Things to do · Silverstone
Silverstone Museum
The interactive museum of British motor racing, at Silverstone Circuit: cars and bikes from the 1940s on, RAF Silverstone's wartime story, a sim suite and a trail round parts of the old track. Adults £24 online or £29 on the day, valid for return visits for a year.
Family-friendly · Rainy days
Built for families and racing fans, with hands-on displays and a ticket that lasts a year. It is more interactive exhibits than rows of cars, and it is loud in places. Book online to save £5, and come on a term-time afternoon if noise is a problem.
- Good: A day ticket includes free return visits for 12 months
- Good: Free parking in front of the building
- Good: Changing Places toilet, and free carer tickets
- Worth knowing: Audio is loud in places and cannot be turned down; low lighting
- Worth knowing: On major race weekends you park in the main circuit car parks and need a race ticket
- Worth knowing: Assistance dogs only; no bags over 20 litres
About
Silverstone Museum tells the story of British motor racing from inside Silverstone Circuit, on the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border east of Banbury. It is built round hands-on displays, and the museum says an average visit lasts two to three hours. It is run by Silverstone Heritage Limited, a community benefit society.
What is inside
The exhibition runs on two floors, reached from a first-floor entrance. Racing Eras shows British cars and bikes from the 1940s to today, and Tech Lab explains the science of a racing car. Sir Jackie Stewart narrates an account of the circuit's medical centre. The RAF area covers the airfield's life as a wartime training base, with link, bomber and gunner trainers to try. The final show, The Ultimate Lap, may not suit people sensitive to motion or noise.
Children can commentate on a race, test how hard an F1 brake pedal has to be pressed, and crawl through the Priory Tunnel. A Sim Suite runs bookable 30-minute sessions. Black Cats and Chequered Flags is a 30-minute mixed and virtual reality story about Alberto Ascari, at £20 on top of admission and only for a limited time, the museum says.
Outside, the Heritage Track Trail takes you round parts of the current circuit and the original grand prix layout, including Bridge Corner and Luffield. It is included in your ticket, opens from 11am to 4pm and can close for major events, for safety or at the request of the circuit, and it has steep, stony and grassy sections. Luffield Terrace gives a view of the current layout of the circuit.
Tickets and race weekends
Adult tickets are £24 online or £29 on the day, and children from 5 to 15 start at £15. A ticket gets you free return visits for 12 months, and a UK taxpayer who adds Gift Aid to a full-price online ticket gets an annual pass. On major race weekends you need a race ticket to reach the site at all. For the race itself, see our British Grand Prix guide.
Visiting
In November 2026 the museum opens from Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm, with last entry at 3pm. December hours were not yet on its calendar when we checked. Relaxed, sensory friendly sessions called Low Revs run on Mondays 16, 23 and 30 November 2026. The Refuel Café serves hot and cold food.
The story of Motorsport Valley covers the area's racing history, and Silverstone by train covers the journey without a car. For a stay, see where to stay near Silverstone, including Escapade Silverstone and Whittlebury Park. Sulgrave Manor is the nearest old house.
Opening hours and season
November 2026: Wed to Sun, 10am to 4pm; closed Mon and Tue. Last entry an hour before closing. December hours not yet published when we checked; check the calendar.
Facilities
- Free car parkSix Blue Badge bays and a drop-off zone; no EV charging
- Refuel CaféHot and cold food from locally sourced ingredients; accessible counter
- LiftEntrance is on the first floor, by stairs or lift
- ToiletsAccessible on both floors; Changing Places on the ground floor
- Family activitiesHands-on exhibits, a children's tunnel and a Sim Suite
The details
- Time to allow
- Two to three hours, says the museum
- Features
- Café · Shop · Parking · Guided tours · Events and meetings · Views
- History
- Run by Silverstone Heritage Limited, a community benefit society
- Parking
- Free in front of the building: follow yellow signs from Dadford Road. Satnav NN12 8TN. On major race weekends you are sent to the main public car parks instead.
- Without a car
- See our guide to Silverstone by train and bus. The museum itself gives car directions only.
Photos
The museum at the circuit gate 
In the galleries 
A driver's helmet on display 
The racing simulators
Location
Accessibility
- Accessible toilet
- Changing Places toilet
- Assistance dogs welcome
- Large print available
- Parking within 50 metres
Wheelchair accessible, with a lift between floors and free wheelchairs if reserved by email. Low Revs sessions are relaxed and sensory friendly; in November 2026 they are on Mondays 16, 23 and 30 November. Accessible sim rigs can be reserved. The Heritage Track Trail has steep, stony and grassy sections.
Places to stay nearby
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Escapade Silverstone
Hotel · Silverstone
A hotel inside Silverstone Circuit between Copse and Becketts: 184 bedrooms in 60 private residences of one to four bedrooms, some facing the track, with a pool, gym and restaurant.
Family-friendly · EV charging
Verified Nov 2026
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Hilton Garden Inn Silverstone
Hotel · Silverstone
The only hotel on the track itself, by Hilton's account: 197 rooms on the Hamilton Straight, many of them facing the circuit, with a rooftop bar, an all-day restaurant and parking on site. Silverstone promotes it. Ask for race rates: we could not read Hilton's site.
Verified Nov 2026
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Dadford Road Campsite
Camping · Silverstone
A family-run farm campsite just south of the circuit, 5 to 10 minutes' walk from Club Corner at best, open all year. Its F1 page, open for 2027 bookings, prices a non-electric pitch from £140 to £240 by arrival day, and you need a race ticket. No pets, save guide dogs.
Verified Nov 2026
Nearby walks, places and things to do
- Escapade Silverstone 0.1 km away
- Hilton Garden Inn Silverstone 0.1 km away
- Dadford Road Campsite 0.5 km away
- Whittlebury Park 1.8 km away