What’s that coming over the hill? It’s the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed – and it’s shaping up to be unmissable!
This remarkable summer celebration of motor racing is a bucket-list experience for any enthusiast, and this year brings a special focus on Formula 1 as the championship marks its 75th anniversary.
We can expect a dazzling display of iconic F1 cars, legendary drivers and cutting-edge technology – not to mention 200,000 motorsport fans descending on the estate. Read on for our insider’s guide to the Festival of Speed.
Please note: While we offer VIP access and curated hospitality for this legendary event, we are not affiliated with the organisers. If your enquiry relates to tickets, schedules or event management, we recommend contacting Goodwood directly.
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When is the Goodwood Festival of Speed? 2025 dates & timetable
The 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed dates have been confirmed and the event will take place from Thursday 10 July to Sunday 13 July. While this year’s timetable is still under wraps, we can look to last year’s event for what’s likely to play out.
Thursday (10 July) and Friday (11 July)
After the Duke of Richmond officially opens the festival on Thursday morning, batches of cars begin to ascend the famous Goodwood Hill – an activity that permeates the entire weekend. Thursday and Friday are perfect days to explore the festival’s various exhibitions and events, including the high-tech Future Lab and the auction of motorsport memorabilia and historic cars.
Saturday (12 July)
On Saturday, the hillclimb and exhibitions continue, while it’s also a great day to rub shoulders with your favourite motorsport stars. Attention also turns to the Library Lawn Garden Party, nestled in the private gardens of Goodwood House. Just steps from the action, this refined haven offers a lively garden party atmosphere with a brunch buffet, champagne afternoon tea, and roving grandstand access – which you can relish as part of our Goodwood Festival of Speed hospitality package.
Sunday (13 July)
On Sunday, the festival peaks with the famous Sunday Shootout, as the best from the weekend compete for a chance to be crowned champion of the hill. It’s a must-see event that we enjoy with premium hospitality from the Clark Pavilion, overlooking Molecomb Corner – the climb’s most dramatic point.
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The theme of the 2025 Festival of Speed: F1 fans, you’re in for a treat…
The 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed theme is ‘The Winning Formula – Champions and Challengers’.
This theme marks 75 years since the Formula 1 championship was launched and will gather the festival’s biggest ever display of F1 cars and drivers for the ultimate celebration. This includes no less than 80 F1 cars across six categories – each from a key era in Formula 1 history.
For example, the Prologue class will offer a glimpse at pre-war grand prix cars, while the Pioneer class will show off the cars that helped shape F1’s initial world championship years. Among other classes, we’ll see the Champions class, honing in on F1’s greatest cars and drivers, along with a category dedicated to current F1 teams – with the Mercedes W11 and Red Bull’s RB19B potentially in action.
It’s been confirmed that Haas will bring two contemporary cars to run on the hill, along with Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman to drive them. The American constructor will also bring the current VF-25 on a static display, along with a treasure trove of team memorabilia.
Alongside the F1 tributes, Goodwood 2025 will celebrate a broad spectrum of motorsport, with representation from WRC, World Endurance Championship, Formula E, IndyCar, NASCAR, MotoGP, World Superbikes and more.
Additionally, this year’s festival will commemorate several other anniversaries, including the 100th anniversary of Alfa Romeo’s victory in the inaugural World Manufacturers’ Championship, the 125th anniversary of the Gordon Bennett Cup, and the 60-year career of renowned car designer Gordon Murray.
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Will 2025 be the greatest hillclimb to date?
Each year, Goodwood’s iconic hillclimb steals the show. Hundreds of drivers and manufacturers exhibit their skills and cars up a challenging 1.16-mile stretch of narrow, bumpy road, attempting to log a record climb and seal a place in the famous Sunday Shootout.
As the name suggests, this climactic event takes place on the Sunday, with the best from the weekend duking it out on the final day for a chance to be crowned champion of the hill. It’s the event everyone wants to see, so ensure you have a good view and settle in for a day of pure adrenaline.
In 2025, the hillclimb has potential to be the best to date, with so many familiar F1 faces in the lineup. While the full batches are still under lock and key, we can expect to see plenty of F1 cars and drivers in action – including Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, Esteban Ocon and Mario Andretti – along with Le Mans cars, concept vehicles and high-powered electric vehicles.
The big question is whether any of them will be able to top the all-time hillclimb record of 0:39:08, set by Max Chilton in his McMurtry Spéirling in 2023.
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What to wear to Goodwood Festival of Speed
If you’re wondering what to wear to the Festival of Speed then take note. The dress code for the event is smart-casual, which is open to interpretation. Here’s our take, based on many years of attendance.
