Silverstone

United Kingdom

Overview Activities Acco Guide

Overview

Silverstone is a village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England. About 0.5 miles (1 km) south of the village is the Silverstone Circuit, a former Royal Air Force World War II bomber base. It is now the traditional home of the British Grand Prix, a Formula One race that attracts more than 300,000 visitors each year.

Things to do in Silverstone!

See All Activities

Hotels

Booking.com

Guide

Neighborhood

Silverstone is a medium sized village in Northamptonshire, England. Other towns within Northamptonshire include Brackley, Corby, Kettering, Northampton, Oundle, Rushden, Daventry, Towcester and Wellingborough.

 

Brackley  

  • Brackley is an ancient market town based on wool and lace trade, close to the Northamptonshire border with Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
  • The sweeping High Street, 18th century town hall and piazza are the focal point for Brackley’s many annual festivals, weekly market and monthly farmers’ market.
  • South of the town is the St. James lake.

 

Corby  

  • Corby is a town in Northamptonshire, England.
  • Mesolithic and Neolithic artefacts and human remains dating to the Bronze Age have been found in the area surrounding Corby.
  • Corby is the only town in England apart from London with two Church of Scotland churches.

 

Kettering  

  • A large town in north Northamptonshire, Kettering owes much of its heritage and growth to the arrival of the railway during the mid 1800s.
  • Main attractions and landmarks in Kettering include:
    • Wicksteed Park, one of the oldest amusement parks in the country, offers gardens, an aviary, lake, shops and rides (including train, rollercoaster & swinging ship).
    • Manor House Museum details much of the town’s history including its rapid growth during the Victorian period.

 

Northampton  

  • Present-day Northampton is the latest in a series of settlements that began in the Bronze Age.
  • Main attractions and landmarks in Northampton include:
    • Guildhall: A classic neo-gothic styled building built in 1861.
    • Northampton Museum and Art Gallery:  A collection of artifacts from Northampton’s past with particular homage to the shoe industry that caused the town to first boom.
    • The Express Lifts Tower in St James: The National Lift Tower is a lift testing tower built by the Express Lift Company. It is the only such tower in the UK, and one of only two in Europe.
    • Abington Park Museum: It features artifacts relevant to both the town’s history and its place at the center of the leather industry.
    • 78 Derngate: The only house outside of Scotland to be designed by world-famous architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The House has been beautifully restored and is now a museum.
    • Northampton Market:  Northampton's market square is one of Britain's largest and most historic and dates back to 1235.
    • The Holy Sepulchre: Northampton's oldest standing building is one of the largest and best-preserved round churches in England.

 

Oundle

  • Oundle is a historic market town in Northamptonshire, with its ancient buildings, intriguing alleyways, ancient inns and one of the finest churches in the Midlands.
  • The beautiful church of St. Peters is a combination of early English, decorated, and perpendicular styles.
  • Another landmark and amongst the oldest buildings in this area is the Talbot Hotel, constructed of timber and rebuilt with stone from the ruins of nearby Fotheringhay Castle.

 

Rushden

  • Rushden is a town and civil parish located in a small valley, with a stream or brook known as Sidney Brook flowing through the centre of the town.
  • The former Rushden railway station is now owned by the Rushden Historical Transport Society, which operates a museum and real ale bar.

 

Daventry

  • The town of Daventry is known for its historic market centre and on the edge of this town centre is the popular Daventry Country Park and Reservoir.
  • There are 74 buildings or groups of buildings in the centre of Daventry that are on the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, among them is the Holy Cross Church.  
  • Borough Hill, situated to the east of Daventry, is capped with a layer of Jurassic sandstone and owes its shape to the retreating glaciers of the last Ice Age.
  • One of the largest ancient hill forts in the country, there is also evidence of Roman and Saxon activity, of which some of these discoveries can be seen in the British Museum in London.

 

Towcester  

  • Once a thriving coaching route along the ancient Roman road of Watling Street, today Towcester is a flourishing and vibrant market town.
  • Situated within Towcester’s conservation area and covering 30 acres, Moat Lane includes a number of listed buildings, a scheduled ancient monument and parkland. At its heart is the restoration of Bury Mount, the site of a 12th century motte and bailey castle.
  • The Towcester Museum traces 5,000 years of Towcester’s history.

 

Wellingborough

  • Wellingborough is a market town and borough situated on the north side of the River Nene.
  • All Hallows Church is the oldest existing building in Wellingborough and dates from c. 1160.
  • The Wellingborough Museum is housed within the historic Dulley's Baths building and has 40,000 catalogued items, spanning over two million years of history, all relating to Wellingborough and the surrounding villages. 

