Whether it’s their rich heritage, the roar of their engines or simply their timeless sense of style, there’s something unquestionably alluring about classic cars.
Luckily for us, the UK is home to some of the greatest classic car shows in the world, showcasing the best vintage motors from home and abroad.
To help you get up close and personal with these majestic motors, here’s our guide to the best classic car shows coming soon near you…
Classic car shows UK 2019 calendar
June
| 1st-2nd | Tatton Car Spectacular | Tatton Park, Cheshire |
| 2nd | Kames Classic Car Show | Muirkirk, Ayrshire |
| 15th | Kilbroney Vintage Show | Newry, County Down |
| 15th-16th | Classic Nostalgia | Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb, Worcestershire |
| 15th-16th | Brooklands Double Twelve | Brooklands, Surrey |
| 23rd | Bicester Heritage Super Scramble | Bicester, Oxfordshire |
July
| 4th-7th | Goodwood Festival of Speed | Chichester, West Sussex |
| 13th-14th | Heartbeat Historic Rally | Goathland, North Yorkshire |
| 20th | Festival of the Unexceptional | Claydon, Buckinghamshire |
| 26th-28th | Silverstone Classic | Silverstone, Northamptonshire |
| 26th-28th | CarFest North | Bolesworth, Cheshire |
August
| 3rd-4th | National Metro & Mini Show | Gaydon, Warwickshire |
| 23rd-25th | CarFest South | Overton, Hampshire |
| 25th | MG 95th Anniversary Rally | Beaulieu, Hampshire |
September
| 5th-8th | Salon Privé | Blenheim, Oxfordshire |
| 6th-8th | Concours d’Elégance | Hampton Court Palace, Surrey |
| 8th | Ford Capri 50th Anniversary | Brooklands, Surrey |
| 13th-15th | Goodwood Revival | Chichester, West Sussex |
| 22nd | The Warren Classic & Supercar Show | Essex |
October
| 5th | Autumn Classic | Castle Combe, Wiltshire |
| 6th | Bicester Heritage Sunday Scramble | Bicester, Oxfordshire |
November
| 3rd | London to Brighton Vintage Run | London/Surrey/West Sussex |
| 8th-10th | NEC Classic Motor Show | Birmingham |
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The best classic car shows in London and the South East
Goodwood Revival (13th-15th September)
Goodwood is the spiritual home of classic car shows, hosting both the Goodwood Festival of Speed (4th-7th July) and Goodwood Revival, the ultimate celebration of all things vintage – from music to motors.
Last year’s festival held the world’s most expensive car race (over £100 million worth of kit took part in the 2018 Kinrara Trophy), and this year’s event promises to be even bigger.
Salon Privé Concours d’Elégance (5th-8th September)
Styled as the “most luxurious of garden parties set against the backdrop of Britain’s greatest palace”, Salon Privé showcases the finest supercars and classic cars from around the world.
Held at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, the event is conveniently accessed off the M40. Just remember to check the clothing requirements before you set off as some of the days have dress codes. Fascinators and blazers at the ready, then!
London to Brighton Veteran Car Run (3rd November)
As the world’s oldest motoring event, the London to Brighton Run is definitely not one to be missed if you’re a classic fan, as hundreds of pre-1905-vehicles take to the roads in an epic race.
From London’s Hyde Park, the cavalcade of cars heads out of the capital and through the South Downs National Park towards Brighton, so whether you’re in the smoke or the sticks there are plenty of spots to catch the best of the action.
The best classic car shows in the South and South West
MG 95th Anniversary Rally (25th August)
Marking the 95th birthday of the iconic marque, this event will bring together owners and fans from across the globe to race, explore and celebrate all things MG for one memorable day.
The event takes place at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, in the heart of the stunning New Forest, so as well as exploring the other exhibitions at the museum, why not linger longer and experience the beauty of the forest?
Autumn Classic (5th October)
Held at the beautiful Castle Combe circuit, north of Chippenham in Wiltshire, the Autumn Classic packs a huge amount into a one-day event. From thrilling wheel-to-wheel racing to a chance for fans to explore the paddock, there’s plenty to get stuck into here.
This year’s Classic will see racing focused around the theme of ‘Heroes from the 1960’s’, although you can expect to see motors from throughout the ages competing.
The best classic car shows in the West Midlands and Wales
La Vie en Bleu/La Vitta Rossa (25th-26th May)
Held at the famous Prescott Hill Climb in the Cotswolds, this year marks a 90th birthday celebration for the Bugatti Owners Club.
