Go Karting in the South East

Go Karting in the South East

The South East of England is a karting paradise, featuring the legendary Buckmore Park in Kent - widely regarded as the UK's premier karting circuit. This is where multiple F1 World Champions including Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, and current F1 star Lando Norris all began their racing journeys.

The South East's Motorsport Pedigree

No other English region can match the South East for karting heritage. The sport here is anchored by Buckmore Park near Chatham, a genuine international circuit that opened in 1963 and became the venue where a young Lewis Hamilton was scouted by McLaren's Ron Dennis at the 1996 Champions of the Future meeting. Jenson Button, Lando Norris and, more recently, Ollie Bearman all came through here as juniors too. But the region is far more than one famous track: from purpose-built race circuits on the Kent marshes to multi-storey electric venues near Gatwick, you can find almost every style of karting within an hour's drive of London.

Outdoor Championship Circuits

The South East's outdoor tracks are among the best in Britain. Buckmore Park's 1,000-metre international layout, tucked into woodland off junction 3 of the M2, is rated intermediate-to-advanced and remains a working competition venue rather than a leisure loop. Nearby in Sittingbourne, Bayford Meadows is a floodlit 1,100-metre circuit licensed by Motorsport UK, staging sanctioned club races alongside family hire sessions. Out on Romney Marsh, Lydd Kart Circuit stretches to 1,040 metres and bills itself as the fastest outdoor track in Kent, home to the Lydd International Kart Club since 1993. Over the Essex border, Lakeside Karting in Thurrock runs 390cc petrol karts at up to 70mph around a 900-metre circuit with room for a 25-kart grid — billed as the largest and fastest in the county. In Surrey, Daytona Sandown Park lays an eight-corner, 900-metre Grand Prix circuit inside the grounds of Sandown Park Racecourse, with 70mph Rotax DMAX karts available to experienced adults.

Indoor Karting Across the Region

For all-weather racing, TeamSport operates a string of indoor electric venues. The largest is TeamSport Crawley, a 750-metre circuit spread over three floors beside Gatwick Airport, complete with linking ramps and a banked corner. TeamSport Farnborough runs a two-level 500-metre track with 45mph karts and an on-site Putt Club mini-golf course, while further venues in Brighton, Gosport, Reading, Southampton, Basildon, High Wycombe and Harlow put a weather-proof track within reach of most South East towns. Electric karts deliver instant acceleration with no fumes or engine noise, which makes indoor circuits a dependable choice for birthday parties and corporate days whatever the season.

Best for Families, Beginners and Serious Racers

Complete beginners and younger children are best served by the indoor TeamSport venues, where helmets and suits are provided, minimum ages start at eight and no experience is needed — Farnborough is rated beginner-to-intermediate and its adjoining mini-golf keeps non-racers entertained. Families chasing an authentic outdoor experience should look at Lydd or Daytona Sandown Park, both of which cater for very young drivers in Bambino karts (from age six at Sandown). Serious racers gravitate to Buckmore Park and Bayford Meadows, where licensed circuits, owner-driver testing days and club championships reward repeat visits and genuine technique.

Getting There & Planning Your Visit

Most South East venues sit close to the M2, M23 or M25. As outdoor circuits generally run in the wet and indoor tracks are weather-proof year-round, the region is a reliable day out in any season — but book ahead for weekends and school holidays, and confirm current prices and session times directly with each venue before travelling.

• Buckmore Park — Chatham, Kent (ME5 9QG), off M2 junction 3
• Bayford Meadows — Sittingbourne, Kent (ME10 3RY), just off the M2 corridor
• Lydd Kart Circuit — Lydd, Kent (TN29 9JH), out on Romney Marsh
• Lakeside Karting — Thurrock, Essex (RM19 1EA), beside the Dartford Crossing
• Daytona Sandown Park — Esher, Surrey (KT10 8AN), within Sandown Park Racecourse
• TeamSport Crawley — Crawley, West Sussex (RH10 9RE), off M23 junction 10 near Gatwick
• TeamSport Farnborough — Farnborough, Hampshire (GU14 7QU), on Invincible Road