The UK is one of the world's great motoring nations, and its classic car calendar runs all year: from veteran cars leaving Hyde Park at dawn in November to period-dressed crowds at the Goodwood Revival in September. Whether you collect, tinker at weekends or simply love beautiful machinery, here are the top classic car events in the UK, with the next dates for each checked against the organisers' own announcements.
Classic car events calendar: 2026 to 2027
| Event | Next date |
|---|---|
| London to Brighton Veteran Car Run Hyde Park to Brighton | Sunday 1 November 2026 |
| Classic Motor Show NEC, Birmingham | 13 to 15 November 2026 |
| Goodwood Members' Meeting Goodwood Motor Circuit | 10 and 11 April 2027 (club members) |
| Donington Historic Festival Donington Park | 30 April to 2 May 2027 |
| Goodwood Festival of Speed Goodwood House | 15 to 18 July 2027 |
| BRDC Classic Silverstone | 23 to 25 July 2027 |
| Goodwood Revival Goodwood Motor Circuit | From 17 September 2027 |
This month: November 2026
London to Brighton Veteran Car Run
The world's longest-running motoring event takes place on the first Sunday of November, which in 2026 is Sunday 1 November. Around 400 cars built before 1905 gather in Hyde Park from about 6am and set off from about 7am on the run of roughly 54 miles to Madeira Drive on Brighton seafront. Watching is free: the start in Hyde Park, the route through south London and Surrey, and the finish in Brighton are all good spots, with grandstand and hospitality tickets sold separately at the finish.
Classic Motor Show, NEC Birmingham
The UK's biggest indoor classic car show fills the halls of the National Exhibition Centre from 13 to 15 November 2026, with thousands of classic cars, bikes and commercial vehicles on show and more than 320 car clubs taking part, from humble Morris Minors to Ferraris. There is a classic car auction run by Iconic Auctioneers, plus parts dealers and restoration specialists. Adult advance tickets start at about £40, depending on the day, and advance online sales close at midnight on Thursday 12 November. It is the ideal show if you are thinking of buying a classic or joining a club.
The headline events of 2027
Goodwood Festival of Speed, West Sussex
The Festival of Speed, at the Goodwood Estate near Chichester, centres on the famous hillclimb, where historic and modern racing cars tackle the 1.16-mile course up the estate's driveway. Around it are static displays of some of the rarest cars in the world, rally stages and a huge range of manufacturer stands. In 2027 it runs from Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 July. Tickets are sold in advance only, and general sale for 2027 opens on Monday 9 November 2026. Many days sell out, so book early. Children aged 12 and under do not need a ticket.
Goodwood Revival, West Sussex
Where the Festival of Speed covers the whole of motoring, the Revival recreates the golden era of the Goodwood Motor Circuit, with wheel-to-wheel racing in period cars from the 1940s to the 1960s. Visitors and competitors dress in period costume, which makes it as much a spectacle as a race meeting. The 2027 Revival starts on Friday 17 September, and tickets go on general sale from 9 November 2026. It typically sells out.
Goodwood Members' Meeting
Goodwood's spring race meeting, on 10 and 11 April 2027, is the most exclusive of the three: tickets are sold only to members and fellows of the Goodwood Road Racing Club.
Historic motorsport
BRDC Classic, Silverstone
The historic racing festival long known as the Silverstone Classic became the BRDC Classic in 2026, with a sharper focus on the racing itself: historic Formula 1 cars, touring cars and GT cars, plus a large car club display area. The 2027 event runs from 23 to 25 July, with tickets from £15 and early bird prices until 4 January 2027.
Donington Historic Festival
The Donington Historic Festival at Donington Park in Leicestershire is a pure racing event in its traditional early May bank holiday slot, from 30 April to 2 May 2027, with races for pre-war cars, sports cars, single-seaters and touring cars. The relaxed paddock and good viewing around the circuit make it a favourite with historic racing fans.
Rallies, club runs and local shows
Historic rally clubs run multi-day navigational rallies for classic cars on British roads, and spectators can watch at time controls and stage starts. Some of the most enjoyable classic car events are the smallest, though: village green gatherings, pub meets and local club shows happen almost every weekend from spring to autumn, are usually free to attend, and are free to enter if you have a qualifying car.
Cars and Coffee mornings, informal early gatherings in car parks and meeting spots, attract a mix of classic and interesting modern cars and are open to anyone who turns up. Social media and local club pages are the best way to find them, and many club shows and charity motoring days now sell advance tickets online.
Agricultural shows with motoring sections
Many of the UK's big agricultural shows, including the Royal Highland Show near Edinburgh, the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate and the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells, include vintage tractors, classic cars and commercial vehicles alongside the livestock and countryside competitions. They are a particularly British blend of rural life and motoring heritage.
Tips for attending classic car events
For the big events, book early: Goodwood sells in advance only, and the NEC and BRDC Classic are cheapest in advance. Study the programme to prioritise what you want to see, and arrive as the gates open to beat the traffic. Wear comfortable shoes, because most events involve a lot of walking, and pack both sun cream and waterproofs.
For smaller events, spontaneity is part of the charm. Many of the best moments happen at low-key gatherings where you can talk to owners, look at cars up close and hear the stories behind them, and the classic car community is one of the most welcoming there is.
When is the NEC Classic Motor Show 2026?
The Classic Motor Show at the NEC in Birmingham runs from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November 2026. Advance tickets are sold online until midnight on Thursday 12 November.
When is the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2027?
The 2027 Goodwood Festival of Speed runs from Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 July 2027, and tickets go on general sale on Monday 9 November 2026.
