Themed days out and experience days are more popular now than ever! This is great news for motor enthusiasts who can attend a huge variety of different driving days, museums and more. We have looked up and down the country to see just what is on offer and there really is something for all car lovers.
Whether you want to race around a circuit at top speed in a super car or stroll quietly through a peaceful motor museum, there is always something that suits you. So, here at Friday-Ad Motors, we thought we would compile the ultimate list of the top motoring experiences in the UK. From race and track days, to rally driving, monster trucks and tank experiences, there is enough entertainment and excitement in this list to keep you occupied for a very long time!
Take a look at what is on offer and bear these in mind next time you are buying a birthday present, organising a party or arranging a work day out…
Land Rover Experience, Solihull
Fans of off-road driving – and Land Rovers in particular – will love this fantastic day out. Situated in the heart of Land Rover’s manufacturing site, the Land Rover Experience Solihull allows you to go on a guided tour of the latest state of the art facilities, whilst also being able to get behind the wheel and tackle the 14 miles of terrain. The terrains vary from the legendary Jungle Track to the Land Track and the Adventure Zone.
You can jump behind the wheel, or sit in the passenger seat and throw yourself into the adrenaline fueled experience head first! There are world-class instructors on hand to help you along the way, ensuring that you get the most out of the experience. You really can only understand the control, handling and agility of one of these fantastic vehicles by sitting inside the cabin whilst tackling tricky terrain!
www.solihull.landroverexperience.co.uk/
Phone – 0121 700 4619
Email – solihull@landroverexperience.com
Let’s Race, Horley
Let’s Race has a truly brilliant F1 racing simulator that makes for an excellent day out. There are a whole range of driving experiences available that can suit a variety of needs, with the most popular experiences being the Race and Premium Race options. The race option allows you to step into the cockpit of an F1 car and live the dream. You will get a 15 minute safety briefing, then you’ll take part in a 15 minute qualifying session, a telemetry review and then a 15 or 30 minute race!
The full motion F1 simulation cars on offer have to be experienced to be believed. They feature a booming sound system, which creates an amazing atmosphere. These cars also travel up to 200mph, which can give you a real rush! If you are an F1 fan, then this is quite possibly the best day out available to you in the UK. There is also a fully licensed bar and cafe on-site as well as a grandstand where your friends can come and watch the action.
Phone – 01293 826800
Email – info@letsrace.co.uk
Rally Driving Days, Cotswolds
If you have always wanted to get behind the wheel of a rally car, then Vision Motorsport’s Rally Driving Days are most certainly for you. This family run, friendly organisation in the Cotswolds, began over 10 years ago, and was put together by an award winning British rally team with the aim of allowing everyone to experience the ‘exhilaration of motorsport, in a safe environment‘.
You can drive one their fantastic rally cars around their brilliant loose surface rally stage and feel the adrenaline pump its way around your body. You will receive safety training and guidance on how to drive a rally car properly. That means you will will pulling off handbrake turns, oversteer and other important techniques. Once you have had your turn, you can then get the thrill of seeing how the professionals do it. That’s right, you can jump in the passenger seat and experience a very high speed chauffeured ride with one of their expert drivers. Vision Motorsports also do supercar, 4×4 and junior driving experiences.
Phone – 01608 672 040
Email – sales@visionmotorsport.co.uk
Top Gear Test Track, Cranleigh
Fans of Top Gear simply must take on the Top Gear Track for themselves. Take on the celebrities and be the Star in the Reasonably Priced Car. That’s right, you can jump in the Kia Cee’d and take on Chicago and Hammerhead whilst seeing if you can top the leaderboard! You will learn the route on a simulator, before taking to the real life track where the show is filmed. You really do get the glimpse of the celeb lifestyle as you get the whole track to yourself!
Not only do you get to tackle the track, but you will also be filmed by the onboard camera, and you’ll be able to take the footage away with you at the end of the day to analyse your performance and show your friends! Everyone who gives it a go, will get their name on the online leaderboard forever, so why not see if you can make a name for yourself and top the table?
www.topgeartrackexperience.com
Phone – 0844 2250 767
Email – info@topgeartrackexperience.com
Forster Racing School, Chichester
Forster Racing School offer you what they claim to be the fastest rally X experience in the UK! Adrenaline junkies will love this day out as they get to climb into one of the powerful and scary Rage Buggies and take part in one of a number of fantastic options. That’s right, you can opt for the driving course, or the half day experience. They also do stag and hen bookings as well as corporate events.
The Forster Racing School half day experience begins with you being taught how to drive these cars by fantastic race tutors, before hitting the track and testing out what you learned. And, as if that wasn’t enough, you will then get to go on a high speed passenger ride with the British Rallycross Champion. Now that is something you won’t want to miss out on!
