Start planning your trip to the 2021 British Grand Prix at Silverstone on July 16-18. Advice on visas, money and local customs.
Silverstone is a village on the borders of Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire, 75 miles (120km) North West of London via the M1 motorway (Google Maps link). It is fifty miles to the South East of Birmingham, one of the largest cities in the UK. The track is surrounded by several towns and villages, all of which have accommodation options (which tend to sell out well in advance of the Grand Prix weekend). The market town of Buckingham is 6 miles (10km) south of the race track and the small town of Towcester sits just 5 miles (8km) to the North. The larger Milton Keynes is just 15 miles (24km) away, as is Banbury.
COVID-19 Update: The UK has announced a phased end to lockdown measures associated with COVID-19. It is expected that the last measures will end on June 21, more than one month before the 2021 British Grand Prix. Silverstone is planning on welcoming a full house of spectators for Formula 1 this July, but there still may be testing and quarantine requirements for travellers from certain countries. Check entry requirements carefully before travelling to the UK.
UK Travel: Need to know
- Do I need a visa to visit Britain? American, Canadian and Australian nationals don't need a visa to visit the UK as a tourist. Neither do those from the European Economic area and Switzerland, plus most of the Caribbean, Japan and South America. Travelers from outside these countries should check UK immigration rules, as a short stay visa may be required.
- In case of an emergency, dial 999
- Britain uses Type G power sockets, which is different to the rest of Europe; bring a universal adaptor
- The international dialing code for Britain is +44
- During the Grand Prix, the timezone is British Summer Time (BST), which is equivalent to UTC +1
- During British GP weekend, sunrise is around 05:00 and sunset around 21:00
- Tap water in the UK is general safe to drink, though most people prefer to purchase bottled water these days.
Staying Safe
Being set in a rural location rather than a city, the British Grand Prix is a relatively safe event to attend, though we always recommend common sense when it comes to keeping an eye on your belongings. This is particularly true if you are camping. There is a reassuringly strong police presence in the UK, though visitors staying in cities or larger towns should behave as they would in any unfamiliar place and avoid walking anywhere alone at night.
Money
The UK’s currency is the pound sterling (GBP or £), which has fallen significantly against most major currencies since the Brexit vote in 2016, making a trip to the British GP cheaper for traveling fans. It’s not necessary to purchase pounds before you travel; cash machines (‘cashpoints’ in the UK) are everywhere and credit cards are widely accepted. Tipping is not necessary, though it is common to reward good service from taxi drivers, at restaurants and in hotels.
British Grand Prix Weather
July is one of the hottest months in the UK, though British GP weather can be unpredictable. Recent race weekends have had everything from scorching heat to serious downpours. Don’t underestimate the UK’s sun; the average temperature in July 2018 was 17.6°C (64°F), with temperatures reaching as high as between 22 and 25°C (72-77°F). If the forecast is for warm weather, you’ll need sunscreen, plenty of water and a hat (especially if you are in an uncovered grandstand or general admission). Being an English summer, of course, we’d also recommend that you bring waterproofs and something warm but light for pulling on if it gets a bit breezy at the track.
Staying Healthy in the UK
All tourists in the UK are entitled to the same emergency care as nationals, and visitors from within the EU can access emergency medical care upon presentation of a valid EHIC card. Fill out an application form at your Post Office or request one online – they’re free. Always ensure you have good travel insurance before you set off. If you are from outside the EU, you will need to claim on your insurance policy for hospitalization and repatriation in the case of an accident or serious illness, so don’t leave anything to chance.
4 thoughts on “Travel Basics – 2021 British Grand Prix”
Great info for us first timers.
Thank you, I will update you after our visit to silverstone.
Thanks Tom, would be great to hear about your experience at Silverstone.
Any recommendations for direct travel to the circuit from nearby cities? I am traveling from the US and I am thinking of staying in Milton Keynes or Northampton but do not know how to get to the circuit directly.
It’s pretty easy to get shuttle buses from both those cities to Silverstone. All the information is in Getting There & Around!