PlanYourBritishGrand Prix

A former WWII airfield, Silverstone’s level terrain is ideal if you want to land a Spitfire, but flat circuits often mean poor views for us fans. Thanks to some well-elevated grandstands though Silverstone delivers some of the best track views in F1.

As well as prime views of fast, sweeping corners, Silverstone’s grandstands are comfy, with moulded-plastic seats, and often a roof over your head. So, on the rare occasion that it rains in England, you’ll still be able to see without having to shout at the row in front to put their brollys away.

And there are a lot of grandstands to choose from, 25 in all, with a good variety of views. In fact, the only thing harder than the ground in Silverstone’s campsites is choosing which grandstand tickets to buy. So let’s dive into my reviews of some of the best (and worst) grandstands at the British Grand Prix.

A lap of Silverstone begins with Abbey and Farm Curve. Part of the reprofiled track layout, these may not be classic Silverstone corners but their fast, sweeping nature is spiritually on point. This is also where the pitlane exit is – a place to see the nail-biting results of race strategy calls as they unfold. 

It was in front of this grandstand in 2022 that Zhou’s Alfa Romeo came to a halt after a horrific upside-down incident at the start. That won’t happen every year thankfully, but it’s the lap 1 excitement and view of the grid and start/finish line that gives The View Grandstand a lot of its appeal. The rest of the time, this is a pretty ordinary, single-corner view and unfortunately an uncovered grandstand too.

Farm Curve Grandstand is positioned at about the midway point between turn 1 and the Village / Loop complex. Fence-free and roof-free, Farm Curve is an excellent spot to get some nice, panning shots of the action if that’s your thing. 

While being able to see both corners has its upsides the view of neither corner is ideal and it feels like a compromise. You’ll spend your day looking from a distant view of Abbey to an equally distant view of Village and probably end the day with a sore neck. 

You can certainly do better but this is nonetheless a decent low-priced grandstand and worth considering if you can live with its flaws.  

After a typically fast start to the lap, Village is the first real braking point. The two grandstands here, Village A and Village B, have one of the most exciting views at the start of the race, where 20 F1 cars funnelling into this bottleneck has the potential for chaos.

Throughout the race too, Village provides a possible overtaking spot, with battles often continuing around the Loop, a corner where getting the perfect exit is crucial for the long straight that follows. All the while the low speed makes taking photos a snap. 

The only downside is that this is the most un-Silverstone-like part of the circuit and lacks the speed that the place is known for. Don’t let that put you off choosing this grandstand if it’s what you want, but be sure to explore some views in general admission too to see what it’s really all about.

Village A is (slightly) less well placed than neighbouring Village B Grandstand and isn’t covered. But at least you won’t need to worry about roof supports spoiling your photos and if you’re willing to endure a possible soaking for some Instagram-worthy shots, this could be the grandstand for you.

Opposite the apex to turn 3, Village B Grandstand’s view has the edge on its neighbour, but only just. This being the more premium, covered option, the deciding factor may be how lucky you feel about the weather.

If you want to be in the best grandstand to see overtaking at Silverstone grab a seat at the Brooklands-Luffield-Woodcote complex. 

An optimal exit from the Loop can give an attacking driver enough speed difference on the Wellington Straight to close in for the attack into Brooklands corner. Passes and re-passes through Luffield and Woodcote provide a thrilling spectacle for fans watching from these grandstands.

The Wellington Straight is unseen by fans in the Luffield Corner Grandstand so the first sighting of an F1 car is at the entry to Brooklands.

From the Luffield Grandstand meanwhile, fans can enjoy a partial view of the Wellington Straight. It’s not much, but it gives it a slight edge over the Luffield Corner Grandstand.

Of the Woodcote grandstands, it’s only from Woodcote A that spectators have a clear view of the Wellington Straight and is therefore the best-placed grandstand to watch drivers battle it out on the approach to Brooklands. 

This is a vast, multi-corner view that encompasses fast and slow sections all the way from the Wellington Straight to the National Pits Straight.

Copse, the original turn 1 is a Silverstone classic – a brutally fast, high downforce corner where a foot wrong can have catastrophic consequences. That’s especially true when drivers are wheel-to-wheel through here, most famously it was the point where Hamilton and Verstappen collided in 2021, ending the Dutchman’s race.

The grandstands of Copse A, Copse B and Copse C are budget-friendly seats at the iconic corner. Bear in mind though that this is a single-corner view and though an exciting place to watch, three days here can become repetitive.