Phone -01243 210218
Email – leo@forsterracingschool.co.uk
Donington Park Grand Prix Exhibition, Derby
All F1 fans simply must make sure that they visit the Donington Grand Prix Collection at least once in their life. The largest showcase of Grand Prix racing cars in the world, now also incorporates the Wheatcroft Military Collection in the first two halls, so is now bigger than ever. There are over 130 exhibits on display that do well to highlight the history of motorsport from the turn of the 20th Century. You can get up close and personal to these cars that have been driven by such famous names as Mansell, Prost, Moss, Fangio and Stewart.
This museum not only has the largest collection of Grand Prix racing cars in the world, but it also has the largest collection of McLaren and Williams racing cars in the world, outside of their respective factories. And, on top of this, it also has the only complete collection of Vanwalls that you can see worldwide. This is a wonderful day out for the whole family and one which F1 enthusiasts will thoroughly enjoy!
Phone – 01332 811027
Email – info@donnington-park.co.uk
Capital Karts, London
Capital Karts has over 1050 metres of professionally designed race track available for you to test yourself. If you are in or around London and you and your friends are looking for somewhere to go go-karting, then you really must give Capital Karts a go. They easily boast at having the longest indoor track in the UK, which is over three times the length of a standard go karting track.
The Capital Karts experience has been specifically designed to offer ‘unbeatable racing, maximum enjoyment and a spot of friendly indoor go karting competition‘. This is the perfect day out for anyone looking to celebrate a special occasion with friends and family as well as those of you who are looking to arrange an office day out!
Armourgeddon, Leicestershire
Now, this is a very different type of driving experience altogether. With the Armourgeddon Tank Driving Experience you arrive, are handed your uniform and helmet and then you are thrown headfirst into the day. You will get briefed on your FV432 tank and then, when you are ready, you will get the chance to drive one of these immense vehicles around the beautiful Leicestershire countryside.
You will get to drive the tank for two laps of the track, which was once a World War II bombing range. Your first lap will be driven with the hatch open, and on your second go round, you will have to navigate using the periscope under battle conditions. When not driving you will get to sit in the turret seat and enjoy the ride! The opportunity to drive a tank is, for most people, a once in a lifetime opportunity, and it makes for a fantastic day out!
Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon
The Heritage Motor Centre is home to the world’s largest collection of British cars and is a must for any motor enthusiast! You can marvel at over 300 cars that range from classics and vintage to veteran era cars. This museum opened in 1993 when the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust’s preserved car collection was joined together – it was previously split between a couple of other locations. And since then it has grown into a top quality day out for all motor enthusiasts. Head on down and you will not be disappointed.
The Heritage Motor Centre is, however, more than just a museum. There are archives and picture libraries available along with education and learning programmes and a calendar of specialist motoring events available to attend. This brilliant museum with a difference offers something for everyone and even if you are not the biggest car enthusiast you will still come away having had a wonderful time.
www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk
Phone – 01926 641 188
Email – enquiries@heritage-motor-centre.co.uk
Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire
Head on down to Croft Race Circuit and drive your dream car! These guys have over 20 years of experience and they have a wide selection of the latest supercars and single seat racing cars for you to try out. This is a really unique and memorable driving day and makes the perfect gift for any motor enthusiast friends or loved ones. You can take one of a range of amazing cars for a spin around their track including the Lamborghini Avendator Roadster, Aston Martin Vantage, Ferrari 430, Porsche Cayman and more!
With such a wide range to choose from there really is something for everyone, and Croft Circuit even allows under 17s to drive around the track in their New Starter Experience offering. The circuit is also home to a range of fantastic race meetings throughout the year, all of which make for a fun-filled day out!
Phone – 01325 721 815
Email – info@croftcircuit.co.uk
Thruxton Motorsport Centre, Hampshire
Want to drive your dream car on the UK’s fastest circuit? Well, with over 30 years of experience at hand, and the latest supercars on offer, the driving experience available at Thruxton Motorsport Centre is unique and memorable! Similar to Croft Circuit mentioned above, Thruxton Motorsport Centre’s fleet includes the new Lamborghini Aventador Roadster and Huracan, the Ferrari 458 Spider plus Aston Martin V8 Vantage N430 and many more.
The 2.4 mile circuit is an FIA licensed venue and is the perfect place for you to put your foot down in one of a range of supreme motors! What really sets Thruxton apart from its rivals is the fact that speed really is their language. The track is the fastest dedicated racetrack in the UK and not a disused airfield. It is also used by the British Touring Car Championship and other top class championships. There are no 70mph speed limits here!
Phone – 01264 882 222
Email – info@thruxtonracing.co.uk
London Motor Museum, London
The London Motor Museum has one of the largest collections of both classic cars and custom automobiles in Europe. The museum is home to over 200 of the finest collectable cars including a 1937 Auburn Speedster, a 1967 ‘Eleanor’ GT500, and a 1937 Lincoln Zephyr.
