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A message to a friend displaying cars, a Friday general admission ticket, and a mission to see as much of the Silverstone Festival as possible.
I've never been to the Silverstone Festival, and when I saw that a friend was going to be displaying there I asked if they happened to know of any tickets knocking about. Fortunately for me a General Admission ticket was found and I had my Friday sorted.
As I'd never been before I wasn't sure on just how much a general admission ticket would get you access to, so I put a little question up on an instagram story. The response I got was a resounding "you can see pretty much everything" which was pretty accurate. The story of making friends through cars does now come into play, and because of my good fortune in making so many friends doing what I do with Takona I got another message.... "I have a spare staff pass if you want to come and give us a hand".
What a staff pass means is a) you get access all weekend, result, and b) you can go pretty much everywhere, including the pit wall. Now I should express that there is etiquette and safety awareness to be aware of with all of this should you find yourself in a similar boat. You are not entitled to anything, the marshals are in charge, and you keep out of everyone's way (especially when they're doing actual work). Knowing these rules meant I got to have a very lovely time across the weekend while also getting to grab as many photos as I could.
Silverstone festival is busy, from the racing, to the entertainment, the trade village to the club displays, everywhere you go there is something to see or do, and what you get out of your time there will depend entirely on what it is you get enjoyment from. Now some of the "old guard" may find it frustrating that the vent hasn't been entirely about classic racing like it once was (don't worry it's changing again soon with carfest taking the august bank holiday slot at Silverstone starting next year) which is understandable if your enjoyment is the classic racing. It had been said by a few people I chatted to that the grids weren't as busy as they once were and some of the "hero" cars that attended before weren't there. However for a large portion of the car enthusiast and motorsport community the array of cars on track and on display is pretty impressive. If you spend a lot of your time around motorsport you can be come a little numbed to seeing this stuff, if this is one of a few events you go to a year, you'll be more than well catered for.
I can't give an accurate impression of what it's like for families as I was there wandering around by myself looking for cars and people who like to talk about cars, my impression of the family focused areas was "wow that's a lot of stuff for me to have to wander through to get to the cars again" which is probably a good indicator of how well looked after you are if you're taking the kids for a day out and need to keep them entertained between rounds of racing. I would say that the food and drinks were a little on the pricier side, having paid £6 for an iced latte in desperation of something cold and caffeinated that wasn't a Redbull. If you are taking the family, bring water bottles at a minimum, Silverstone has refilling spots around the site.
I also can't give an impression of the live music as I didn't see any, my weekend plan wasn't to be here and a wedding on the Saturday meant missing out on Friday and Saturday nights music (Natasha Bedingfield and Craig David), so I can only apologise if you came here hoping to hear just how good 7 Days is live, or how well Natasha can still perform Unwritten.
If you're like me and you want to see race cars being driven properly, get amongst the paddocks (which can you do on general admission) and mooch around looking at a plethora of interesting and exciting cars from Formula one through to the 787B homage Mk1 MX-5 then Silverstone Festival has you covered, let's hope whatever they change it into next year is just as much of a treat.
See the full gallery of my wandering around below.
Silverstone Festival 2025 brought history, horsepower, and high-octane entertainment together for an unforgettable weekend celebrating 75 years of Formula 1. Held at the iconic Silverstone Circuit, the home of British motorsport, this year’s edition was bigger and better than ever, combining thrilling historic races with live music, family fun, and the unmistakable buzz of classic car culture.
Originally built on the site of a World War II airfield, Silverstone has long been the heart of UK motorsport. Since hosting the first-ever Formula 1 World Championship Grand Prix in 1950, the circuit has evolved into a mecca for racing fans worldwide. The Silverstone Festival (previously known as the Silverstone Classic) has become the world's largest historic racing event, attracting over 100,000 visitors annually for a three-day August Bank Holiday spectacular.
This year marked a major milestone—75 years since the birth of Formula 1. To celebrate, the festival showcased the "World Champions Collection", a stunning lineup featuring cars driven by every F1 World Champion to date. From Giuseppe Farina's 1950 Alfa Romeo 158 to Max Verstappen's Red Bull RB18, fans witnessed seven decades of motorsport evolution in one place.
While full results are available via TSL Timing, early winners included standout performances in the Royal Automobile Club Woodcote Trophy and Stirling Moss Trophy races. Expect detailed breakdowns of each class, including lap times, finishing positions, and driver highlights, to be released soon on the Motor Racing Legends and Masters Historic Racing websites.
While Silverstone Festival 2025 marked a historic celebration, the future is evolving. For 2026, CarFest will be taking place at Silverstone during the August Bank Holiday weekend. As of now, it remains unclear what this means for the future of Silverstone Festival. Whether it evolves, merges, or returns in a new format, the 2025 edition may have been the last of its kind in its current form—making it even more memorable.
With its new lease secured on the Formula 1 calendar through to 2034, Silverstone remains the spiritual home of motorsport. The Festival not only honours its past but redefines the future of heritage racing and car culture in the UK.
Whether you're a die-hard F1 historian, a classic car aficionado, or just looking for a great summer weekend, Silverstone Festival is a must-attend event that continues to set the benchmark for motorsport experiences.
When is Silverstone Festival held?
It takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend every year at Silverstone Circuit. However, for 2026, CarFest is scheduled at the venue during that time, at the time of writing, it's not clear what Silverstone Festival will look like.
Where can I see the full race results?
Visit TSL Timing for detailed timing and result sheets.
Is the event suitable for families?
Yes! With kids zones, live music, food stalls, and more, there’s something for all ages.
How can I book tickets for 2026?
Keep an eye on silverstone.co.uk for announcements and event updates.
