Buckmore Park

About Buckmore Park

Buckmore Park has a fair claim to being the most important kart circuit in British motorsport history. It opened in 1963 — the track was famously built as an engineering training exercise by the Royal School of Military Engineering, and its founder took advice from the designer of the Rye House circuit — and it has been developing racing talent ever since. This is the venue where a young Lewis Hamilton was spotted by McLaren's Ron Dennis at the 1996 Champions of the Future event, the meeting that effectively set his F1 career in motion. Jenson Button, Lando Norris and, more recently, Ollie Bearman all came through here too. As the venue itself puts it: "Lewis. Jenson. Lando. For some of the biggest names, it all started here."

The Circuit

Tucked into woodland just off junction 3 of the M2 near Chatham, the full international layout runs to roughly 1,000 metres, with the circuit also offering shorter national and club configurations for different events. It was extended to international length back in 1999, adding features like the Senna Chicane, and the mix of sweeping bends, elevation and quick straights is what earns Buckmore its reputation as a genuine racer's track rather than a leisure loop. There is real length here to work braking points, lines and consistency over a full race distance — which is exactly why aspiring pros have used it as a training ground for decades.

Racing Heritage

Few venues anywhere can point to a driver list like this one. Beyond the modern F1 names, the circuit's alumni include 1990s grand prix racer Johnny Herbert, and its 2003 clubhouse was opened by Stirling Moss, Bernie Ecclestone and John Surtees — the latter a part-owner. Buckmore is sometimes described as Britain's busiest circuit thanks to its proximity to London, and it remains a working competition venue with open races, championships and junior clubs rather than a heritage attraction. Turning up to drive here really does mean lapping the tarmac where world champions learned their craft.

Who Should Visit

Buckmore leans towards drivers who take their racing a little more seriously. The minimum age for the main circuit is 8, and the layout is rated intermediate-to-advanced, so it rewards technique and repeat visits — it is a natural home for keen amateurs, owner-drivers and families with a genuinely competitive young racer. That said, first-timers are well catered for through arrive & drive sessions, and there is a full junior pathway including Bambino and junior club programmes for younger children. Group outings, corporate days and parties are all offered. If you are after a serious racing experience with real pedigree, this is one of the best in the country; for toddlers or a purely casual bash, a gentler local track may suit better.

Planning Your Visit

Buckmore Park is on Maidstone Road, Chatham, Kent (ME5 9QG), moments from junction 3 of the M2 and very accessible from London and the South East. On site you will find a café serving food and drink, a paddock area where spectators and parents can watch, and racing simulators — 30-minute sessions (ages 12 and over, £19–£25) with a practice and qualifying run followed by a race, driven solo or against friends across a choice of cars and circuits. As an outdoor circuit, sessions generally run in the wet, but it is worth checking ahead if severe weather is forecast.

Pricing sits at the premium end of UK karting, which fits the quality of the facility. Because Buckmore runs a busy calendar of open races, championships and junior clubs alongside public sessions, availability varies — book ahead for weekends, parties and group visits, and confirm current session times and prices directly with the venue before travelling.

Frequently Asked Questions