A First Timer's Guide To Attending the MotoGP British Grand Prix At Silverstone
The British Grand Prix at Silverstone is one of the most unpredictable and exciting rounds on the entire MotoGP calendar. Whether you're a first time spectator or you have experienced the action track side before, preparing for a race weekend at the historic Silverstone Circuit is essential to making the most of the experience.
This year marks our fourth consecutive year at the track and we've put together all the information you need to know to get the most out of your MotoGP weekend.
Note: The next British Grand Prix at Silverstone will take place Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th May 2025.
Contents
01. Where is Silverstone Circuit & How To Get There
Silverstone Circuit is located just outside of the small market town of Towcester, Northamptonshire, around 90 minutes north of London by car. The circuit has great transport links and is easily accessible by car, bike and train.
• By Car Or Motorbike: Silverstone is easy to reach by car or bike, with good connections to major motorways such as the M1 and M40. Parking is free for motorbikes and £30 for cars for the weekend when purchased in advance. We recommend Silverstone's main car park, near the Hilton Hotel, for it's size, proximity to the entrance and overall condition compared to other car parks around the circuit. Arrive early as spaces can fill up fast, especially on Sunday. Parking can be purchased when booking tickets.
• By Train: The nearest major train station to the circuit is Milton Keynes where Silverstone provide a connecting shuttle bus service from the station to the track. This is available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the MotoGP weekend and can be booked when purchasing event tickets. Return shuttle tickets cost £15 per person.
More information about transport options can be found on the Silverstone website here.
02. Where To Stay
There are plenty of accommodation options for every budget when visiting Silverstone. Be sure to book accommodation as early as possible as places can book up before the weekend.
On-site Options
Silverstone offers various accommodation options either a short walk from the circuit or at the circuit itself, providing a fully immersive experience.
• Camping: Silverstone offers budget-friendly camping options just a short walk to the circuit. With great facilities, free parking, electric charging points, bar and entertainment, camping is a great option for smaller budgets or for those wanting a festival atmosphere surrounded by other MotoGP fans. Further information on camping at Silverstone can be found on the Silverstone website here.
• Glamping: The Ridings offer luxury tents with beds, fantastic facilities, electric charging points, a pamper station, entertainment and more. A great option for those looking for a relaxed vibe with a few extra comforts than camping. Extra details for staying at The Ridings can be found on the Silverstone website here.
• Hilton Garden Inn Silverstone: This is one of the most popular accommodation options with fans. With views across the Hamilton Straight and to the pit lane and garages, guests can choose to watch the racing action from the hotel's balconies. Find out more about the Hilton Garden Inn here.
• Escapade: The newly opened Escapade is Silverstone's latest premium accommodation option. With the choice of countryside or trackside views across Maggotts, Escapade is surely set to make the MotoGP weekend extra special and more immersive than ever. More information about this luxury experience can be found here.
Off-Site Options
• Camping: There are other camping options in and around the Towcester area. Note, these are not promoted by Silverstone and cannot be booked via the Silverstone website, so be sure to read the latest reviews and do some research if choosing to book one of these sites.
• Hotels & Airbnb Rentals: For more comfort, there are plenty of hotels and Airbnb rentals in nearby towns. Hotels will fill up quickly, so booking in advance is key.
Travelodge and Premier Inn are good value hotels and are great if on a budget. Those closest to the circuit are more expensive and will book up quickly, but there are some great deals to be found further away from the track.
Our personal favourite option when visiting Silverstone is to book an Airbnb, especially if staying with friends or family. Airbnb allows you to choose a place for your group's needs such as the number of bedrooms, whether you need a kitchen, or a place to park your car for free etc. We would always recommend reading the reviews and accommodation description carefully. There can be issues with check in and cleanliness in some Airbnb rentals, but if you read the reviews carefully, issues can be avoided.
03. How Long To Stay
For first timers to MotoGP at Silverstone, we highly recommend attending all 3 days of the race weekend.
Silverstone is a huge circuit and attending on Friday provides a great opportunity to walk around the track and to become familiar with the different viewing spots and entertainment areas. The lower crowds also means shorter lines for the merchandise locations too.
Saturday not only provides more on track action with the addition of the sprint race but also offers an opportunity to watch the sprint race podium up close and to see live music acts. The event schedule is yet to be released, but auctions, rider interviews and rider meets generally take place on the Friday and Saturday of the race weekend.
Sunday is the main race day and is not to be missed. Tickets include the MotoGP race, race action in the Moto3 and Moto 2 classes as well as the British Talent Cup races. The 3 day ticket is excellent value and a must do for first timers.
04. Which Ticket To Buy
Buy tickets as early as possible. Tickets generally go on sale shortly after the previous year's event. Buying tickets early will ensure the best deal as the price will increase every few weeks up until the race weekend.
General admission tickets and possibly some grandstand tickets will be available to purchase last minute, but there will be less choice and they will be more expensive.
If travelling by bike or car make sure to book your parking in advance as spaces may be limited. Parking is £30 for the race weekend for cars, or free if travelling by motorbike, but both must be booked in advance.
Ticket Options:
• General Admission: General admission tickets offer great value for money and provides some of the best views of the track. This affordable ticket option gives access to various viewing points around the circuit as well as seats in a number of uncovered grandstands. Seats are not assigned in these grandstands and are available on a first-come first-served basis, so we suggest arriving early. The general admission viewing areas and grandstands are also uncovered, so make sure to be prepared for the weather if opting for this ticket type.
Our favourite general admission grandstands are Village A for action and Hamilton Straight B to watch the race build up on the grid and the start and finish of the race.
