There’s no shortage of excellent grandstands to choose from at Silverstone but if looking at ticket prices gives you palpitations, there is an alternative that lets you experience the British Grand Prix on even a modest budget. General Admission (GA) is significantly cheaper than any grandstand and although you forego having a reserved seat you get the freedom to move around the circuit, which some fans prefer.

So unfold your camping chair, get comfortable and read on to discover insider tips, recommended spots, and everything you need to know about general admission at the Silverstone. 

Why Choose General Admission for the British GP?

General Admission is the obvious choice if you have a limited budget, with GA tickets costing less than even the cheapest grandstands. If you’re bringing the kids it’s an even sweeter deal, with big discounts for children under 11 making it great value for families. 

It doesn’t just come down to costs though. A walk around Silverstone’s general admission areas is a great opportunity to see F1 cars under various track conditions, from sweeping corners like Stowe to the high-speed Hangar Straight. 

While these areas are also open to any grandstand ticket holder, you may be less inclined to explore the circuit if you have a seat with your name on it. 

How Good is Silverstone’s General Admission?

The flat terrain makes walking around easy, but the lack of elevation does have its drawbacks. Grandstands are elevated, but being at track level limits what you can see and there are few areas with a fence-free view of the track.

You can see most of the same corners from general admission, you’ll just have a much better view from a good grandstand. 

Like at most F1 circuits, fans can freely walk around the exterior of the track. As well as large areas that draw big crowds there are some tucked-away places worth exploring. Just about every inch of the track is visible from some point, including the main straight and the pits.  

The ground varies between grass-covered stretches—perfect on sunny days—and stony ground, which is less comfortable but provides better drainage on a wet weekend.. Unless you intend to walk around a lot during track sessions, it’s a good idea to bring a fold-up chair.  

Since most popular viewing areas are in front of grandstands you won’t usually have a problem keeping up with what’s going on anywhere on track because there will always be a giant screen nearby. 

How to get the most out of General Admission at Silverstone

If you’ve bagged yourself a 3-day weekend ticket, use Friday at Silverstone to explore. You can complete a full lap of the circuit and find your favourite place to watch. The perimeter path is just over 5km (3 miles) so it would only take an hour or so if you were to walk non-stop. 

Even if you’re not a keen walker, you should find it easy enough to circumnavigate the track in a day. The ground is flat and you never have to walk for more than 5 minutes without passing food stalls and amenities. Whatever the British summer weather throws up you can always find shade and shelter under the grandstands.

If you want the very best view of the British GP in general admission for Sunday, you’ll need to have done your homework, got your bearings and head straight for your chosen spot as soon as you’re through the gates. This is especially true if there is a group of you and you plan to set up your own chairs.

On race day, the most committed will start to queue before gates open and the best spots will be taken up fast. It’s one reason that staying nearby overnight beats day-tripping and it’s something to consider when planning your travel to the track

Do you need to arrive at the track at 4 am? No, it’s not essential and it is possible to arrive much later and still have a reasonable view. If you prefer to be on your feet and split your time between several viewing areas you can hit that snooze button a bit longer.  

Best General Admission Spots at Silverstone

Not everyone has the luxury to take Friday off work or study to scout out their favourite spot. So, in no particular order, here are some of my handpicked favourite places to watch from general admission at Silverstone.

Farm Curve / Village / The Loop

With views of the first few corners on the track, this is arguably the most exciting area for lap one of the race, when 20 F1 cars squeeze into a bottleneck.

The narrow general admission area here stretches in front of the grandstands from the high-speed Farm Curve to the slowest section of the track – Village and The Loop. It’s an area that offers variation and the chance to see cars under very different conditions. 

farm curve ga
General Admission area at Farm Curve
village, silverstone view
The view at Village, General Admision

Though it might not look it on the map, this area is a long walk from other GA areas. Instead of being able to follow the track around fans need to walk through the Fan Zone before getting back to the track somewhere else. 

It means that if you just want to watch from here some of the time, you’ll inevitably have to miss some of the action while you decamp to your next spot.

Brooklands / Luffield

In front of the Luffield grandstand, is a raised area that offers good views. Because of the incline, you can see quite well even when crowded, making it a good option if you slept through your alarm. 

If you get here before the crowds though, try and get a spot in the corner so you can see both the approach and away sections.

Maggots / Becketts / Chapel

There’s a long, grassy area in front of the Chapel Grandstand which provides a head-on view of the cars snaking towards you through the magnificent Maggots and Becketts before roaring out of sight around Chapel.

chapel general admission view
General Admission area in front of the Chapel Grandstand

This is the perfect kind of area to unfold the deck chairs and camp out for the day, while nearby in front of the Becketts Grandstand is a smaller spot, better suited to standing. The view is just as good though and the debris fencing at the latter is less intrusive.

Hangar Straight

About 750m further around the track you’ll arrive at Stowe Corner. It’s about 8 or 9 seconds in an F1 car, but a long walk for us F1 spectators. The straight is not somewhere you’d want to spend a whole session, but it’s a good chance to stop for a break and experience an F1 car at speeds of around 330km/h. People don’t usually stop for long here so it’s easy to find a space against the fence.

Stowe

The stoney area in front of the grandstands at Stowe is large enough for folding chairs and there are numerous food and beverage stalls nearby.

stowe ga view
General Admission area at Stowe, looking towards Vale

The fast, sweeping right-hander of Stowe is an iconic Silverstone corner and presents a chance for overtaking. From this area, you can watch the cars on the long approach down the Hanger Straight, round Stowe and race off towards Vale. It’s a thrilling view any time, but add in the chance for some high-speed wheel-to-wheel passes and things get really spicy. 

Vale

Vale is arguably the most popular general admission area at Silverstone. The huge GA zone here has a slight incline and this little elevation allows for a broad view of the action from the exit of Stowe to the entry of Vale and a distant Club Corner.

ga vale silverstone

There is a stony area closer to Stowe, which gives way to grass-covered ground further along. Steel walkways make getting in and out through the massive crowd easier and help prevent the area from becoming a mud bath in wet weather.

view from vale ga

The sheer number of fans coupled with the proximity to the pit complex makes this area a winner if you’re looking for a general admission spot with the best atmosphere.

What is GA Plus and is it worth it?

Formerly included with standard general admission, there are four areas that are now sold as GA Plus at two separate corners – Luffield and Copse. These areas take the form of concrete terraces or steps where you can pitch a fold-up chair or cushion or just stand. As with the rest of general admission, there are no reserved spaces. 

luffield terrace
Luffield Terrace, in front of Luffield Grandstand

Think of them as that little bit extra at a price point that won’t break the bank. That said, it’s hard to recommend these tickets. While these terraces open up two extra corners to GA fans, the views from here are no better than the best views elsewhere. If you’ve done general admission at Silverstone before and want something different take a look at these but for most, I’d give them a miss.

Choosing General Admission at Silverstone is a fantastic way to experience the British Grand Prix whether you’re on a budget or not. With the freedom to roam and discover your favourite viewing spots, you can soak in the atmosphere from various vantage points. Whether you’re a seasoned racegoer or a first-time visitor, General Admission provides an accessible, budget-friendly ticket to the excitement of Silverstone.

author bio
About Me

I’m Danny, an incurable Formula 1 fan for over 35 years and founder of The F1 Spectator. My aim is to inform and inspire, arming you with helpful tips and advice for your next F1 trip.