I was lucky enough to be invited to the British Grand Prix 2017 at Silverstone Circuit courtesy of booking.comand what a weekend days it was!
My first piece of advice would be to book well in advance! Not only do the tickets go fast, but the accommodation does too. Booking.com is the perfect place to book your next experience and the accommodation to go with it. The range is so broad, from apartments to hotels or country houses meaning you can find the perfect place to stay that suits your budget, location and event you're going to. It couldn't be easier!
When I arrived at the circuit on Day 1, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect as it was my first time attending this kind of event, however I soon got into the swing of it. The first thing I noticed is the noise of the engines whirling around the track. This was just the first practise session but it gave you a good idea of what was to come over the next three days and just how exciting it was going to be.
I noted that the dress code for the Platinum tickets was ‘smart casual’, so I kept my look simple but on trend by opting for a white fitted polo with cropped black trousers and a distressed leather jacket. An easy, but eye catching combo.
So, to get an idea of it all, I decided that I’d spend the first day walking the circuit in between races. This was a great way to discover the best viewing spots, food places and entertainment (and photo opportunities, of course)!
I was really impressed with the services on hand and definitely didn’t expect the amount of entertainment there was available - from concerts to gaming tents to bars and vast amount of food places.
After the racing had finished, the evening entertainment began which was available for everybody attending. A band and DJ really was the perfect way to end a long day and shortly after this, it was time to get my head down for some much needed sleep. The track is approximately 3.6 miles long, so I’d covered quite a lot of ground by the end of the day and it was time to see what Day 2 had to offer…
Day 2 was an early start again - the doors open at 8am for the excitable crowds but first it was time for breakfast. I managed to find a beautiful little tea room in the nearby village of Buckingham. Not only was it great food (and tea!) but it was in the prettiest location, so just driving around the surrounding countryside was amazing!
Getting back to Silverstone, we arrived to some more practise sessions on Day 2, followed by the Formula 1 qualifying session in the afternoon. The atmosphere was really picking up as we were getting closer to Sunday’s big race.
Again the racing was followed by a couple of bands at the main stage and with the weather holding out, I decided to relax with a few drinks and some food to finish off the day.
Day 3 had arrived and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited! You could feel the buzz from the crowd as soon as you walked into Silverstone and it instantly created a great atmosphere. I knew I was in for a good day.
I opted for a more casual look for this day, although the dark denim jeans paired with a pale blue shirt still ensured it was smart. Throwing on a light suede jacket gave my outfit a cool, casual feel too.
I had a reserved seat in the International Pits stand for the Grand Prix, meaning I’d be able to see the start line and watch the cars pull in for the pit stops throughout the race.
As I walked to my seat, I watched the Red Arrows performing their display above and as I arrived at my seat around 30 minutes before the race, the sky was filled with red, white and blue smoke from the impressive display. The whole circuit was heaving, with every inch of the barriers swarmed by eager crowds. You could feel the excitement building as the race drew closer.
The noise of the people and the noise of the engines were indescribable as the race set off, especially with Hamilton out in front. It felt as if we were all rooting for him. Although I want to mention how amazing it is that it draws people of all nationalities, from all over the world together!
The race was so exciting to watch and I really would recommend it to anyone - even those who aren’t Formula 1 fans! The energy from the crowd draws you in and you can’t help but join in with the cheering - especially when Lewis Hamilton won first place.
I’m so glad that booking.com allowed me to be a part of this amazing experience and I would highly recommend using them to book your next day out or weekend away. I had so much fun and can’t wait to use them again!