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The first official F1 World Championship race took place in the United Kingdom on 13th May 1950. This paved the way for Alfa Romeo’s Guiseppe Farina to claim victory in the World Driver’s Championship, ahead of his teammate Juan Manuel Fangio.
The UK has played a major part in the world of Formula 1 right from the very beginning, and there are plenty of places for fans to visit that allow you to experience this remarkable motorsport.
1. Silverstone Circuit (Silverstone)
How could we look at Formula 1 in the UK without going straight to the iconic Silverstone Circuit. Originally an active WWII bomber station, Silverstone has become the ultimate destination for F1 fans in the UK.
The first British Grand Prix was held at Silverstone on 2nd October 1948, hosted by the Royal Automobile Club. Things looked somewhat different then, with the race track being marked by bales, ropes and canvas barriers! There’s been several layout changes over the years, creating one of the most iconic circuits on the F1 calendar.
If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush, you can book one of their supercar or single-seater driving experiences. Or why not book a memorable stay at the Hilton Garden Inn, which boasts an impressive view along the Hamilton straight.
2. Silverstone Interactive Museum (Silverstone)
Whilst we’re on the subject of Silverstone, there’s a fantastic interactive museum located on site. Full to the brim of motorsport history, you can spend a good few hours walking around soaking it all in. There’s plenty of F1 cars and memorabilia on display, with iconic teams from across the decades. For those wanting to get hands on, check out the racing simulators and the Silverstone Circuit Scalextric track.
If you get peckish during your visit, the on-site café has a range of food and drinks to keep you going. As with any good museum, there’s a gift shop stocked with plenty of souvenirs for all budgets.
3. F1 Arcade (London & Birmingham)
In 2022, Formula 1 announced their plan to open 30 “F1 Arcade” venues worldwide. Two of those are now open to the public in the UK, located in London and Birmingham.
You can team up with friends or take on some head-to-head racing on their racing simulators. There will soon be a “Grand Prix Session” on offer, consisting of a practice session, 10-minute Qualification session and 25-minute Grand Prix. Food and drink packages are also available, and both venues have an impressive cocktail bar.
Another feature of the F1 Arcade venues are their watch parties. Tickets include the race being shown live on huge screens, unlimited simulator racing, competitions, quizzes and even a DJ.
4. National Motor Museum (Beulieu)
Founded in 1972 and located in the stunning New Forest, the National Motor Museum has a wide array of vehicles and motoring items in their famous collection. Their “Grand Prix Greats” exhibition explores the history of Grand Prix racing, and includes some truly unique memorabilia. Legendary cars on display include Graham Hill’s 1967 Lotus 49, the 1950 BRM V16 and Kimi Räikkönen’s 2012 Lotus E20.
You can also book a behind-the-scenes tour, where you can spend 90-minutes soaking in the extensive collection of objects, images and books in the on-site Collections Centre.
5. Mercedes-Benz World (Weybridge)
As the name suggests, Mercedes-Benz World is one of the ultimate attractions for fans of Mercedes. With three floors of displays, including the incredible “View Suspended II”, there’s plenty to keep you occupied throughout the day. Better yet, parking and entry is free!
There are plenty of optional extras that you can book in for, including simulator racing, high-speed passenger rides and driving experiences (even for those without a licence). The Recharge Café has a wide range of food and drink options for light refreshments, and a Bistro which is open on weekends.
If you’re looking for a short break, then you can book a package at the Brooklands hotel. This includes an overnight stay, three course dinner, breakfast and a 30 minute driving experience (which you can upgrade to 60 minutes).
6. Brooklands Museum (Weybridge)
Located right next door to Mercedes-Benz World is Brooklands Museum. Here, you can explore the record-breaking days of the innovative Brooklands race track. The “Motoring Village” is located in the sheds that once surrounded the paddock and houses a collection of historic race cars.
Budding racers can hop into a McLaren MP4-21 simulator to try their hand at racing around the original Brooklands circuit. You can even walk along the track itself and take in just how impressive the famous banked curve really is. Reaching 30ft at its highest point, it’s one of the few remaining sections of the original 1907 race track.
7. Jim Clark Motoring Museum (Duns)
Ayrton Senna described Jim Clark as “the best of the best” and his “boyhood hero”, and there’s nowhere better to celebrate the story of a true British racing legend than at the Jim Clark Motoring Museum.
Patrons of the museum include Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, Jean Todt, David Coulthard MBE and Allan McNish. Inside you will find a collection of cars and memorabilia that showcase Jim Clark’s racing career.
You can get up close to one of the most iconic Formula 1 cars of all time, the Lotus Type 25 R6, along with several other cars from throughout Jim’s racing career. At the heart of the museum is an awe-inspiring trophy collection, featuring over 130 trophies, medals, cups and memorabilia.
8. Red Bull Racing (Milton Keynes)
There’s no denying that Red Bull have been one of the most significant and successful teams in Formula 1. The RB19 used for the 2023 season won 95% of the races that it competed in, statistically making it the most dominant car in Formula 1 history. All this technological and engineering magic happens in their Milton Keynes factory.
