Capital Karts Star City

About Capital Karts Star City

Capital Karts Star City is the newest indoor circuit in Birmingham, built inside the Star City leisure complex at Nechells, a couple of miles north-east of the city centre and directly off junction 6 of the M6. The entrance sits within the Star City atrium, which makes it one of the easier UK tracks to reach without a car — and one of the few where you can pair a race with a cinema trip and a meal without moving the car.

The Capital Karts name has some history behind it. The brand began in 2013 with a warehouse circuit at Barking in east London that was, at over 1,050 metres, the longest indoor track in the country. The company was bought by the American electric karting operator K1 Speed in 2024, and its former Canary Wharf site now trades as K1 Speed Canary Wharf. Star City is the Midlands venue, and the one still carrying the Capital Karts name.

The Circuit

The track runs to over 600 metres with 12 flowing corners spread across multiple levels, and an average width of 7.5 metres — wide enough that overtaking is a genuine option rather than a hopeful lunge. Average lap times are over 40 seconds, which is long for an indoor circuit and means a 20-minute session is a proper stint rather than a handful of laps. Grids run up to 15 karts.

The fleet is fully electric: Biz Eco Volt GT machines with adjustable seats and pedals and hydraulic disc brakes, which the venue quotes at up to 45mph and says run on electricity from 100% renewable sources. Electric power suits a multi-level layout, because the torque arrives instantly on the climbs where a small petrol engine would run out of puff. The venue markets itself as the UK's fastest indoor track; that is its own claim rather than a verified record, but 45mph is genuinely quick for an indoor circuit.

Who Should Visit

The age split is generous by indoor standards. Kids and family sessions run from age 7 with a minimum height of 125cm, on karts the venue turns down for safety, while adult racing starts at 14 — lower than the 16 or 18 some city-centre venues require, so a family with teenagers can all race in the same session.

Formats scale accordingly. Sprint racing is the straightforward option, a 20-minute race for the fastest lap. Grand Prix adds a qualifying session, a rolling grid start and a podium presentation, which is the one to pick for a group that wants a proper result at the end. Monday evenings bring the Ultimate Kart Night, three sessions with a weekly winner going through to a quarterly final. There are also student leagues, stag and hen bookings, youth group and charity rates, and a simulator area called The Race Lounge for anyone not driving.

Planning Your Visit

You will find the venue at Unit 12, Star City, 32 Watson Road, Nechells, Birmingham B7 5SA. Star City has 2,400 free parking spaces, along with a taxi drop-off point and a secure bike store. Without a car, the NX66 bus runs from the city centre in around 20 minutes, and Gravelly Hill and Aston are the nearest railway stations.

The venue opens seven days a week and keeps late hours, typically from mid-morning through to midnight and later at weekends — worth confirming for the day you want, as published times vary between sessions. There is a licensed bar and cafe on site, and corporate bookings include an hour of private lounge space after racing. Booking ahead is recommended; the venue notes that transactions are non-refundable, so check dates carefully before you pay.

Prices sit in the mid range for UK karting. Sprint racing at £25 is competitive for a circuit this length, and the Grand Prix format at £45 gives you two sessions plus a podium. Budget an extra £3.50 per person for the Driver Essentials Pack of balaclava and gloves.

Frequently Asked Questions