I got the park and ride from Towcester last year and we got stuck in traffic as soon as we hit the A43. There was no priority given to buses at all and it took us over an hour to travel four miles or so.

Saying that, coming from the M40 up the A43 has always been relatively straight forward and few delays the years I've been going. It's only when you get towards Silverstone itself that traffic begins.

The provisional timetable from Silverstones site is slightly different as it has a display by an RAF Typhoon listed after the race.

http://www.silverstone.co.uk/php/rm_britishGP.html
Sunday 21 June
05:00
All Gates Open
00:00 to 21:00
Silverstone Radio On Air (87.7FM)
07:00 - 16.00
Silverstone TV On Air - all screens on site
07:00
Stowe & Copse E-Zone Open
08:20 - 08:50
Formula BMW Second Race (13 Laps or 25mins)
09:30 - 10:20
GP2 Second Race (24 Laps or 45mins)
10:45 - 11:20
Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Race (14 Laps or 25mins)
11.00 - 24.00
Royal Oak Public House Garden Open
11:30
Formula One™ Drivers’ Track Parade
11:45 - 12:15
Starting Grid Presentation with the Band of the Royal Marines
12:00 - 12:24
Red Arrows Air Display
12:30
Formula One Pit Lane Open
12:45
Formula One Pit Lane Closed Grid Formation
12:46
National Anthem
13:00
2009 FORMULA 1 SANTANDER BRITISH GRAND PRIX 60 Laps
15:00 - 15:30
Silverstone Historic Sports Car Challenge Race (12 Laps)
15:30
Stowe E-Zone Closes
15:45 - 15:53
RAF Typhonne Air Display
15:30
Copse E-Zone Closes
16:15
Grand Prix Party

clatter's one is correct.

That's a surprise.

OK, have decided to go to the Turkish GP, Hungarian GP and the British GP this year.

Has to be done, I've lived here for ages.

I have to say though, I've never been to the British GP and have preferred to travel because Silverstone has a reputation as being a nightmare to visit.

I live in London, so...

* What is the best way to go see the British GP?

* What are the General Admission areas like?

* If GA is toopacked I'd rather get a grandstand. Would anyone recommend good grandstand seating which won't break the bank?

* Is there any same day train service from central London to Silverstone, including connecting buses? Is this OK or too much of a nightmare to contemplate?

* What is Silverstone camping like? A guy at the pub this evening said he was robbed by pikies at Silverstone in 2007, and many other campers were. Is crime an issue?

* Question for people who normally go to European GPs but have been to Silverstone: Is the British GP worth the hassle and expense?

Cheers!

P

What is the best way to go see the British GP?

From London? I would be inclined to get a cheap B&B in the Aylesbury/Bicester area and travel in each day, or pop on one of the park-and-ride buses they have running throughout the weekend. I live in Thame and only takes an hour (perhaps a bit more on race day) to drive in.

What are the General Admission areas like?

Friday will be ok as you can wander around wherever you want to go and can freely sit in any of the grandstands. Qualifying is a bit different and you'll have to stake your claim somewhere. Race day will be a pain in the backside. Unless you get there at the crack of sparrows (5am) and stay routed to your position, you'll have to stand behind some overweight man or someone standing on a coolbox.

If GA is toopacked I'd rather get a grandstand. Would anyone recommend good grandstand seating which won't break the bank?

Was going to recommend Farm, but all the tickets have gone for that. Don't get tickets for Copse as they're overpriced and offer very little in actual 'track time', same goes for the pitstraight. Woosh. Gone.

Is there any same day train service from central London to Silverstone, including connecting buses? Is this OK or too much of a nightmare to contemplate?

Get the train to Milton Keynes and get on one of the shuttle buses?

What is Silverstone camping like? A guy at the pub this evening said he was robbed by pikies at Silverstone in 2007, and many other campers were. Is crime an issue?

Wouldn't even contemplate it. Hate camping. Though I know some will love not having a proper shower and no proper comfort for four days.

Question for people who normally go to European GPs but have been to Silverstone: Is the British GP worth the hassle and expense?

Do it once. Maggotts - Becketts is the best place for GA tickets. Compared to the likes of Spa? Not even in the same ballpark.

Has anyone got a clue whereabouts the park and ride goes from when Silverstone say 'M40'? I mean, it's possibly one of the longest stretches of motorway in the UK...

Assuming they have always used the same place for the M40 park and ride, it's an old airfield called Hinton-in-the-Hedges http://www.hintonairfield.co.uk/location.shtml

They put signs up to guide the traffic there... I think they direct you to get off the motorway at J11 rather than J10. When you've reached the field it's a long bus ride to and from the actual circuit... around half an hour I think, but after the race the buses have a clear lane so they get well ahead of those of us that have parked at the track and are enjoying a couple of hours sat in the car going nowhere.

