Goodwood Estate · Chichester · West Sussex PO18 · Revival, Festival of Speed, Members' Meeting
Goodwood: two events, two sites, one estate
The Goodwood estate hosts two of the best motoring events in the world, and they are not in the same place. The Festival of Speed runs a hillclimb through the grounds of Goodwood House. The Revival takes place at the Motor Circuit, a couple of miles away, and everybody dresses in period.
A couple of miles apart on the same estate, with different postcodes, different entrances and different parking. Turning up at the circuit for the Festival of Speed is a genuine and common mistake, and it costs an hour.
The three occasions, and where they happen
Plus a racecourse on the same estate, which has its own page on this site.
July, at Goodwood House
A hillclimb through the estate grounds. Modern and historic cars, manufacturers, and enormous crowds.
September, at the Motor Circuit
Historic racing with a period dress code observed by nearly everyone. A different world.
Spring, at the Motor Circuit
Smaller, colder and beloved by people who go every year.
Summer, at the Racecourse
Horse racing, on the hill above. A separate event with its own page here.
Kent to West Sussex
Across Sussex rather than through London. Longer than it looks on a map, and pleasant.
| Pick-up area | Distance | Journey |
|---|---|---|
| Tunbridge Wells & Southborough | 64 miles | 1h 40m – 2h 10m |
| Sevenoaks & Tonbridge | 70 miles | 1h 50m – 2h 20m |
| Bromley & Orpington | 72 miles | 1h 50m – 2h 25m |
| Maidstone & Aylesford | 77 miles | 2h – 2h 35m |
| Dartford & Bluewater | 82 miles | 2h 5m – 2h 40m |
| Gravesend & Northfleet | 86 miles | 2h 15m – 2h 50m |
| Ashford & Tenterden | 88 miles | 2h 15m – 2h 50m |
| Canterbury & Whitstable | 106 miles | 2h 40m – 3h 20m |
The Revival dress code
Not enforced at the gate, but observed by almost everyone, and it changes what you need to carry.
| Consideration | Note |
|---|---|
| Period dress is the convention | Nineteen forties to sixties. Most of the crowd commits fully |
| Hats, wigs and headpieces | Which need space in the vehicle, not a squashed footwell |
| Vintage shoes on grass | Bring something sensible for the walk. Everyone forgets |
| Changing en route | Some groups travel in ordinary clothes and change on arrival |
| Tell us what you are carrying | So we size the vehicle for the outfits as well as the people |
Getting Goodwood right
Say the event name, not just Goodwood
Festival of Speed is at Goodwood House. The Revival and the Members' Meeting are at the Motor Circuit. Glorious Goodwood is at the racecourse. Four events, three sites, one estate and one word that means all of them. Give us the event name from your ticket and the whole problem evaporates.
The Revival needs vehicle space for the clothes
This sounds trivial until you have watched six people try to fit into a car with three hatboxes and a set of nineteen-fifties luggage. Period dress is the whole spirit of the Revival and a good proportion of the crowd commits entirely, which means hats, wigs, coats and props that need somewhere to sit. Tell us and we size accordingly rather than optimistically.
Festival of Speed is the busier one
July, warm, and drawing the largest crowds of anything on the estate, with manufacturer displays as well as the hillclimb. The approach roads through the Sussex countryside are narrow and there are a great many people using them. We plan an early arrival and hold well back for the exit, in much the same way we handle a race meeting.
Rural Sussex roads are the constraint
Everything on this estate is reached by country lanes, which are lovely and not designed for event traffic. There is no clever alternative route, and the honest plan is to arrive earlier than feels necessary and accept a slow exit. We agree the collection point in advance and the fixed fare means the waiting is not charged to you.
Goodwood questions
Four events, one estate.
Are the Festival of Speed and the Revival at the same place?
No. The Festival of Speed runs a hillclimb in the grounds of Goodwood House. The Revival is at the Motor Circuit a couple of miles away. Different entrances, different parking, and a common mistake.
Is there really a dress code at the Revival?
It is a convention rather than a rule, and almost everyone observes it. Period dress from roughly the forties to the sixties, and a large part of the crowd commits fully.
Does the dress code affect our booking?
It affects the vehicle size. Hats, wigs, coats and props need space, and six people with full outfits do not fit the way six people usually do. Tell us and we will size for it.
How far is Goodwood from Kent?
Around sixty-five to a hundred and five miles, roughly an hour and three quarters to three and a quarter hours across Sussex rather than through London.
Which event is busiest?
The Festival of Speed in July, which draws the largest crowds on the estate. The Revival is busy too but spread differently across the site.
What about Glorious Goodwood?
That is horse racing at the racecourse on the same estate, and a separate event with its own page on this site.
How is the traffic?
Rural Sussex lanes, which are lovely and not built for event crowds. There is no clever route. We arrive early, hold back for the exit, and the fixed fare means waiting costs you nothing extra.
Can you take a full coach?
Yes, up to forty-nine seats. Coach access at Goodwood is managed, so give us notice of the event and date.
Sussex venues and motorsport
The estate and the circuits.