Watching the Run is a fantastic experience for spectators - whether you're standing on the roadside waving as the vehicles go by or you're watching them leave from Hyde Park or arrive in Brighton.
Spectators
What will I see?
Watching the Run is tremendous fun and you can expect to see a fascinating range of hundreds of the very earliest motor cars from all over the world. Some will be petrol-powered, some run on steam - and there are even some electric models! Watch out also for early bicycles, including high wheelers ('penny farthings') and motor cycles. Our photo and video galleries give a taste of what to expect, and you can view the 2025 entry list by clicking the button below.
Where to watch?
The route covers 60 miles (97km), starting in London's Hyde Park, the traditional starting point for the Run since 1936. It then winds through the lanes of Surrey and Sussex before finishing on Madeira Drive, Brighton. There are two official paddocks along the route where spectators can view the veteran vehicles at close quarters from behind safety barriers - these are in Hyde Park and Madeira Drive. Watching the vehicles on the move is fantastic fun too, as the route passes through some lovely villages.
View the 2025 Route Directions to Hyde Park and Madeira Drive
When to watch?
Participating veteran cars arrive in the Hyde Park paddock from 6:00am and in the finish paddock in Brighton from just before 10:00am, and then throughout the day until the paddock closes at 4:30pm. Hyde Park at dawn is very atmospheric, but whatever time you watch the Run, you'll be sure to see some wonderful vehicles.
St James's Motoring Spectacle
Get up close to the Veteran Car Run machines on the eve of the Run at the St James’s Motoring Spectacle, which returns to London's Pall Mall by popular demand on Saturday 1 November. Organised by the Royal Automobile Club, the one-day, free-to-attend Spectacle is staged right outside its historic Clubhouse on one of the capital’s most prestigious thoroughfares, which is closed to through traffic for the duration. Pall Mall will once again be packed with a spectacular timeline of motoring ranging from the pioneering veterans of the Victorian age right up to the futuristic supercars paving the way for more sustainable eras to come. Learn more
Delve into motoring history...
Every single one of the veteran vehicles taking part in the Veteran Car Run has its own fascinating, unique story to share. Look out for the Car Facts Discs on vehicles on the Run and on all the veteran vehicles taking part in the St James's Motoring Spectacle. Simply scan the QR code using your smartphone to instantly discover a vehicle’s provenance, transporting you back to the pioneering days of motoring. More info
Be a part of the Run!
The Run requires around 400 volunteers to marshal the 60-mile route from London to Brighton. Many marshals are Motorsport UK registered and are members of various motoring clubs and organisations, but we gladly consider applications from other interested parties. Volunteer marshals are a vital part of the event, and they have a great day out.
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