Getting around

General info

  • The airports serving Silverstone are London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Luton, London Stansted and Birmingham International. The airports closest to Silverstone are:
    • London Luton: 32 miles from Silverstone
    • London Heathrow: 48 miles from Silverstone
    • Birmingham International: 48 miles from Silverstone
    • London Stansted: 55 miles from Silverstone 
    • London Gatwick: 74 miles from Silverstone 
  • The main railway stations near Silverstone are at Northampton and Milton Keynes.
  • Towcester (3.37 miles) and Brackley (2.66 miles) are the nearest bus stops.
  • The journey to Silverstone should take 90 minutes in easy traffic from London, 60 minutes from Birmingham, 45 minutes from Oxford and half an hour from Northampton, approximately.
  • From London, exit the M1 at Junction 15a and take the A43 in the direction of Oxford. Silverstone is well indicated from Towcester onwards. If coming from Birmingham, exit the M40 at Junction 10 and take the A43 towards Northampton. Silverstone is indicated from Brackley onwards.

 

 Getting to the city from the airport

  • London Luton Airport
    • Luton Airport is the nearest International Airport, 32.1 miles from Silverstone.
    • Train tickets may be purchased from the rail ticket sales desk or self service ticket machine in the Onward Travel Centre.
    • Coach tickets may be purchased from the various sales desks in the Onward Travel Centre in the Onward Travel Centre or by paying the driver directly. 
    • There are multiple means of getting from the airport to Silverstone including:
      • Rail  
        • A shuttle bus service operates to and from Luton Airport Parkway Station; this is normally a 10 minute trip from the airport terminal building. The service runs every ten minutes between 5:00 am and midnight.
        • The journey from Luton Airport Parkway to Northampton takes approx. 2 hours.
        • Refer here for the rail schedules.
        • From Northampton, you can take a taxi or a special coach to get to Silverstone. Refer to our section on Taxis below for more details.
      • Bus
        • National Express provides coaches from Luton Airport to Towcester and Brackley.
        • Refer here for the coach schedules.
        • It will take you approximately 4 hours 15 minutes to reach Towcester and 4 hours to reach Brackley.
        • From Brackley and Towcester station you can take a taxi to get to Silverstone. Refer to our section on Taxis below for more details.
      • Taxi
      • Car hire  
        • Free shuttle buses operated by APCOA Car Parking are available to transfer passengers between the terminal and the car hire centre.
        • The car hire providers based at London Luton Airport are as follows:

 

  • London Heathrow Airport
    • The London Heathrow Airport is approximately 48 miles from Silverstone.
    • There are multiple means of getting from the airport to Silverstone including:
      • Rail
        • With a journey time of 15 minutes between the airport and London Paddington, and departures every 15 minutes, Heathrow Express offers the fastest journey time.  Refer here for details.
        • The Hammersmith & City Line and the Circle Line connect Paddington and Euston. The journey by train from London Euston to Milton Keynes Central only takes 30 minutes.
        • The journey from Heathrow to Northampton takes approx. 2 hours and to Milton Keynes Central takes approx. 1 hour 40 minutes.
        • Refer here for the rail schedules. 
        • From Northampton and Milton Keynes station you can take a taxi to get to Silverstone. Refer to our section on Taxis below for more details.
      • Bus
        • Tickets for all coaches can be bought from the travel centre at Heathrow central bus station or booked in advance with the operator. You may also  buy a ticket from the bus driver, subject to availability.
        • Passengers using Terminal 5 will find a National Express ticket office inside the terminal, in the international arrivals area.
        • National Express has coaches from London Heathrow Airport to Towcester and Brackley.
        • Refer here for the coach schedules.
        • It will take you approximately 3 hours 10 minutes to reach Towcester and 3 hours to reach Brackley. 
        • From Brackley and Towcester station you can take a taxi to get to Silverstone. Refer to our section on Taxis below for more details.
      • Taxi
        • Iconic London black taxis stop at the taxi ranks outside all Heathrow terminals. All private hire minicabs will need to be pre-booked online or by telephone and the drivers will meet you from your flight in the arrivals area.
        • The major taxi service providers at the Heathrow Airport are:
      • Car hire
        • The car hire providers based at London Heathrow Airport are as follows:

 