There’s several ways to enjoy your time here, including a factory tour that allows you to glimpse into the secretive world of a working F1 team. You can also book their MK-7 experience, allowing you to get close to some of the team’s championship winning cars, plus opportunities throughout the race season to attend one of their live race screening events.
The reception team are also known to be very friendly and welcoming to those who just want to take a few photos of the very large trophy wall in their main lobby.
9. Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team (Brackley)
Located in Brackley, on the aptly-named Lauda Drive, is the factory and HQ for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team. Without doubt, Mercedes are one of the most successful teams to have ever raced in Formula 1. The sign on Lauda Drive is constantly changing to commemorate their race victories and championship wins.
Whilst there are no public tours openly available to book, stopping off at the home of Mercedes F1 is a fabulous addition to any F1 fan’s team checklist. Located just a 15 minute drive from Silverstone, it’s worth popping by to snap a selfie at the home of the 8 time constructors champions.
10. Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 Team (Silverstone)
Within touching distance of Silverstone Circuit, you will find the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team. Formerly the home of Force India, Aston Martin stepped in to buy the stricken team in 2018. In doing so, they managed to secure arguably the most conveniently placed factory in the sport.
Fans who sign up for the free I/AM membership can occasionally win access to the factory for tours and car launches. They also put tours up for auction through F1 Authentics from time to time, but outside of this, access is limited. So, whilst it sadly means that you won’t be able to sneak a peek inside, it’s still worth taking a look if you’re at Silverstone.
11. Haas F1 Team (Banbury)
Formerly the home of Marussia F1, Haas purchased the site following Marussia’s demise in the 2014 season. This allowed the team to establish an ideal base for turning their cars around during the European stage of the race calendar.
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Sadly, there’s no public access to the building. But for those wanting to visit as many of the F1 teams as possible, it’s a worthy pitstop.
12. Alpine Formula One Team (Enstone)
When it comes to involvement with Formula 1, the Whiteways Technical Centre in Enstone certainly boasts an impressive list. The site is currently home to the Alpine Formula One Team, but previously acted as the base of operations for Toleman, Benetton, Renault (twice), and Lotus.
Alpine has two operational sites, with the chassis and managerial team based at Enstone. The engine side of the team work in Viry-Châtillon, France. As is the common factor with most Formula 1 team factories, access to the public is limited and no tours on offer. There is a sign outside the gatehouse that you can take photos with, but it may be polite to check with the guard if this is ok at the time!
13. Williams Racing F1 (Grove)
Williams is a name that has been part of Formula 1 since 1967, when a young Frank Williams purchased a Brabham Formula 1 car and created Frank Williams Racing Cars. In 1977, Frank Williams went on to found Williams Grand Prix Engineering, currently racing in Formula One as Williams Racing.
One of the few Formula 1 teams to offer public access via their Experience Centre, there’s multiple ways to enjoy your time. If you opt for the Heritage Collection Tour, you’ll be guided through Williams racing across the decades and witness the largest private collection of Formula 1 cars in the world. The tour includes a walk through the Champions Gallery and lets you get close to championship winning cars (including those driven by Alain Prost, Damon Hill and Nigel Mansell). You’ll also be provided with catering and refreshments.
They also offer live race day screening events and you can book your place to try and claim the top step of the podium with their E-Sports Lounge Simulators.
14. McLaren Formula 1 Team (Woking)
McLaren’s base of operations is possibly one of the most recognisable factories of all. The distinct curved walls of the McLaren Technology Centre and the incredible view from the Boulevard are a sight that most F1 fans are probably familiar with. The huge illuminated sign outside the gates provides the perfect selfie spot, but access beyond this is normally reserved for employees and invited guests only…until now.
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GetYourGuide have partnered with McLaren to offer fans the chance to go on a guided tour of the facility. It doesn’t come cheap (£450 per person), but it will provide you with unprecedented access to the home of McLaren.
You’ll hear stories from the team’s illustrious past and championship wins, and get to see authentic racing memorabilia and the kits worn by the McLaren F1 team. There’s also plenty of iconic McLaren Formula 1 cars on display, including those driven by Ayrton Senna and Mika Häkkinen. To top it all off, you’ll get to see the top-secret assembly line where the latest cars are created.
15. F1 Drive (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London)
**Expected to open in early 2024**
F1 Drive is the first official F1 karting experience in the world; and it promises to deliver an F1 experience like no other.
The karts are fully-electric, come in four different liveries and are equipped with an 18cm LED display. Modifications will be possible depending on age and skill level, including a “DRS” button!
You’ll be able to challenge your driving skills across three track layouts, with separate tracks for both adults and juniors. There’ll also be plenty of other motorsport gaming and activities, plus an exclusive food and beverage offering.
You can find out more and register for ticket alerts by visiting F1 Drive London.
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Get 10% off all official F1 Merch at TheRaceWorks.com using code ‘EF1‘ at checkout.