Go Karting in the North East

Go Karting in the North East

The North East punches well above its weight for karting. It is home to two of the longest outdoor circuits in the country — the sprawling Teesside Autodrome at Middlesbrough and the fast Warden Law track near Sunderland — balanced by indoor electric venues in Newcastle and Stockton for evening racing whatever the weather. Between Tyneside, Wearside and Teesside there is genuine variety here, from championship-grade tarmac for committed racers to family-friendly arrive-and-drive sessions.

The Region's Big Outdoor Circuits

The headline venue is Teesside Motorsports, better known locally as Teesside Autodrome. At 2.1km it is a genuinely enormous outdoor circuit — billed by the operator as the world's longest kart track and independently listed among the longest in Europe. The full layout splits into shorter National and International configurations, and the hand-built racing karts reach around 60mph on the main straights. It is the home of the British 24-hour kart race and runs regular Iron Man timed events and team endurance formats, so it draws serious drivers from across the country.

Near Sunderland, Karting North East at the Warden Law Motorsport Centre offers a 1,200m circuit with ten turns, powered by 390cc Honda karts that also nudge 60mph — a big step up from the 200cc machines used indoors. It is a Motorsport UK approved venue that has staged rounds of the British Kart Championship, with grid space for up to 35 karts, so it rewards racecraft and overtaking rather than a single hot lap. The circuit can be shortened to around 850m for junior and mixed-ability sessions.

Indoor Karting in Newcastle and Teesside

For year-round racing that shrugs off the North East weather, the indoor centres are the practical choice. TeamSport Newcastle is a dual-track venue built around a 500m electric circuit, with Combat Karts, VR and bowling on site, making it a strong pick for groups who want more than just racing. TeamSport Stockton runs a 500m petrol-powered indoor track in Teesside for those who prefer the noise and character of combustion karts. Both use electric or petrol karts capped at safe indoor speeds and offer thorough safety briefings, so they suit first-timers and casual groups well.

Best Venues for Families, Beginners and Serious Racers

If you are new to karting or bringing children, start indoors at Newcastle or Stockton, or use the shorter layouts and junior sessions at the outdoor tracks — both Teesside and Warden Law welcome juniors from age 8, and Teesside even lets five-year-olds ride along as passengers in two-seat karts. Confident and improving drivers should head straight for the outdoor circuits: Warden Law is the region's true drivers' track for outdoor speed and real overtaking, while Teesside is unmatched for endurance and long-lap racing. For stag dos, birthdays and corporate days, Karting North East can bundle karting with activities such as paintball and archery.

Getting There and Planning Your Visit

The region's venues are spread across Tyne and Wear and Teesside but stay within easy reach of the main routes:

• Teesside Motorsports – Owens Road, Skippers Lane Industrial Estate, TS6 6XH; roughly 45 minutes from both Newcastle and York.
• Karting North East (Warden Law) – near Sunderland, SR3 2PR, signposted off the A19 with plenty of on-site parking.
• TeamSport Newcastle – central indoor venue, easy to combine with a night out in the city.
• TeamSport Stockton – indoor track in Teesside, close to the A66.

The two outdoor tracks run in most weather, and wet running simply adds to the challenge on circuits this long and fast, but if severe weather is forecast it is worth calling ahead. Outdoor sessions and popular endurance or Grand Prix events fill up quickly, so book in advance, and always confirm current prices, session formats and age or height requirements with the venue before travelling.