  • Birmingham International Airport
    • The Birmingham International Airport is approximately 48 miles from Silverstone.
    • There are multiple means of getting from the airport to Silverstone including:
      • Rail
        • Birmingham Airport is directly connected to over 100 towns and cities via Birmingham International Station and the free 'Air-Rail Link' system.  The Air-Rail Link is free and operates between 5:00 am and 2:00 am daily.
        • The journey from Birmingham International to Northampton takes approx. 50 minutes and to Milton Keynes Central takes approx. 30 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes.
        • Refer here for the rail schedules. 
        • From Northampton and Milton Keynes station you can take a taxi to get to Silverstone. Refer to our section on Taxis below for more details.
      • Bus
        • National Express has coaches from Birmingham International Airport to Northampton. From Northampton coaches are available to Towcester and Brackley.
        • Refer here for the coach schedules.
        • It will take you approximately between 1 hour 20 minutes to 4 hours 15  minutes (depending on schedule) to reach Northampton. From Northampton, it’ll take 20 minutes to reach Towcester and  35 minutes to reach Brackley.
        • From Brackley and Towcester station you can take a taxi to get to Silverstone. Refer to our section on Taxis below for more details.
      • Taxi
        • Black cabs operate a 24-hour service directly outside the arrivals area of the terminal buildings. All black cabs accept major credit cards, provide receipts and are the only cabs licensed to operate from the Airport without prior booking.  For enquiries, call 0121 782 3744.
        • Other taxi service providers include:
      • Car hire
        • The car hire providers based at Birmingham International Airport are as follows:

 

Traveling within the city

  • Oyster is a smartcard which can hold pay as you go credit, Travelcard and Bus & Tram Pass season tickets. Use it to travel on bus, Tube, Tram, DLR, London Overground and most National Rail services in London. Refer here for details.
  • East Midlands Smartcards are also available. Refer here for details.

Train

  • Silverstone is equidistant equidistant from Northampton, Milton Keynes and Banbury train stations (30 minutes roughly). The nearest train station to Silverstone is Wolverton Rail Station. A return coach service will operate from Banbury, Milton Keynes and Northampton stations to Silverstone; this service cannot be pre-booked and has to be paid for on the day of travel.
  • Trains to Milton Keynes, Watford Junction and London Euston are operated by London Midland and Virgin Trains.
  • Northampton Rail Station is on the London Midland lines between London Euston and Birmingham or Liverpool.
  • Refer here for the rail operators. 
  • From Northampton and Milton Keynes station you can take a taxi to get to the Silverstone. Refer to our section on Taxis below for more details.

Bus

  • The Northampton Buzz Card is a ticket you can use for unlimited travel on most bus services in Northampton.
  • Weekly card costs GBP 16.00 and a day ticket costs GBP 4.30; they can be purchased from the bus driver or the nearest PayPoint outlet. Refer here for details.
  • Various bus and coach operators coordinate the operation of the bus service. Refer here for details.
  • Stagecoach Bus Route 8 operates Monday to Saturday between Bicester and Northampton with a stop in Silverstone Village. Refer here for details.

Taxi

  • Taxis are readily available at all train stations.
  • There will also be a taxi and private hire vehicle drop off and collection point on Brackley Road in Silverstone village.
  • Taxi fare shouldn’t be more than about GBP 35.00 for a trip to Silverstone (or back) from either Banbury, Northampton or Milton Keynes.
  • The Northampton minimum taxi fare is GBP 2.20 for the first 0.08 miles and increases by GBP 1.80 per mile.
  • Night minimum fare (11:00 pm – 6:00 am) is GBP 3.40 for first 0.08 miles.
  • Companies providing taxi services in and around Silverstone include:

Tipping

Tipping is typically not expected in United Kingdom since all staff in UK are to be paid the National Minimum Wage.

  • Hotels: Tip your porter GBP 2.00 per bag depending on the bag weight. Housekeeping is generally not tipped but can be tipped if there is a mess.
  • Restaurants: Tip your server 10% of the bill before taxes. In some restaurants, a service charge of 10% to 12.5% is charged. If you are unhappy with the service, you could ask for it to be removed. In some restaurants, ‘service not included’ may be printed which is a request for a tip. 10% is generally accepted.
  • Bars: If frequenting a bar and you having built a rapport with the bartender, you could buy a drink for the bartender. Else, tip the barman GBP 1.00.
  • Taxi: It is not a requirement to tip in taxis but is customary to round up to the nearest pound in metered taxis. Tip your airport taxi driver GBP 2.00 - 3 .00 for helping with luggage. 

