What to See at the Goodwood Festival of Speed?
A hill in front of a house, a stage in the woods, open paddocks, a concours on the lawn: the festival area by area, and day by day.
Last updated 5 October 2026 · 4 min read
The Goodwood Festival of Speed is organised around the hill, a hillclimb of about 1.9km that runs past Goodwood House: cars and motorcycles from every era run up it from 8.30am into the evening. At the top, in the woods, the Forest Rally Stage welcomes rally cars. In the park, the paddocks — including the Supercar Paddock and the First Glance Paddock — let you approach the machines; on the lawn, a concours d'elegance brings together rare cars; in front of the house, the Central Feature, a monumental sculpture renewed each year. Thursday is the day of first unveilings; Sunday closes with the Timed Shoot-Out, the timed runs. The 2027 programme will be published as the festival approaches.
The hill: the heart of the festival
Everything starts here. The hill measures 1.16 miles, about 1.9km: it starts at the foot of the park, runs alongside Goodwood House, passes Molecomb Corner, a demanding bend, then climbs towards the woods. Since 1993, cars and motorcycles of every era, racing and road alike, have climbed it; it is also where manufacturers present models for the first time.
It is watched from the twelve public grandstands, along the straw bales, or from the balconies of the hospitality packages. The runs follow one another batch by batch throughout the day; the timetable and the entry list are published by Goodwood before each edition.
The rally stage in the woods
At the top of the hill, in a wood, the Forest Rally Stage is a technical course where modern rally cars run alongside those that shaped the history of the discipline. You walk among the trees, close to the passing cars; it is one of the livelier places at the festival, and some way from the entrance.
Allow time for the walk up, or for a shuttle: several of Goodwood's hospitality packages provide a transfer to this part of the site.
The paddocks: approaching the machines
The Festival of Speed stands apart for its open paddocks: you see up close the cars and motorcycles about to run up the hill, and their teams at work. The Supercar Paddock brings together remarkable sports cars; the First Glance Paddock shows new models presented to the public for the first time.
The first hours, between the gates opening at 7am and the first runs at 8.30am, are the calm time to walk them. As the day goes on, the crowds grow.
The concours d'elegance, the Central Feature and the balcony of the house
On the lawn, a concours d'elegance presents rare cars — well-known classics, remarkable designs, little-known pieces — judged for their beauty rather than their speed. It is a calmer moment of the festival, a few steps from the hill.
In front of Goodwood House stands, each year, the Central Feature, a monumental sculpture that lifts cars into the sky. The balcony of the house hosts, over the days, moments of celebration facing the public. Elsewhere in the park: the FOS Future Lab, devoted to technology, a motorsport arena, a family area, shops and places to have lunch.
Day by day
Each day has its own character, which Goodwood announces as the festival approaches. The table below sets out the markers published for the current edition; we confirm the 2027 programme before your stay.
| Day | Character | For whom |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 15 July | First unveilings of new cars on the hill | Those who want to see the new models, with slightly fewer people |
| Friday 16 July | The full programme: hill, rally, paddocks | A first visit |
| Saturday 17 July | The full programme; often a particularly lively day | Those who enjoy the atmosphere of a large crowd |
| Sunday 18 July | Timed Shoot-Out: the closing timed runs | Those who want the competition and the clock |
Attire and comfort: a park, not a salon
The festival is spent outdoors, on the grass of a park. Goodwood recommends flat, comfortable shoes, casual dress, and a light raincoat, even in July. In the hospitality pavilions, the dress requested is smart casual: a jacket without a tie, a day dress or ensemble, and always shoes made for walking.
A sun hat, sunglasses, some small ear protection if you come with children: the chauffeur keeps the rest on board. The Goodwood Revival, in September, has its own period codes; they do not apply to the Festival of Speed.
Frequently asked questions
The timed runs that close the festival, on Sunday: the entrants race against the clock up the whole hill. It is the competitive moment of the four days.
In a wood, at the top of the hill, a good distance from the entrance. You reach it on foot or by shuttle; some of Goodwood's hospitality packages provide a transfer.
Yes, that is the particularity of the festival: the paddocks are open to the public. The earlier the better, between the gates opening at 7am and the first runs.
Thursday, devoted to the first unveilings of new cars on the hill, according to the markers published by Goodwood for the current edition.
Not in the park: casual dress and flat shoes, as Goodwood recommends. In the hospitality pavilions, smart casual dress is requested.
Yes: a family area, activities and grandstands make it possible to come as a family. Under-18s come accompanied by an adult holding a ticket, and the youngest need a child ticket ordered in advance.
As the festival approaches, with the timetable and the entry list. We follow it for you and adjust your days accordingly.
Take it further
The right day, in the right place
Tell us what you would like to see — the hill, the new models, the rally, the Timed Shoot-Out — and we compose the day: tickets or hospitality sourced on request, arrival, chauffeur, accommodation, on quotation.