Thinking of taking my 2 boys to the FOS this year but know nothing about it. Seems like the starline club package is a good deal if it's for 4 days. Who has been and can share tips like where to stay for 3 or 4 nights and any other insider tips would be great. Thank you
Lodging infrastructure major problem, entire area. Unless you stay at the house of his Lordship. There is no half way acceptable hotel nearby. Suggest you come by helicopter from London. Marcel Massini
FOS is incredible! There's no event like it. Where else in the world do you get to see groub B rally cars, 80's F1 cars, Le mans greats, Moto GP bikes and the latest sports and hyper cars not only displayed but absolutely fanging it up a hill. If the Jurassic park scientists somehow combined Ayrton Senna's DNA with Disneyland, Goodwood FOS is the love child it they would spawn. You guys will have memories for life. Accomodation is your biggest hurdle. We stayed in Brighton which is nearby, has a pretty good train station that can get you close and then took a free shuttle bus into the event. It's also a really nice place to visit and eating and comfort won't be a problem provided you're not expecting the Ritz and Noma. Do the 4 days. There's just too much to see in only one or two. Pack some decent walking shoes and note that you'll be off pavement for most of the day. Weather can be adverse so prepare for that as well. I don't know what else to tell you except that I'm jealous and that you will make memories and experience things you'll never get anywhere else in the world, car event or otherwise...
I live an hour away so have never needed to deal with accommodation. If you want to stay close by you really need to be booking a long time in advance. Now might already be too late! However, you don't need to stay that close. If you don't mind getting up early then you can, like me, be an hour away and it is all pretty well organized so that you can be straight in. However, if you try to arrive later and from the wrong direction (e.g. the main road from Chichester) you might well be queuing for some time. I do recommend being there for when the gates open, know the main things you want to see and head for them in a sensible order. Then you will see things in two hours that would otherwise take the whole day. Do note that some cars will have covers on overnight so might not be uncovered early. If you want to see them then you might need to come back to those a bit later. I suggest trying to download a plan of the site before you arrive so you know what is where and can head for things you most want to see. Don't stop by whatever is nearest your entry gate. Keep going and see those things later on the way out. Like all such events, although there are numerous food outlets there will be queues and event prices so consider bringing your own, although against that is having to carry it unless you come by car and go back to the car for your picnic. If you want to watch cars or bikes going up the hill then either book a grandstand seat or find a standing place some minutes before what you want to see is due to set off. It is probably easier to get a spot the further up the course you go and, in any case, nice to view from different vantage points. Note that everything that goes up also comes back down again and that you can go right up to the top to the holding area there. (I say "hill" but it is pretty flat really). There are also big screens dotted about. Be alert for some of the drivers just wandering around. If coming by car try to avoid the A27 from either direction (east or west). Otherwise, there are some really nice driving routes that won't be too busy as long as you are on them at a sensible time. There are one or two spectator "supercar" parking areas that are worth checking out if that interests you.
Can i borrow yours? I found a few hotels that are OK in Chichester. When i travel with the boys only, we are ok staying in acceptable hotels as we are usually out by 6am and back by 8pm to shower and sleep.
Thanks! It does look like an amazing experience for 20% of what Pebble Beach would cost us.. Are you suggesting we should wear shoes that can get muddy? AS for transportation, we will probably fly into Heathrow and rent a car. Is it better to take the shuttle to the FOS? Or parking is doable there?
Thanks for the comprehensive insider tips! We def are the be there early type like you, so if we can get in at 6am, we will be there. I will email the event to ask how early we can get it. Im thinking of getting this package here as it sounds like it's a great deal if it indeed includes admission and Roving Grand Stand access. I dont know if it's for one day or for the whole event however. Image Unavailable, Please Login
It is the best event, no doubt. We stayed in an AirBnB very close to the event. The demonstration jets were flying right over our house. I highly recommend taking the helicopter tour which is available at the event and is not too pricey. And go to the top of the hill to see all the rally cars (we didn't know they were located there until we got there)
Gates are invariably 6 am - startline club is per day - it appears to give access to all stands so could be good for one or two days of watching cars go up the hill as opposed to wandering up and down the hill looking at everything else
No, car parks open at 06:30. Gates open at 07:00. Here is a timetable, presumably from this year https://www.goodwood.com/motorsport/festival-of-speed/plan-your-day/timetable/ The packages are for one day only. When you click on the Book Now button it prompts you to select which day or days you want.
Not only shoes that can get muddy but also be aware that the walk up to the Rally stage area is a bit of a hill so you'd want traction, comfort, ankle support, etc. I can't comment on parking but imagine it gets busy. If you're planning on arriving as gates open and leaving when they close then you're probably ok. But in the shuttle we drove straight past queues of cars