As well as celebrating the crème de la crème of Italian marques, from Bugatti’s to Fiats, there’ll be all sorts of family-friendly entertainment on hand, including a Battle of Britain flypast. So whether you like your engines under the bonnet or in the clouds, there’s something for you!
National Metro and Mini Show (3rd-4th August)
They say good things come in small packages, and if you’re a fan of small cars then the British Motor Museum in Gaydon, Warwickshire is the place to be this August.
There’s Mini stunt shows, live music, competitions and this year promises to be extra special as it’s the Mini’s 60th anniversary. That means organisers are planning to break a Guinness World Record by spelling out ‘Mini 60’ with around 600 of the cars themselves…
NEC Classic Motor Show (8-10 November)
Fans of vintage vehicles won’t want to miss this motor show in Birmingham’s NEC, the UK’s largest indoor classic show taking place over a staggering million square metres. That’s a lot of classics!
From specific trading areas where you can chat to dealers to a live stage with celebrity guests, there’s pretty much everything you could ever wish for under one (very large) roof.
With over 3,000 vehicles on display, you can easily spend all day test driving, buying, selling, sourcing parts and tools, or just basking in all the vintage glory.
Complete peace of mind for less
• Cheaper than AA Price Guarantee^
• We get to most breakdowns in 60 mins or less
• Our patrols fix 4/5 breakdowns on the spot
The best classic car shows in the East Midlands and East Anglia
Silverstone Classic (26th-28th July)
Can’t make the British Grand Prix? Why not check out the Silverstone Classic, held at the Northamptonshire circuit a few weeks later? Here you’ll find F1, F2 and F3 cars competing on the track in one of the UK’s fastest car events.
There’s a packed programme of events at the Silverstone Classic - alongside all the action on the track, the evening entertainment will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Woodstock with “3 days of Rocking and Racing.”
With plenty of other activities and entertainment on hand for children it’s the perfect place to spend the weekend with the family while catching some unforgettable retro racing.
The best classic car shows in Yorkshire and Humber
Yorkshire Classic Vehicle Show (27th May)
Head to the 700-year-old Ripley Castle on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales for the region’s premier classic vehicle show.
As well as a large auto-jumble sale and trade stands, there’ll be a huge collection of classic cars and motorbikes to explore and, of course, the show’s ever-popular Land Rover display.
Heartbeat Historic Rally (13th-14th July)
If you’re a fan of legendary TV show, Heartbeat, you’ll want to make the trip up to Goathland in Yorkshire for this festival celebrating the very best of both the show and the 1960s.
As well as music and food from the decade, you’ll be able to get up close and personal with the vehicles included in the show, from the police van to Peggy’s car. Stars of the show will also be on hand for autographs and selfies.
The best classic car shows in the North East and North West
Tatton Car Spectacular (1st-2nd June)
The most popular car show in the North West, the Tatton Car Spectacular sees around 2,000 classic and performance cars on display in the sumptuous grounds of Tatton Park in Cheshire.
Plenty of the UK’s top car clubs are in attendance, while the autojumble sale is popular with owners looking for bargains. Light entertainment and fairground rides make this a great day out for the whole family.
CarFest (North) (26-28 July)
This one might not be your typical classic car show, but it’s definitely a great car-inspired family day out. As well as a selection of classics, CarFest offers car rides, weird cars from around the world as well as live music, a kids’ theatre and even a car-nival.
The brainchild of Chris Evans, CarFest raises money for BBC Children in Need. And if Cheshire sounds too far away, worry not! There’s also a CarFest South, which takes place in late August outside Overton in Hampshire.
The best classic car shows in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Kames Classic Car Show (2nd June)
Explore the best in competition cars, rally cars and other classics from throughout the decades at southern Scotland’s popular Kames Classic Car Show held near Muirkirk in Ayrshire.
The star of this year’s show will be the 1903 Humber Humberette, and be sure to stick around for the parade lap of the circuit at the end of the day. There’s also something a bit different with gorgeous classic trucks and emergency vehicles on display.
Kilbroney Vintage Show (15th June)
As Northern Ireland’s premier classic car show, this event in Kilbroney is definitely not to be missed, with the line-up ranging from retro tractors to Mini Coopers and most things in between. Did you know that the RAC offer classic tractor insurance? You do now!
The show is held in a stunning location near the Irish border, so why not explore Ireland a little further with one of these great Irish road trips? Just remember you’ll need European breakdown cover if you drive in the Republic.
