8 of the best upcoming car events and festivals

If you’re a car enthusiast (or you’re just looking to keep the kids entertained for the weekend), these are eight upcoming car shows in 2024 you don’t want to miss

Whether you’re looking for something specialist, like a classic car show or an exhibition of the more ordinary vehicles from the ‘Unexceptional Era’, you want to don a nice outfit and look at some of the rarest vintage cars around, or you’re looking for a family-friendly weekend of fun, there’s something for everyone.

Being able to mingle with fellow car lovers, watch some iconic motors race around some iconic tracks, take a close up look at historic vehicles, and take home a souvenir? Sold.

Get your wallets and diaries at the ready, and get those tickets in the bag for the best UK 2024 car events.

Supercar Fest: The Runway

When: 18th and 19th of May
Where: Sywell Aerodrome, Northampton
How much: From £25 for an adult and £10 for a child

Back for its fourth year, Supercar Fest: The Runway is one of the leading supercar events in the UK. 

If you like supercars, get yourself to Northampton for two solid days of supercar action, featuring the runway event where you’ll get to watch some of the top supercars set top speeds along the 1km straight, as well at the First Point Hypercar Zone.

Bugatti’s, Koenigsegg’s and Pagani’s all in one place? Sign us right up. 

You’ll also get access to the Supercar Paddock where you can meet with the owners, as well as interactive exhibitor stands and a number of Car Clubs.

And you might even get to see history being made – the Aston Martin Valkyrie hit the 200mph mark last year. Tough to beat, but not impossible. 

Fathers’ Day Motorfest Weekender

When: 15th and 16th June
Where: Chelmsford, Essex
How much: From £16.99 for an adult and £7.99-£12.99 for a child

Are you a dad? Do you like cars? Do you want to spend a fun weekend keeping the kids busy while you get to eye up some phenomenal vehicles?

The Fathers’ Day Motorfest Weekender is the event for you. 

Billed as one of the best family day weekends in Essex, there’s something for everyone. With a monster truck stunt show, motorcycle and BMX displays, a kid’s inflatable village, vehicle parade, and plenty of street food trucks, this isn’t one to miss.

There’s even Dream Drives ‘Movie Cars’ – a display of up to 30 of some of the most legendary cars that have ever graced the cinema big screen.

Maybe even some of these film-featured Mercedes-Benz will make it.

Goodwood Festival of Speed

When: 11th-14th July
Where: Goodwood Estate, Chichester
How much: From £70 per person

The ultimate summer garden party for the motorsport lover, the iconic Goodwood Festival of Speed is definitely an event to mark in your calendar. 

You’ll get to see all sorts of cars and bikes tackle the iconic hillclimb track, showing off their engineering prowess in the process. You can also take part in driving experiences that’ll raise the old adrenaline, before relaxing and taking in some of the greatest vehicles and their drivers in the picturesque parkland of the Goodwood Estate.

Summer party bliss meets heart racing motoring? The ideal way to spend a few days, if you ask us. 

Previously showcasing ‘80s turbocharged Grand Prix cars, 750kg European Championship cars from the mid-1930s, Group 7 sports cars from the glory days of Can-Am and so much more, you’re guaranteed a right treat for the eyes and ears. 

Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional

When: 27th July
Where: Grimsthorpe Castle, Grimsthorpe
How much: From £35 per car (including its occupants)

Bored of supercars and race cars? Tired of seeing incredibly fast cars go incredibly fast in a circle?

Excellent news – the Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional will be right up your street.

Celebrating the long forgotten everyday cars from 1969-1999 – now dubbed the ‘Unexceptional Era’ – this is a motor show with a difference. The difference being the emphasis on ordinary versions of cars over exceptional ones.

The Concours de l’Ordinaire takes place in front of Grimsthorpe Castle, with only 50 places available.

If you’re into Renaults over Rolls-Royces, this is the car show for you.

The British Motor Show

When: 15th-18th August
Where: Farnborough International Exhibition Centre
How much: From £23.50 per person, or £47 per family

One of the biggest celebrations of motoring around, The British Motor Show is back once again – and bigger than ever.

With a total of six halls to explore, with a mix of manufacturer exhibitions, heritage vehicles, tech demos, live action shows and family entertainment, there’s something for the whole family to enjoy. And then some.

We suggest going armed with a plan, so you get to see everything that you want to.

There are even test drives, supercar experiences and rides for children and adults, alongside marketplace sellers, the latest car tech, merchandise and gifts.

If you consider yourself a petrol-head, then you’ll want to get yourself to Farnborough in August.

Silverstone Festival

When: 23rd-25th August
Where: Silverstone Circuit, Towcester
How much: Day tickets from £25, three-day tickets from £130

Another iconic staple in the annual car show calendar, Silverstone Festival takes place at the – you guessed it – Silverstone Circuit. 

An excellent day (or three) for the whole family, the festival is crammed with activities and cars galore. From motorsports to music (Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Olly Murs and Busted are all making an appearance this year) to family fun, you won’t be running out of things to see and experience.

With some of the best motorsport action available to you, including transatlantic Pre-66 Touring Cars, historic Formula Libre (including F5000, F2, F Atlantic and F3), ’66 Grand Prix cars, road races for road-legal classic, sports and saloons, GT car races, the 75th Anniversary track demo and so much more, you’ll need eyes in the back of your head and the ability to clone yourself to get to see everything.

While day tickets are available, you could also make a Bank Holiday weekend of it and camp out to make the most of the festival.

Salon Prive

When: 28th-31st August
Where: Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire
How much: From £295 for the Concours and £50 for the Supercar Saturday

It’s like Royal Ascot, but for cars. If you’ve got a hankering to put on a nice outfit and go and stare at some nice cars while sipping some nice champagne, you’ll want to get yourself over to Bleinham Palace for the Salon Prive.

With a garden party attire dress code (and the chance to wear your best hat or fascinator for the Thursday Ladies’ Day), you’ll be able to swan around the grounds and admire some of the world’s most impressive luxury cars and supercars, with manufacturers from all over the globe displaying their finest motors.

Step back in history to view treasures from the Edwardian era, plant yourself firmly in the present with grand tourers, classic sports racers and racing legends, or catapult yourself into the future as brands display their concept cars and debut their latest creations.

It’s the place to be this August. 

Classic Motor Show  

When: 8th-10th November
Where: NEC, Birmingham
How much: Tickets not on sale yet – sign up to their newsletter to find out more

Rounding out the season is the Classic Motor Show at the NEC in Birmingham.

One of the largest classic car shows of the year, the Classic Motor Show is where you need to be if the classic car has your heart.

With over 3000 classic cars, 350 exhibitors and traders and 300 classic car clubs, it’s the perfect opportunity to network, admire vintage wheels and pick up some excellent swag.

It also features the UK’s biggest autojumble, where you can shop for that part that has been eluding you or pick up parts and tools for your classic car maintenance and restoration needs.

There are a range of activities on offer too, with talks from motoring experts and celebs, specialists dotted around to help with all your vintage motor questions, and the opportunity to drive out in classics to help raise money for charity.