Ten best classic car shows and events in the UK for 2023

The classic car scene is well and truly back in full swing for 2023 with a packed calendar of events. Now that we’re halfway through the year, we’ve had plenty of opportunities to see old cars in the metal, but there are still events up and coming on the calendar over the summer holidays – no matter what sort of cars you’re into. So, if you’re going away for a UK ‘staycation’, here’s a roundup of what’s on where. Plus, we look back at the classic car shows that have already taken place in 2023.

1. Goodwood Revival

When? 8-10 September
Where? Goodwood Motor Circuit, Goodwood, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 0PH
How much? 3-day admission: £245 (grandstands only from £48); Friday – £75; Saturday – £106; Sunday – £96
Find out more at Goodwood website

Many enthusiasts, especially classic car lovers, prefer the Goodwood Revival to the Festival of Speed. The 1940s, 1950s and 1960s fancy dress and music, classic air displays and period buildings help transport visitors back in time as much as the cars themselves.

The Goodwood Revival returns from 8-10 September, and this year the event that celebrates the golden age of the Goodwood motor circuit is marking the 75th anniversary of the opening of the West Sussex track. Beautiful classic cars will rocket their way round the high-speed circuit in much-loved races including the St Mary’s Trophy, Royal Automobile Club TT Celebration and the Settrington Cup children’s pedal car race, with more events to be confirmed.

This year will also see a tribute to motorsport legend Carroll Shelby, creator of the AC Cobra and Shelby Daytona Coupe, with famous cars from Shelby’s extraordinary career in attendance.

Early bird tickets are available, and it’s still possible to get a full-weekend ticket. However, at the time of writing there are only a limited number of day tickets available for Friday and Sunday, with Saturday now sold out.

2. Salon Privé

When? 30 August – 2 September
Where? Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1PS
How much? Day tickets from £175 for children; from £350 for adults
Find out more at Salon Privé website

As the très chic name would suggest, Salon Privé is one of the most well-to-do events on the motoring calendar. People get dressed up in their loveliest finery, head to a palace in Oxfordshire and discuss their love of classic cars.

Last year’s Best of Show award at the Concours d’Elegance event went to a 1956 Ferrari 250 GT TdF Berlinetta by Zagato and before that to a stunning 1938 Mercedes 540K Cabriolet, giving some idea of the calibre of classics on display.

General entry tickets and hospitality packages are available now from the Salon Privé website.

3. Concours of Elegance

When? 1-3 September
Where? Hampton Court Palace, Surrey, KT8 9AU
How much? Day admission: Adults – £50; Children (5-16): £25; Family ticket: £100 (2 adults, up to 3 children under 16 years)
Find out more at Concours of Elegance website

Another high-end event, coinciding with the Blenheim Palace Salon Privé. The Hampton Court will feature strong displays from some of Britain’s single-marque car clubs such as the Mercedes, Ferrari, Jaguar, Aston Martin and Jensen owners’ clubs, the best examples of which will be selected to go forward to the main concours event.

And just in case you thought it was all priceless Porsches and affluent Astons, Driving.co.uk’s editor, Will Dron’s pint-sized entry won an award in 2020.

4. Old Ford Rally & Rootes Heritage Day

The star cars of The Grand Tour Season Three

When? 23 July
Where? British Motor Museum, Gaydon, Warwickshire, CV35 0BJ
How much? Adults: £14.50; Children: £9; Family: £40
Find out more at British Motor Museum website

Who doesn’t love an old Ford? The British Motor Museum at Gaydon is running its annual celebration of all pre-1995 Fords, from Anglias to Zodiacs. If the sight of hundreds of Cortinas, Escorts, Granadas, Sierras and even a Model T or two sounds appealing, then Gaydon is the place to be on 23 July. Tickets give visitors access to the fabulous British Motor Museum too, which is worth a visit any day of the year. Clubs already confirmed to attend the show include Deuces of Britain and a collection of 1932 Fords, while the XR Owners Club is bringing 30 vehicles from Ford’s XR range.

Running at Gaydon alongside the Ford event is the Rootes Heritage Day for fans of cars built by the Rootes Group (Hillman, Singer and Sunbeam) and later, Chrysler Europe (Chrysler, Talbot and Simca).

If Fords and Hillmans aren’t your cup of tea, the museum runs events throughout the year such as the Classic & Vintage Commercial Show (June 10-11) and BMC & Leyland Show (July 9), so it’s worth checking its calendar to see what’s on if you are at a loose end one weekend.

5. Silverstone Festival

When? 25-27 August
Where? Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire, NN12 8TN
How much? 3-day admission: £135; Friday – £69; Saturday – £95; Sunday – £95
Find out more at Silverstone Festival website

The Silverstone Festival promises a fun weekend this summer with food tents aplenty, camping, three nights of live music and historic motorsport. There’ll be on-track racing of all kinds, including pre-1966 touring cars and 3-litre Formula 1 cars from the late 1960s to the mid-1980s, and much more.

