we are booked to return on Le Shuttle on Wed.
PS> Still trying to get our PH sticker applied to the back of our car!
We’re ‘freestyling’. Have made contact with the organisers who simultaneously claim they have no record of our entry and that they received it on 28th October 2025. Awaiting clarification They've arranged a stopover at Le Tourquet on the Thurs nite for a beachfront display on Friday then scenic drive to Laon.
We'll be there in our carmine red 1973 TR6, staying at the Ibis Laon.
Not sure what we're doing on the Monday, as we are booked to return on Le Shuttle on Wed.
PS> Still trying to get our PH sticker applied to the back of our car!
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