Silverstone Museum

The Silverstone Museum sits trackside at the circuit that hosted the first ever Formula 1 World Championship race in 1950, and it tells that story with the authority of the official keeper: this is the home of the British Racing Drivers' Club collection and archive, and the vehicles on the floor rotate straight out of that heritage.

Ten zones and more than 60 interactive displays walk you from Silverstone's origins through the science of racing, with genuine machinery threaded throughout; recent visitors have stood beside Nigel Mansell's Red 5 Williams FW14B, a Hamilton championship Mercedes and Grand Prix cars back to 1948, though displays change as the BRDC collection rotates. The hands-on floor earns the family reputation: pit stop challenges, reaction tests, Scalextric and commentary booths.

Every visit ends with The Ultimate Lap, a special-effects cinema flying lap of Silverstone against the legends, and on select days a heritage track trail takes you out onto the old circuit itself.

An all-indoor, all-weather, genuinely interactive museum that rewards 2 to 3 hours, more with racing-mad kids.

Look out for:

• The Ultimate Lap, the special-effects cinema finale, a flying lap against the greats. Do it last, as designed.
• The BRDC collection cars, rotating race machinery from British motorsport's governing family; check what is on the floor when you visit.
• 60 plus interactive displays: pit stop challenges, reaction tests, race commentary, Scalextric and the science of speed.
• The racing simulator suites, £20 per person and pre-booking essential, worth it for older kids and adults.
• The heritage track trail on select days, walking the historic circuit ground.
• The circuit next door: pair the museum with a race day, a track experience or Kart Silverstone across the site.

Race weekends transform the whole site, so check the Silverstone calendar: event days change parking, access and crowds completely.

• Hours: daily 10am to 4pm; book timed tickets through the official site, especially in school holidays.
• Prices are published in the museum's booking engine rather than on the site; simulator suites are £20 per person on top and sell out, so pre-book.
• Getting there: trackside at Silverstone Circuit off the A43, free parking by the museum on normal days; major event weekends move parking and swell everything, so plan around the race calendar. Public transport is poor, drive or rideshare.
• Displays rotate with the BRDC collection, so a specific car may be away.
• Sensory-friendly sessions run on select dates; cafe and motorsport shop on site; fully wheelchair accessible.
• Pairs with Kart Silverstone, circuit driving experiences and the Hilton's trackside viewing for a full Silverstone day.

Last updated: 2 September 2026