Stepping away from the track action, thousands of classic and modern cars will come together from car clubs around the country.

Tickets are already on sale from the Silverstone Festival website.

6. Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional

When? 29 July
Where? Grimsthorpe Castle, Bourne, PE10 0LY
How much? £25 per vehicle plus £2.54 online booking fee (Classic & Unexceptional tickets and Motorcycle tickets sold out). This ticket does not enter your vehicle to the Concours, which must be applied for separately via the Hagerty UK website
Find out more at Hagerty website

The Festival of the Unexceptional won’t be for everyone and you’re more likely to see an old Vauxhall, Renault or Rover than a rare Ferrari, Lamborghini or Jaguar. Last year’s winner was Samuel Allan and his 1994 Vauxhall Astra Merit 1.4.

The event, which rather humorously refers to itself as the Concours De l’Ordinaire, celebrates cars that were the “workhorses of their day… that are now so rare” — mainly hatchbacks, saloons and estates sold between 1968 and 1998. It has become a bit of a cult hit and will undoubtedly spark waves of nostalgia in any petrolhead of a certain generation, as they walk around saying either, “I used to own one of those” or “My dad used to own one of those”.

Hagerty, the organiser of the event, has confirmed that the event will take place at the end of July and a horde of ordinary-looking cars will congregate on the grounds of the beautiful Grimsthorpe Castle, a 16th century property in Lincolnshire. Last year’s special guest and judge was the Wheeler Dealers TV star, Mike Brewer, though this year’s VIPs are still to be announced.

Below are the events you’ve already missed

7. London Concours

When did it take place? 6-8 June
Where? The Honourable Artillery Company, Armoury House, City Road, London, EC1Y 2BQ
Find out more at London Concours website

The London Concours is organised by the same people as the Concours of Elegance and is pitched as an “automotive garden party in the heart of the City of London” — think champagne and a sea of Panama hats.

This year the London Concours celebrated 50 years of the Porsche 911 RS by gathering together 50 examples that allowed visitors to chart the evolution of the car and savour a visual history of Porsche performance.

For the third year running, the final day of the event brought together a collection of 50 supercars from Lamborghini, Ferrari, Maserati, Porsche, Koenigsegg, Pagani, Lexus, Honda and Toyota.

Other features on display included some of the world’s most aerodynamic cars, golden age coupés from the 1950s and 1960s and 60 years of Lamborghini.

8. Festival of the Dead

When did it take place? 2 July
Where? Burghley House, Stamford, PE9 3JY
Find out more at the Festival of the Dead website

It might sound like something from a horror movie, but Festival of the Dead is actually an interesting car show that brings together an eclectic collection of vintage and classic cars, retro and everyday drivers, and custom and exotic cars. The catch is that all the cars on display are from car makers that no longer exist. Think British classics such as Wolseley, Hillman and Austin, sports cars such as TVR and DeLorean and European obscurities such as Saab, Heinkel and Trabant. Tickets are available now and you’re still welcome even if your car doesn’t meet the criteria. You’ll just be asked to park in a different section away from the main show area…

9. Heveningham Concours

When? 8-9 July
Where? Heveningham Hall, Halesworth, IP19 0PN
Find out more at Heveningham Concours website

Taking place in the glorious grounds of Heveningham Hall, the Heveningham Concours is now regarded as among the UK’s best annual car and aeroplane shows. This year’s event had a Le Mans theme, hosting two very 1990s racing cars – the Mercedes CLK LM and Porsche 911 GT1 Evo. These two were joined in a display of over 50 other iconic vehicles on the garden terraces, while aeroplane enthusiasts explored a dozen or so historic propeller aircraft on display nearby. Visitors also enjoyed the action on Horsepower Hill, a ‘drag race’ along a parkland road.

10. Goodwood Festival of Speed

When did it take place? July 13-16
Where? Goodwood Motor Circuit, Goodwood, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 0PH
Find out more at Goodwood website

The event that is to many the star of the calendar of British motoring events took place on July 13-16, though the Saturday was cancelled due to forecast extreme winds. This year’s event celebrated 100 years of the Le Mans 24 Hours race, with many Le Mans-winning cars and drivers creating a truly memorable weekend that no Le Mans 24 Hours fan will have wanted to miss.

The Festival of Speed is always a magnificent showcase of both the most modern machinery and priceless classics, on static display and in action on the hillclimb or rally stage, which gives attendees the chance to see some truly legendary cars up close.

F1 teams and drivers from the past and present often attend, and plenty of famous faces can be seen milling around, too.

Goodwood has already announced that the 2024 edition will run 11-14 July.