The museum is not just made up of classic cars. You can also visit the Movie Car section, The Bat Cave – which hosts the 1966 and 1989 Batmobiles. Or, why not pop along to Muscle Car Alley, or the Supercar Paddock? If beautiful automobiles are your thing, then the London Motor Museum really is a must for you!
www.londonmotormuseum.co.uk
Phone – 0800 195 0777
Email – info@londonmotormuseum.co.uk
Gwynne Speed, Cirencester
Established in 1993, Gwynne Speed Racing was initially just a rally car preparation business, however, it is now one of the leading providers of exhilarating rally experience days! There are a number of rally experience days on offer that are perfect for those of you who want to take your driving to the next level whilst having an adrenaline fueled time.
The fantastic full day rally experience is a whopping six hours long. You get a dedicated instructor for the duration of the course and they will help teach you how to handle these powerful cars on tricky terrain. You can learn a range of skills including the handbrake tun, or, if you want, you can spend the afternoon trying to set your best time on their gravel track. With the afternoons being flexible, you can choose how you spend your time.
Phone – 01793 752 281
Email – info@glosrallyschool.co.uk
Single Seater – Silverstone, Northamptonshire
Fancy tackling the world famous Stowe Circuit in a finely engineered racing car? Then make sure you give the Formula Silverstone Racing Car Single Seater Experience. The car you’ll be driving sits inches above the track and can has a whopping 140bhp going from 0-60mh in under five seconds. Now that is fast! These cars are the closest most people will get to driving a real F1 car and are an absolute dream to drive!
These custom built cars have brilliant cornering grip, magnificent direct steering and a brilliant knack for changing direction quickly. Once you’ve tackled this experience, you will have a new found respect for Formula One drivers. You will learn how to handle the car and get to experience some cracking laps around the brilliant track.
Phone – 01327 320 280
Email – enquiries@silverstone.co.uk
London Rally School, Oxfordshire
If you are looking to treat yourself or a friend to a fantastic rally driving experience in our capital city, then you should look no further than London Rally School. With 27 years of experience, London Rally School allows you to get behind the wheel of a Subaru Impreza, Ford Escort RS2000s and more. And once behind the wheel you will be treated to some one-on-one coaching with an expert driver!
The intensive coaching sessions are personalised with plenty of emphasis placed on you getting maximum time behind the wheel. No matter what level of skill you have behind the wheel of a rally car, London Rally School’s expert instructors will be able to help you improve and develop to reach your full potential. If you want to speed around their course and master rally driving then you really should give them a try!
Phone -01869 278 199
Email – info@rally-school.com
Leisure Pursuits Monster Truck Driving, East Grinstead
Leisure Pursuits, in the heart of Sussex, are the only place in the UK where you can drive a monster truck… Now we’re talking! There are several monster truck driving experiences available, including one which takes you through their famous Jungle Run. There is no feeling quite like being behind the wheel of a vehicle that is as powerful as one of these fantastic trucks.
With four different, and equally brilliant, vehicles available in the Monster Truck Experience, you can get to grips with a number of challenges and have the thrill of a lifetime. Ever rolled sideways in a heavily modified 4×4? Well now you can give it a try! But, the biggest and baddest of them all is the full size, American spec, monster truck. In this bad-boy you can do a couple of laps of the arena before driving over two cars!
Phone – 01342 825 522
Email – mail@leisurepursuits.co.uk
The Racing School – Donington, Derby
The Racing School allows you to drive one of a wide range of fantastic super cars in what is an unbeatable day out. The vehicles on offer include the Lamborghini Gallardo, the McLaren MP4, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage and more. Their two hour driving experience includes a 20 minute safety briefing, a period of familiarisation in a sports saloon car, and then you are off around the track!
At the Racing School you can also opt for some race training, in which you will get some expert tuition to help you get faster and better with each lap! And, if you really want to push the boat out, then you can splash the cash and get behind the wheel of an actual Formula One car on their iconic circuit. This is rather expensive, but you will be one of only 120 lucky people to get to drive this car on this track each year.
Tanks A Lot, Northamptonshire
The second tank driving experience on our list is Tanks A Lot. These guys operate 95 tanks on a challenging off road course allowing you to experience the thrill of driving one of these beastly vehicles for your own entertainment. Tanks A Lot offer a range of experiences and activities. Why not drive a 56 tonne tank over a car, or swim in an amphibious truck? You will not be disappointed.
You can also step up to the SAS Woodland Patrol Challenge or fire an 18th century musket and mortar. The range of activities on offer is astounding and all of them are great fun. Tanks A Lot offers a brilliant day out for any military enthusiast and is an experience that should not be missed!
Train Driving Experience, Kent
Head on down to Kent and East Sussex Railway for a driving experience with a twist! Learn the basic skills required to drive a steam locomotive under the watchful eye of one of their experienced instructors. This is a truly fantastic day out, and fans of old steam trains simply must give it a go! The day begins in the morning with a breakfast safety briefing accompanied with tea and bacon. Then, you get to experience hands on training where you get to take control of one of these impressive pieces of machinery.
A special day out, the introduction to driving course at Kent and Sussex Railway makes for a perfect gift to a friend or loved one. And, come the end of the day you will receive a certificate, a tee shirt and a mug to take home as souvenirs.
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