This article provides an annotated map of the Silverstone entrance gates for the Formula 1, plus gate opening times and details on the Fast Track ticket scheme at the F1.
Silverstone is the biggest circuit complex in the UK and it has a number of different entrances. Knowing which one to go in and what the opening times are can be confusing, so make sure you know before you go!
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Silverstone F1 tickets
If you still need tickts for the F1 at Silverstone I’d suggest buying tickets through Viagogo or StubHub. They always have a great stock of tickets for sale right up until the last minute on race weekend, including many single-day, 1 day or 2 day options. You can often find them for cheaper than official price in the run up to the event, too.
I’ve purchased F1 tickets through both platforms numerous times, including for this year’s British GP. I’ve always had a top experience buying with them and will definitely use them again.
They also have a very robust ‘FanProtect guarantee’ which keeps your tickets / money protected.
Where is the main entrance at Silverstone?
The main entrance for Silverstone circuit is located on Dadford Road less than 1 mile off the A43 which runs between Towcester and Brackley in Northamptonshire.
Click here for a Google Maps pin at Silverstone Circuit
However, for big events like the F1 and MotoGP there will be traffic management in place that won’t allow you to get to or go in the main entrance. If you’re driving to the F1 you’ll be directed to one of the nearby car parks – see my guide on parking at Silverstone for more info..
There will be a one-way system and lots of traffic on the A43 during the F1 weekend. There are alternative cross-country routes that can get you closer to the track, avoiding the worst section of the A43. Coming from the North try going through Abthorpe, and from the South go through Stowe.
Read my article on getting to Silverstone by car for better directions and information on the road closures during the big events.
Silverstone F1 entrance gates
Unsurprisingly the Formula 1 event is the biggest event of the year at Silverstone. In 2026 over 565,00 spectators attended the race weekend, making it the most attended F1 event in history. Trying to get that many people through the single main entrance is asking for queues and disgruntled fans.
To mitigate this there are a number of spectator entrance gates around the outside of the circuit that you can enter (on foot only).
In 2026 the entrances were changes from numbers to names. The official map below shows the entrance gate names around the circuit. Click here for a full size hi-res version of this map.
The entrance gates at Silverstone are named as follows:
- Club
- Brooklands
- Luffield
- Woodcote
- Copse
- Becketts
- Stowe
- The Ridings
- South Hospitality
- Vale
- Club
- Hamilton Straight
If you have specific grandstand seat tickets and want the shortest walk to your seat then aim for the gate that is named after your grandstand or area of the track. Alternatively you can just walk in via whichever entrance gate is closest to your parking / arrival point, and then walk around the track to get to your stand, checking out all the entertainment on the way.
If you’re camping you will need to know which of these entrance gates is closest to your campsite. My article on camping at Silverstone provides an interactive map with all campsites and entry gate locations.
You can use any gate to access the Silverstone concerts during the F1 weekend, but the Brooklands and Club gates are closest to the main stage.
What is Fast Track for the F1 at Silverstone?
Fast Track tickets for the F1 at Silverstone allow you to gain entry 30 minutes before the advertised gate opening times. Additionally there is a separate lane for Fast Track ticket holders meaning you are likely to avoid the worst of the queues at the various entry gates. The early and speedy entry means you stand a better chance of securing the best viewing spots.
Silverstone F1 Fast Track ticket prices last year were around £15 for Friday, £25 for Saturday, £35 for Sunday and £70 for the full 3-day weekend (in addition to your admission tickets). You can upgrade to Fast Track tickets when you click through to purchase your tickets on the Silverstone website.
Silverstone gate opening times
What time do the gates open at Silverstone F1?
The General Admission spectator gates for the 2027 Silverstone F1 open at the following times:
- Friday – 7:30am
- Saturday – 7:30am
- Sunday – 6:30am
Fast track, ticket holders can enter the circuit 30 minutes before the times above.
What time do the gates open at Silverstone MotoGP?
The entrance gates at Silverstone MotoGP open to the public at 8am on Friday and Saturday and 7am on Sunday. There are no Fast Track entrances or tickets at the Moto GP event.
What time do the gates open at Silverstone Classic?
