Best F1 experience days 2024: from driving simulators to UK factory tours
These are the perfect gifts for any petrolhead. Get into gear with this list of top F1 experiences to try in 2024.
On your marks, get set, go! 2024 has zoomed off from the pit-lane, but there's a load of months left to try something daring. If it’s an adrenaline rush you fancy, then check out this list of best Formula 1 experiences to try this year.
Whether you’re a F1 fan or just like watching series like Drive to Survive or movies such as Ferrari, these F1 experiences make for a thrilling day out, both on and off the track. With this list, you could find yourself in the heart of F1 car production, feeling the G-force of going at 180mph, or even driving a racing car yourself.
The new F1 season began again on 2nd March, with 24 Grand Prix races set to take place over the year. Viewers are seeing the likes of Max Verstappen going for his fourth consecutive world title, but there's never been a closer season. Tensions are running high and with the right experience, you could see exactly what they’re going through.
So, if the prospect of a boring weekend is driving you up the wall, jumpstart your month with this list of F1 experiences put together by RadioTimes.com.
For more fun things to do on a day out, take a look at our top tips on how to get cheap tickets to Thorpe Park and Alton Towers.
Best F1 experience days to do in 2024 at a glance:
- Visit London's F1 Exhibition, from £33
- Visit to Brooklands Museum for Two, £37.50
- F1 Grand Prix Simulator Gift Experience, £46
- Entry for Two Adults at Silverstone Interactive Museum, £55
- F1 Arcade Simulator Racing Experience with Prosecco and Small Plates for Two, £92
- Single Seater Racing Car Driving Experience with Passenger Ride for Two,
£208£111 - Formula F1000 Driving Thrill Experience for One,
£248£126 - Silverstone Ferrari Experience, £299
- Motor Racing for One at Knockhill Racing Circuit in Scotland, £199.99
- British Grand Prix F1™ Live Screening with Food and Drinks at Oracle Red Bull Racing HQ, £300
- Red Bull Racing Formula One™ Team Factory Tour for Two, £600
Best F1 experience days to do in the UK for 2024
Visit London's F1 Exhibition
London's new Formula One Exhibition is here, with the past, present, and future of the sport on show at the ExCel. Wander through a series of interactive activities and displays and discover never-before-seen memorabilia, iconic cars and more.
Buy London's F1 Exhibition tickets from £33 at Fever
Red Bull Racing Formula One™ Team Factory Tour for Two
Fans of Verstappen and Perez really won’t want to miss out on this trip to the Red Bull racing factory in Milton Keynes. Since its entry into the sport, Red Bull has become synonymous with F1, taking home five world championships and winning 92 races.
Visitors to the facility will get to learn the secrets of Red Bull’s success by seeing the factory in action and getting the chance to handle intricate car parts. There will also be an opportunity to visit the brand new MK-7 facility and you’ll take home a motorsport memento from the day.
If you like the look of Virgin Experience Days, be sure to check out how to buy a Virgin Experience Days gift card.
Buy Red Bull Racing Formula One™ Team Factory Tour for Two for £600 at Virgin Experience Days
F1 Arcade Simulator Racing Experience with Prosecco and Small Plates for Two
We've found the ultimate date night for petrolheads. This F1 Arcade Simulator Racing Experience comes complete with a bottle of prosecco and a wide selection of small plates, from corn ribs with smoked harissa to dynamite fried chicken.
All of this comes after your driving experience, where you'll go head to head with bespoke full-motion racing simulators in three back-to-back races. Good luck!
Entry for Two Adults at Silverstone Interactive Museum
Silverstone sits not just at the heart of British racing but all of modern motorsport, so getting the chance to visit is truly special. At the interactive museum, you will walk through the history of motorsport and learn all about the different rivalries, discoveries and efforts that made it what it is today.
Visitors will be able to walk out onto the old racetrack, as well as get up close to winning cars and racing bikes. Plus, you’ll be able to enjoy the ‘The Ultimate Lap of Silverstone’, an interactive film of the track’s most famous moments set against the commentary of Murray Walker.
Buy Entry for Two Adults at Silverstone Interactive Museum for £55 at Virgin Experience Days
Stay up to date with our Going Out section for an eclectic mix of experiences, such as the top Manchester theatre shows and best London spa experiences.
British Grand Prix F1™ Live Screening with Food and Drinks at Oracle Red Bull Racing HQ
What better way is there to enjoy the British Grand Prix than in the factory where Red Bull designs, manufactures and builds all their Formula One cars? Before the race begins, you'll have the chance to take a closer look at the cars, including the RB16b.
Not only that, while the race is taking place, you'll have the chance to enjoy some delicious food from the destination of the race, as well as compete against others on the Formula One simulators.
F1 Grand Prix Simulator Gift Experience
If you want to step into the shoes of a real F1 driver, this simulator is everything you could ever ask for. Available in two locations in the UK, this experience will allow you to compete in a virtual race against 20 other drivers all trying to win the Grand Prix.
To make the experience authentic, you will be wearing state-of-the-art headphones and looking at a large high-resolution screen. What’s more, the steering wheel uses a force feedback system to make you feel like you’re really fighting the elements.
Buy F1 Grand Prix Simulator Gift Experience for £46 at Virgin Experience Days
If this simulator experience sounds like it's up your street, then you'll like the best immersive experiences and best VR experiences.
Plus, did you know the Balloon Museum has come to London?
Silverstone Ferrari Experience
Who hasn't dreamt of driving at Silverstone? Now you can do just that, in a Ferrari no less!
You have the chance to take to a circuit steeped in history at the home of British motorsport. Your ride will be the Ferrari F430 Coupe, and you'll get eight laps around the track finishing off with a debrief. The perfect day.
Buy Silverstone Ferrari Experience for £299 at Virgin Experience Days
Single Seater Racing Car Driving Experience with Passenger Ride for Two
For the real driving fanatics, this is the experience you’ve been waiting for. Hop inside a single seat racing car and drive for six unforgettable miles on a racetrack. Your instructors will kit you out in full safety gear and then it's your chance to let loose. Even better, after you’ve had a go, you’ll finish with a high-speed passenger ride in a performance saloon car.
For more activities to try this year, take a look at the best golf gift experiences, best London experience gifts, and best London walking tours.
Formula F1000 Driving Thrill Experience for One
Put the pedal to the metal with this eight-lap drive around a racetrack in Hemel Hempstead. Oh, and did we mention it’s in a Formula F1000 car? This single seater is capable of going from 0 to 100mph in just 4.75 seconds and it’s all yours for an afternoon. Plus, you’ll receive three sight-seeing laps with an instructor so you can really get the lay of the land.
Visit to Brooklands Museum for Two
If you’re interested in more than cars, you might want to consider the Brooklands Museum. Here, you can discover the history of flight and motorsport and visit some of the most recognisable vehicles in British history. Stop by the Home of the Concorde and visit the motoring village before checking out the UK’s largest collection of ex-London Transport Buses.
Buy Visit to Brooklands Museum for Two for £37.50 at Virgin Experience Days
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Motor Racing for One at Knockhill Racing Circuit in Scotland
Experience the dramatic dips and climbs of the famous Knockhill Circuit in Scotland for 10 incredible laps. On this day out, you’ll begin with four laps in a Honda Civic Type R sitting alongside a professional, before climbing into a single seater motor car for the real event.
Buy Motor Racing for One at Knockhill Racing Circuit in Scotland for £199.99 at Buyagift
For more sporting experiences, check out our recommendations for the best UK stadium tours, and here's how to get cheap football tickets.
