What’s it like to stay at a hotel on the start/finish line at a Formula 1 race? Reader Robin tells us about his weekend at the new Silverstone Hilton Garden Inn during the 2023 British Grand Prix.
Laying claim to being the first and only hotel overlooking the start/finish line at a current Formula 1 circuit, the Hilton Garden Inn Silverstone was completed last year but was operational at an F1 race weekend for the first time at the 2023 British Grand Prix in July. Located in the inner perimeter of the Silverstone circuit, this brand new chain hotel is directly opposite the pits and starting grid on the Hamilton Straight. You cannot get closer to the action than this!
Thanks to being a loyal Hilton member, reader Robin was allocated room 517 for the 2023 British Grand Prix Weekend and tells us about his experience. For an unforgettable race weekend experience with ultra convenience, the Hilton Garden Inn Silverstone is the only place to stay, says Robin.
Arrival
Parking was provided and is right next to the hotel, which was super convenient. Note that you will need a General Access or Paddock Club pass to enter the circuit gates. The convenience of having not to worry about travel logistics cannot be underestimated!
Room 517
Check in was seamless and we were allocated room 517 on the fifth floor. The room itself was functional and had all the offerings that you would expect from a new Hilton Garden Inn hotel.
Lobby & McLaren Branding
Thanks to being the longstanding global hotel partner of the McLaren Racing Formula 1 team, Hilton Hotels adorned the new trackside hotel at Silverstone with plenty of displays and branding for the team on British Grand Prix weekend, including a display car in the lobby. The ground floor of the hotel is also home to the Silverstone Megastore, where you can choose from a large array of circuit and F1-themed merchandise.
Race drivers Lando Norrris and Oscar Piastri welcoming guests into the lifts!
The Rooftop & Terrace
We arrived on Friday morning and were not able to check into our room until 3pm, so we watched the first Formula 1 free practice session from The Rooftop, the hotel’s top-floor bar and viewing terrace. The rooftop area provides excellent views of the start/finish straight and pits, as you can see in the photos above and below.
To the Paddock Club Via the Skybridge
For qualifying on Saturday, we enjoyed VIP hospitality in the Paddock Club above the pits. We crossed the track direct from the fourth floor of the hotel via the Sky Bridge, which connects to the Silverstone ‘Wing’ building. Opened in April last year, the state-of-the-art steel and glass bridge spans 80 metres across the track, directly above the start/finish line.
Starting Grid Suites
On Friday, we watched the second Formula 1 free practice session (FP2) from the Starting Grid Suites, which was two interconnecting rooms with balconies overlooking the circuit. We returned to the Starting Grid Suites for more of the same incredible views on race day.
Red Bull Hospitality
We didn’t experience the hospitality ourselves, but did have the chance to check out the Red Bull hospitality suite on the first floor, complete with a skate ramp.
Final Thoughts
Robin stayed at W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island (Marriott) overlooking the circuit while attending the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the infamous race that decided that year’s title in favour of Max Verstappen, and says that staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Silverstone offered a similarly phenomenal experience. “You really can’t beat a track side hotel if you are there for the whole Grand Prix weekend,” says Robin.