The entrance gates at Silverstone Classic open to the public at 7.30am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There are no Fast Track entrances or tickets at the Classic event.
Silverstone MotoGP entrance gates
If you are attending the Moto GP, the entrance gates around the outside of the circuit will have the same names as on the maps above. As the Moto GP saw only a quarter of the number of fans the F1 saw, not all of these entrance gates will be open.
Silverstone have not released a map showing which entrance gates will be open for the Moto GP, so it is advisable to head towards the main entrance area and go from there, unless your ticket says otherwise.
Silverstone Classic (Festival) entrance gates
The gates around the outside of the circuit are the same for the Silverstone Classic. There are some additional entrances off Dadford Road that can be used for accessing different car parks.
Main entrance for other events
If you are attending a Silverstone track day, club race meeting, test day or car show you must enter via the main entrance. Once inside you will be directed over the bridge on to the circuit infield where you can make your way to the paddock and pit garages.
what entrance do i use for inner track tickets for british gp on july 9th
I’d go for the main entrance as this has the best access to the circuit infield, via the bridge over the Wellington Straight.
What entrance should I use if I’m walking to the track from a camp site on the towcester road?
Gates 3, 4, 5 and 6 will be the closest to you. These are are the northern end of the circuit near Woodcote and Copse corners.
Tried Gate 3 today for fast track and they said it wasn’t fast track!
Thanks for the update Linda, sorry you couldn’t get in. The official Silverstone interactive map for the 2023 British GP lists gates 1, 3, 4, 5, 15 and 16 as fast track gates so it sounds like someone there got it wrong!
Here’s the interactive map for info: https://map.concept3d.com/?id=2080#!ce/68090?ct/68092,68139?s/
Fast track gates? Trying to email Silverstone to confirm but impossible.
I’ve got GA tickets with my daughter, 1st time also. Best time to get there and entrances? Thanks
Hi Matthrew, specator gates open at 6:30am on Sunday. If you want to get a great spot in one of the better GA viewing areas you need to get for the queue at the gates at least 30 minutes before they open. If you’re driving and parking, allow an extra 45 minutes at least for traffic at that time.
The best entrance depends where you’re coming from, how you’re arriving and where you’re planning on sitting around the track. I can point you in the right direction if you give me some more info?
Hi thanks, will be getting to Hinton Airfield Park & Ride around 06:00hrs. No specific idea on where to watch race as it’s our 1st time. But reading info looked like Vale, Stowe or Becketts will be best? Thanks
My son would like to watch the student races event on this Sunday 23rd July and also visit the interactive museum, but will he have time to do both? What time is best to arrive and watch the formula student race and via which entrance?
Thanks
Hi Martina. The Museum is open 10AM – 5PM on the Sunday, you probably need a couple of hours to see it all properly.
The schedule for the Formula Student event is here: https://www.imeche.org/docs/default-source/1-oscar/formula-student/2023/fs2023_event_guide_timetable_v6.pdf?sfvrsn=2
What to time arrive for the Formula Student depends on which bits you want to see.
Enter through the main entrance off Dadford Road (gate 19 on the maps above).
Hi my dad has bought him and my husband silverstone tickets for this year, we ate trying to add on fast track to avoid queues bit I can’t find anywhere to book them, can you help please
You normally add the fast track tickets as an extra just before you complete the checkout for the main tickets. But if you’ve already got your tickets, it looks like you can still purchase 3-day fast track seperately here: https://events.silverstone.co.uk/selection/service?productId=10228668741697&lang=en
Alternatively if you log in to the account your dad bought his tickets with on the Silverstone website, he might be able to add single-day fast track tickets as options. Worth a look.
Thanks so much just booked litererally couldn’t find them on silverstone website and my dad’s bday Saturday so I can get him them printed
Hi there I have general admission for Saturday…do we have to go through the main entrance or can we go through the gates instead? Thanks
You can go through any of the entrance gates.
Hi Alex I have tickets for the Village Enclosure and Fast Track Parking what entrance do you recommend?