I have a perception, that may be wrong, that it is slightly easier heading South out of the circuit than going North to the M1.

If you're still debating this one, the best way we ever did Silverstone was to book in at the Hilton at Warwick and drive in each day. They had a good deal on a room and started breakfast early on the day of the race so you could still get to the track in time for the warm-up races but having had a decent cooked meal. It was a pretty good journey to and from the track (apart from when the M40 was closed by an accident).

I've not done GA... it's pretty damned busy there. The grandstands are changing quite a lot this year, even without the arena circuit. I've opted for one of the Platinum Luffield stands as that used to be as good a place as any, but intend to use spare time on the Friday to work out which stands will be best for 2011! They are starting to push their luck on ticket prices though.

Silverstone is much less hassle and not really any more expensive than any other race I've been to. Maybe a changed track will give us a bit of action too, ignoring 2003 and 2008 that were fairly exceptional.

Cheers for the infomation

2 other park and rides are Sixfields in Northampton and Towcester race course - I'd have thought the Towcester one was the nearest.

Dont understand the comments about traffic problems - have left from the main car park straight after the race in the last 2 years and not even been held up - the biggest jam was actually getting to the car as the refuse trucks seem to think straight after the race is the best time to start moving!!

Have I been lucky or something ?

Maybe we all think that by hanging around for the classic car race after the GP we're being clever and avoiding traffic, when in fact most people do that. Or you get to your car far more quickly than anyone else.

We used to go to the post-race party and leave when Status Quo or whoever was dug up to headline that year started playing, but my wife prefers to get home quickly now as she doesn't like our son thinking we might have abandoned him (with relatives that is... not home alone) all weekend! I don't think we got home any later when we stayed for the F1 part of the party than we are when we leave after catching some of the final support race.

I've never had any problems getting in or out either. I think there is an awful lot of bad press around Silverstone by people who don't actually go there.

* What is the best way to go see the British GP?

I can't say for sure what is the best way, each to their own really. I drive up on the Thursday (from London) and camp next to the circuit by Stowe, when I say camp, I mean sleep in the back of my van The campsite has hot showers and toilets (although the toilets aren't hot obviously...). I think its £15 per night, and they have 24hr security. Good atmosphere, one group even had their own karaoke set up, complete with TV showing the words!! There are designated 'quiet' areas if a good nights sleep is essential..


* What are the General Admission areas like?

If you don't mind getting there at 5am, and guarding 'your patch' for 6 hours then fine. Not for me though, £230 for a 3 day pass and a grandstand seat at Stowe, is good value in my opinion.

* If GA is toopacked I'd rather get a grandstand. Would anyone recommend good grandstand seating which won't break the bank?

See above, at Stowe you can see the cars coming out of Becketts, down Hanger Straight, round Stowe, through Vale, round Club and then going up towards Abbey.

* Is there any same day train service from central London to Silverstone, including connecting buses? Is this OK or too much of a nightmare to contemplate?

No idea to be honest.

* What is Silverstone camping like? A guy at the pub this evening said he was robbed by pikies at Silverstone in 2007, and many other campers were. Is crime an issue?

See above. Check to see if the campsites offer security.

* Question for people who normally go to European GPs but have been to Silverstone: Is the British GP worth the hassle and expense?

Compared to Spa I would say similar. The traffic getting to Spa is a nightmare, the British GP isn't great either. Facilities at Silverstone are better than those at Spa, by a country mile (proper toilets, better choice of food). If you live in London then go for it, why not?!

Rather random question, I have relatives living in a village near Whittlebury Hall (Lillingstone Lovell, if that means anything to anyone!) who, as I don't qualify for parking as I'm on my own, have said they can drop me at Whittlebury each day.

Does anyone know how easy or hard it is to walk from Whittlebury to the circuit if you're not staying at the campsite? Or am I best making my relatives join the traffic and getting them to drop me in Silverstone village?

I appreciate this is a lonnng way in advance to be worrying about such things, but just thought I'd ask.

Also, as an alternative, does anyone know how you go about booking the parking spaces at Silverstone School or any of the Bed and Breakfasts? (relative lived in Silverstone last year, I got a resident's permit and walked. Not so lucky this year!)

Any advice much appreciated!

Apparently the General Admission tickets are now sold out for Silverstone. Only grandstand seats are left, at least that's what the BBC said on their website. That's some going, a week before the start of the season!