Under 16's are half price and under 11's go free with general admission tickets.
• Grandstand Tickets: Grandstand tickets offer the chance to sit in roving grandstands on Friday and to have a guaranteed, reserved seat for Saturday and Sunday. All grandstands included with this ticket type are covered, offering protection from the unpredictable British weather.
Our favourite grandstands with this ticket type are Luffield for action, Becketts for an elevated view of the track and Club Corner for last corner action and a view of the podium celebration.
Under 16's are half price and under 2's go free with grandstand tickets.
• Fan Stand Tickets: Fan Stand tickets include roving grandstands on Friday and a guaranteed, reserved seat for Saturday and Sunday in a covered grandstand alongside other like-minded fans. Options for Fan stands at Silverstone include: Marc Marquez, Ducati, Triumph and KTM. Enjoy the race and atmosphere with other fans and attract attention from the riders during the fan parade.
Under 16's are half price and under 2's go free with fan stand tickets.
• VIP & Hospitality: For an enhanced experience, VIP and Hospitality packages provide premium seating, great views, gourmet food and complimentary bar service. Packages vary in price and perks, with some offering additional extras such as paddock and pitlane tours, rider meets and Q&As, garage access and a chance to walk the grid during support races. Take a look at which packages are available this year here and here.
05. What To Do & See
A MotoGP weekend at Silverstone provides 3 full days of on and off track action and all is included with any ticket you purchase, whether general admission, grandstand, fan stand or VIP and Hospitality packages.
Each 3 day ticket includes access to all practice sessions, qualifying and races for MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 as well as Saturday's MotoGP Sprint Race and The British Talent Cup races.
1 day and 3 day ticket also include free access to the Silverstone Museum, Family Zone, Main Stage, Merchandise & Trade Village and Manufacturer Zone.
Entertainment offerings differ each year. Last year's event saw the Sprint Race podium fully amongst the fans in the Monster Compound area, live music from The Kooks and The Darkness, stunt shows, rider interviews, track walks, the Two Wheels For Life auction, autograph signings with KTM & Aprilia riders and an appearance from the Yamaha riders in the Monster Energy Compound.
Little of this year's entertainment schedule has been announced so far, but similar off track entertainment has been available for the last few years, so we are likely to see much of the same at this year's event. Additional experiences can also be purchased in the run-up to the weekend such as paddock and pitlane passes and the Hero Walk, so keep up to date with release dates for these extras via the Silverstone website.
06. Preparing For The Weather
The weather in England is famously unpredictable, so be prepared for sudden rain showers and/or intense sunshine by packing wisely. Remember to bring umbrellas, waterproof clothing and shoes, fans, hats, sunglasses and sun cream. If traveling by car, consider packing extra items and possibly a change of clothing should a sudden downpour catch you out. Be prepared for possible windy conditions in the grandstands too.
There are water refill stations around the circuit (generally located by the toilets) so make sure to bring water bottles.
07. What To Bring
As well as the weather related items mentioned above, comfortable shoes are essential when exploring the circuit and various entertainment areas.
Silverstone allows you to bring your own snacks and drinks, which we recommend doing as the queues at the food and drink booths are usually long, especially on Sunday. There are also water refill stations dotted around the circuit, so bring your water bottles and keep hydrated.
Small backpacks are allowed into the circuit and will need to be searched before entry. We like to bring portable phone chargers, for any devices we're using, binoculars to get a better look at the riders on the grid or on pitlane and our own mini radio and headphones for the commentary. Ear protection is essential, especially for children, those with sensitive hearing or whilst seated in a covered grandstand. There are some limitations on what you can bring, so make sure to double check on the Silverstone website here
08. What Else You Need To Know
OK, we're almost there (well done if you have made it this far!) there's just a few more things you should know:
• The event is generally accessibility-friendly, with a number of provisions to make the experience more enjoyable for those with additional needs including accessible viewing areas, toilets and parking, as well as wheelchair and scooter hire, a personal assistance scheme and a dedicated accessibility team on site. The Silverstone website offers more information on accessibility here.
• Traffic can be heavy, both before and after the main race on Sunday. If driving, allow plenty of time for traffic and consider arriving as early as possible for a good parking spot.
• Silverstone is a huge venue with multiple viewing spots, so arrive early to get a good spot, especially if sitting in general admission areas. Use Friday to explore different vantage points during the practice sessions to find your favourite for the action on Saturday and Sunday.
• There is a good range of food and drink options at the circuit but be aware of long lines, especially between races on Sunday. Most food and drink stalls will take card payments, but we recommend taking a small amount of cash just in case. Silverstone allows you to bring your own food and drink into the circuit but there are a few limitations, so make sure to check these out here before visiting.
• Bring camping chairs. Camping chairs are allowed at the circuit and are a good option in general admission viewing areas that are not seated. They are also great for watching any of the main stage events such as interviews or auctions and for waiting for the evening music act to begin.
• Pay attention to the race schedule, including the times for morning warm-ups, qualifying, and races. MotoGP generally runs after Moto3 at Silverstone and before Moto2.
• Keep an eye out for fan competitions and interactive displays where you can win prizes or get involved in games.
• Download the Silverstone app. The app provides live timing, event schedules, venue maps, and other useful information. It can help you keep up to date on when things are happening and any changes in the schedule.
Attending the MotoGP at Silverstone in 2025 promises to be an exhilarating experience filled with thrilling races and shared joy among passionate fans. We really hope this has been helpful in preparing for a smoother and more enjoyable visit to this iconic motorsport venue. If you have any questions, please ask them in the comment box below. We'll see you at the track!
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