Many thanks
George
Hi George, I didn’t know there was sepcific fast track parking? I’d suggest the Main entrance, gate 19
Thank you
Thanks for such an informative website. We are attending the F1 in July and parking in the Church on Fri-Sat and the School on Sun and are in Stowe C. We understand that this is in easy walking distance and would be grateful for any advice you can give as to the best way to get to Stowe C, which gate to enter at, and roughly how long it will take to walk there. Not sure exactly where these 2 parks are in relation to the circuit. Many thanks for any advice you can give.
Hi Catherine, sounds like you’re using the Silverstone Schools charity parking on both occasions. The Church and School car park locations are on their website here: https://www.silverstoneschoolsparking.co.uk/parking-zones Church is about 25 mins to the main entrance, School about 35 mins by foot. Stowe corner is at the southern-most point of the circuit and both those car parks are north of the circuit, so I’d suggest entering via the main entrance gate and then walking inside the track down to Stowe, so you can see what’s going on around the circuit. It’s probably another 15 / 20 minute walk from the main entrance to Stowe.
Thanks very much for such a prompt reply. It sounds very much as if it’s best to enter at Gate 19 then, rather than walking round to Gate 11 and going in there as I’d been planning to do. Makes sense to have a look at the other grandstands etc on our way. It’s our first visit so it’ll all be new to us, and sounds as if we’ll have plenty of walking to do. 😁 Thanks again.
Which is the best gate if you have paddocks passes for the motogp.?
Hi Donna, I’d go for the main entrance at the MotoGP
Hi Alex, we have hospitality tickets for Sunday F1, do these act as fast track or do we need to buy those separately please?
Hi Hayley, you need to check that with your ticket supplier to be sure.
I have tickets in the Becketts portion of the circuit, due I aim for my driving directions towards the Becketts portion of the circuit??
I’m looking at inner track access for next year but can’t find anywhere that tells me where the paddock gates are to see the drivers arrive?
Hi Alex , It will be my first time in Silverstone 5th of July 2025. I have 2 tickets for Roving GA and I have a parking ticket too. For Saturday what will be your recommondation for
– Gate
– Seating Area
– Parking zone
And to have a good view and seat when should I be there ?
Thanks for your comment in advance.
My favourite GA spot at Silverstone is at Vale but this is one of the most popular. You can enter via Gate 15 on the southern side of the circuit right next to Vale, and Dadford Road Campsite & Parking is closest to that entrance.
Hi. This is a great blog and very helpful. We are doing park and ride from Sixfields. Do you know where the bus’s drop of and pick up? Thank you.
Hi Sandra, thanks for your comment. The bus drops off by Gate 19 / Gate 1, right outside the main entrance.
I am parking at Green Lane School. What is the nearest gate? Thanks
It’s a 20 minute walk to the main entrance gate 1.
Got GA ticket for race day F1 and will be parking at turweston park and ride is fast track worth it? Best time to get there to get a spot near Stowe?
Hi Alex, the first bus leaves Turweston at 5:30am on Sunday. Fast track gates open at 6:00am on Sunday. At very best it’s a 30 minute journey from Turweston to the track, but to allow for race day traffic it’s likely to be longer. The normal gates open at 6:30am so by the time you get there you might be around that time anyway. However you should still be able to use the FastTrack lane to avoid the worst of the normal queue.
Hi Alex, thank you for your useful website! And this week I plan to take shuttle bus from Milton Keynes and should get off at Gate 19 or 1 according to the guide. But my ticket is for Chapel close to Gate 9. So how do I get to the Gate 9 or Chapel stand? Is there shuttle bus between gates? Just on foot?
Hi Jeffrey, yeah unfortunately it will be a walk around the outside of the track from Gate 1 to Chapel. Might be around 25 minutes to get there.
What an awesome site, so informative!
I have Chapel GS tickets for race day, and can see from your page the nearest gate, but as I am getting the park/ride, do you know approximately how long it’d take to walk from the bus drop offs all the way to the other side of the track? Also, I assume it’s fairly straightforward getting to that GS if I decided to enter the main entrance?
I am sure you’re very busy, so no worries if you don’t get round to answering in time!
Hi Jack, the park and ride drop offs will be at Gate 19 / Gate 1 which is the main entrance. If you walk from there, I’d allow yourself around 40 minutes to get to the Chapel grandstand.