Suggested itinerary

Northamptonshire in 3 Days (Source: Visit Northamptonshire)

 

Day 1 – Towcester, Stoke Bruerne & Rockingham

  • Towcester Museum: Towcester Museum has interactive exhibitions spanning 5,000 years of Towcester’s history. This first exhibition traces the origins of Towcester from the Stone Age through the Bronze and Iron Ages right to the end of the Roman occupation. This second exhibition will continue the story from the end of Roman Empire through the Anglo Saxon, Norman, Medieveal eras to the Civil War and the Great Fire of Towcester.
  • Moat Lane: Moat Lane includes a number of listed buildings, a scheduled ancient monument and parkland. At its heart is the restoration of Bury Mount, the site of a 12th century motte and bailey castle.
  • The Grand Union Canal at Stoke Bruerne: The Grand Union Canal is Britain’s longest, the trunk route of the canals, linking London to Birmingham passing through rolling countryside, industrial towns and peaceful villages. In and around Stoke Bruerne you’ll find the Blisworth Tunnel, historic locks and bridges, a weighing machine, winding hole and traditional canal pubs.
  • Rockingham Castle:  This castle has been in the same family for 450 years and contains fine Elizabethan portraits, contemporary paintings and in the garden, 'the elephant hedge'
  • Grimsthorpe Castle: The castle includes George IV’s throne, a magnificent chapel with Venetian window and an exquisite Chinese drawing room, all set in a 3,000 acre park.

 

Day 2 - Northampton

  • Boughton House: This Northampton home of the Duke of Buccleuch has an outstanding collection of fine arts including works by EL Greco, Murillo, caracci, over 40 Van Dyck paintings,16th carlets,17th,18th Century French and English furniture, tapestries, porcelain, incomparable armory and ceremonial coach.
  • Guildhall: A classic neo-gothic styled building built in 1861.
  • Northampton Museum and Art Gallery:  A collection of artifacts from Northampton’s past with particular homage to the shoe industry that caused the town to first boom.
  • The Express Lifts Tower in St James: The National Lift Tower is a lift testing tower built by the Express Lift Company. It is the only such tower in the UK, and one of only two in Europe.
  • Abington Park Museum:  It features artifacts relevant to both the town’s history and its place at the center of the leather industry.
  • 78 Derngate: The only house outside of Scotland to be designed by world-famous architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The House has been beautifully restored and is now a museum.
  • Northampton Market: Northampton's market square is one of Britain's largest and most historic and dates back to 1235.
  • The Holy Sepulchre: Northampton's oldest standing building is one of the largest and best-preserved round churches in England.

 

Day 3 – Milton Keynes & Silverstone Circuit

  • Bletchley Park: Near Milton Keynes, Bletchley Park is one of the UK’s most popular museums. Home to the famous code-breakers of World War Two, it houses a number of original Enigma machines and Colossus, the world’s first programmable computer. Built in 1560, it is the ancestral home of George Washington, the first president of the United States of America. One of the area’s most popular attractions, the house is full of Tudor and Georgian furniture, embroideries and other artefacts.
  • Silverstone Circuit - Feel the thrill of Silverstone’s legendary track with dirving and motorbike experiences, and tours with the inside track on Britain’s only F1 circuit. A helicopter ride offers a bird’s eye view. 

Staying connected

  • United Kingdom uses the GSM 900 and 1800 frequency bands. For 3G carriers use the 2100 band. Verizon, EE, Vodafone and O2 are providing 4G services in the country now.
  • The phone will need to be able to work on the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz GSM bands and, to use a local SIM it will also need to be unlocked. The 'Three' network only works on mobile handsets which are '3G' enabled on 2100 MHz; others will work on '2G' handsets also.
  • There are 4 service providers in United Kingdom that offer prepaid SIM / Pay As You Go options:

Eat / Drink

Local

  • From award winning restaurants to country pubs or delicious tea rooms, South Northamptonshire has a wonderful choice of dining options to suit every budget and appetite. The style varies, from traditional English, to French, Italian and Spanish.
  • The market towns of Brackley and Towcester also have a range of authentic ethnic restaurants including Bangladeshi, Chinese, Italian and Indian.
  • Some popular local food items include:
    • Stilton Cheese
    • Pork Pie
    • Fish & Chips
  • Some notable restaurants serving the local specialties include:

Gourmet

 

  • Roade House
    • Cuisine: Modern British
    • Awards: Listed in the Good Food guide since 1985 as well as in the AA guide, The Michelin guide and Hardens guide.

 

 

Vegetarian

 

 

 

Drink

;
Banner image credits: Silverstone Circuit