Of the three, I recommend Copse A. This grandstand features full views of the preceding straight and closer to the circuit, it’s where the enormous speed is most keenly felt.

Often copied, never equalled, the rapid succession of high-speed corners that makes up the Maggots, Becketts, Chapel sequence is, for me, the best place to watch F1 at Silverstone.

If you’re only going to go to the British GP once, do yourself a favour and treat yourself to seats in these grandstands for at least one day. 

I’ve sat in a lot of grandstands around the world and few can hold a candle to Becketts. It’s elevated, side-on view is placed perfectly to appreciate this classic piece of Silverstone asphalt at its glorious best. Weaving left and right, witnessing the rapid change of direction of a modern F1 car is a pure adrenaline rush. 

And as if you need any more reason to choose Becketts, fans in Becketts are also treated to a handsome, if a more distant view of the Village / Loop / Aintree section. 

The Chapel Grandstand is witness to all the same corners but with it’s lower profile and head on view of the cars as they snake towards Chapel, it offers another flavour but only slightly less appetising. 

Silverstone has evolved over the years but Stowe remains mostly unchanged since the day of Nigel Mansel’s crowdpleasing pass on Piquet here for first place in 1987.

Slipstreaming along the Hanger Straight and passing into Stowe is still possible, though it’s rare. Regardless, the corner is a Silverstone classic – a fast, sweeping curve that beautifully showcases an F1 car’s immense downforce. 

Stowe grandstands offer great views of this corner and distant views of the following Vale corner. A tight left-hander that follows this high-speed sprint, Vale is one of the more common overtaking spots at Silverstone.

Stowe A is parallel with the Hanger Straight, so to the right you can see the cars approaching from as far away as Chapel. Looking straight ahead is Vale. Debris fencing is an issue, but only around Stowe Corner itself. Having less run-off area between the grandstand and the track, puts you close to the action and Stowe A is best of the three. 

Stowe B is a close runner up, having similar, clear views down the Hangar Straight and towards Vale. 

The position of Stowe C makes for a less appealing view than neighbouring grandstands, having only partial visibility of the straight. Despite being closer, due to the angle it’s not possible to see the entry to Vale from this grandstand.

Worth noting is that Stowe is about the furthest point from the main entrance gates, so fans here face something of a trek to and from their seats. There are however plenty of food and drink stands in this part of the circuit.

If you’re looking for a grandstand with broad views of a large area of the track, Vale should be right at the top of your list. Situated between Stowe and Vale corners this long grandstand allows you to follow the action from one corner to the next. With both corners being potential overtaking spots there’s a good chance of seeing some on-track passes here. 

Noticeably distant from the track, the sense of speed here comes from seeing how quickly cars eat up the asphalt, rather than the more visceral, adrenaline-pumping sense of speed you get in grandstands closer to the track.

Vale is quickly followed by Club, the final corner at Silverstone. Besides boasting excellent track views, it’s in this section that the atmosphere is most frenzied. In the shadow of the podium and close to the pits and the grid, it gives fans the feeling of being right in the heart of the action. 

When the winners take to the podium you have a choice. Queue up for the track invasion at nearby gates, or watch the madness unfold from the comfort of your seat.

Club A, B and C follow the curve of the track around Club Corner, and while all have views of the podium, only Club C has a view that encompasses the straight and the pit lane. Club A and B meanwhile have their view blocked by the pit building. 

Club C also has a clearer view of the approach to Vale and even as far as Stowe, so any overtaking moves here and you’ll be in the best seats to watch that play out. 

With only slightly less overtaking here than at Luffield, as well as all the other perks, it’s easy to see why Club Corner C is one of the most popular grandstands at Silverstone.

Choosing the right grandstand at Silverstone can greatly enhance your race day experience. 

Becketts is our top choice, showcasing Silverstone and F1 at its best, but there are many contenders. Club Corner C is another excellent grandstand, offering a unique vantage point that combines sweeping track views with a front-row seat to the podium celebrations. If overtaking action is what you crave, seats in the Woodcote A grandstand deliver thrilling battles through the Wellington Straight and Brooklands. Meanwhile, Village grandstands are a prime spot to see the dramatic first-lap funnel as cars jostle for position.

For those looking for value without compromising on the experience, Stowe and Vale are standout choices. Both offer expansive views and the chance to see crucial overtakes at an affordable price.

With a range of options catering to different preferences and budgets, Silverstone’s grandstands ensure every fan can find their perfect spot to enjoy the excitement of the British Grand Prix.