Goodwood style tips for men
Although the days of full-piece suits at Goodwood are largely over, we recommend smart casual with a modern twist. Typically, the dress code for men entails trousers, a collared shirt and a jacket. Anticipate the weather showing its best with your shirt choice – try a bold look and really make a statement.
Goodwood style tips for women
Women can’t go wrong with a stylish summer dress and fancy hat. Linen trousers are a nice alternative if you’re not in the mood for a dress or skirt. We also recommend opting for comfort and wearing flat shoes. There’s so much to see at Goodwood, and walking a fair distance – often over grass and gravel – is the best way to do it.
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Must-see cars at Goodwood 2025
At the Goodwood Festival of Speed, cars take centre stage making it a prime opportunity to admire the newest and most exciting vehicles in the flesh. At Goodwood 2025, electric vehicles will likely dominate the lineup, although expect everything from family SUVs to jaw-dropping hypercars.
When it comes to new cars, we can’t wait to see the Lamborghini Temerario – the Huracan’s hybrid replacement with the potential to reach 0-62mph in less than three seconds – and the fanless T33 from Gordon Murray Automotive.
Stylish new SUVs including the purely electric BMW X3 SUV and the Range Rover Electric are also high on our list, as are Porsche’s electric Boxster convertible and Cayman.
But Goodwood is just as much about celebrating racing heritage, with a stunning array of vintage cars on show, from F1 and beyond. At the time of writing, at least eight historic F1 cars are confirmed for the 2025 event. These include the Haas VF-16 (the team’s first-ever F1 car), VF-23 and VF-24, as well as the Lotus 79, Williams FW14B, and the iconic McLaren MP4/4, as driven by Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.
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Goodwood Festival of Speed FAQ
From how to get to Goodwood to the best day to visit, here’s a rundown of the most common questions we encounter about the Festival of Speed.
Who owns Goodwood?
The Goodwood Estate has been in the Richmond family since 1697 and is currently owned by the 11th Duke of Richmond, Charles Gordon-Lennox. After a successful career as a photographer in London, he took over management of the estate in 1994. Notably, he founded the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 1993, when he was still known as Lord March, reviving the estate’s rich motorsport heritage.
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What’s the best day to go to the Goodwood Festival of Speed?
As always, the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place over four days. While Thursday and Friday are full of excitement and exploration, Saturday and Sunday are considered the best days to visit the festival.
On Saturday the exhibitions and hillclimb are in full swing, along with the festivities of the lively Library Lawn Garden Party – an exclusive soirée in the Duke and Duchess’s private garden.
Then Sunday is when the legendary Sunday Shootout begins, with the hillclimb champion being crowned at the end of a thrilling day. You can join us to watch the action unfold from the Clark Pavilion, situated on the most dramatic corner of the course, complete with full hospitality and a premium open bar.
Additionally, the weekend is when most celebrities and motoring stars make their appearances, which just adds to the excitement.
Is there a dress code at the Goodwood Festival of Speed?
Goodwood is a relatively relaxed event, although if you are planning to spectate from any of the hospitality suites, smart-casual attire is required. While the event will be held in summer, English weather is notoriously unpredictable, so pack a rain jacket, just in case the heavens open.
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How to get to Goodwood
Goodwood House is found in Chichester, West Sussex, which is just under two hours from London. If you take the train, the Southern service from London Victoria to Chichester Train Station takes just one hour and 30 minutes. Shuttle bus services run between the station and the event all day.
If you’re driving from London, follow the A3 to Chichester. With around a quarter of a million guests attending over the four days, the roads around Goodwood understandably become very busy. It’s advised that you don’t rely on a sat nav system – instead, follow the estate’s parking guide to make things flow more smoothly.
Of course, if sitting in traffic isn’t your cup of tea, you can always join us on a chartered helicopter flight to and from the festival, enjoying bird’s-eye views of the lush English countryside at the same time.
When was the first Festival of Speed?
The seeds of the Festival of Speed were planted back in 1936 when the 9th Duke of Richmond hosted a hillclimb for Lancia Car Club on the grounds of Goodwood House.
Fast forward to June 1993 and, building on motoring events held at the estate over the previous half century, the current Duke launched the first official Goodwood Festival of Speed.
This inaugural festival attracted 25,000 people and was declared a resounding success. Since then, the festival has become bigger, better and more prestigious with each passing year.
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Experience Goodwood in total luxury with our exclusive hospitality package
We can’t wait to visit the Festival of Speed again this year. If you want to experience this hot-ticket event in 2026, we recommend joining us for our Festival of Speed hospitality package – or our Swiss supercar tour, on which you can opt to enjoy premium hospitality and VIP access to Goodwood before your luxury driving adventure begins.
Places are limited, so enquire early to avoid disappointment. You can learn more about this experience or any of our bucket-list adventures by speaking to our friendly travel concierge team today.
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