Ellough Park Raceway

About Ellough Park Raceway

Ellough Park sits on the site of the old Ellough airfield (Beccles Airport) just outside Beccles, and it has real motorsport pedigree: the circuit was officially opened in 2000 by former Formula 1 driver Jackie Oliver. What started as an 800-metre track has been extended over the years, reaching over 1,100 metres after the latest expansion, and it is fully floodlit so racing carries on after dark. This is a proper outdoor race circuit rather than a leisure loop — it hosts national and local kart championships and has featured the Formula Kart Stars series — yet it still welcomes complete beginners on hire karts. It holds a strong 4.6 average across 500 Google reviews.

The Circuit

The layout is best described as fast but tight and twisty: the extra length gives you room for real racing lines and overtaking, while the technical corners keep it honest for less experienced drivers. Hire karting uses 390cc petrol machines for adults, with governed cadet karts for juniors running on the same tarmac. Because it is a full-length outdoor circuit, sessions can run as genuine race distances where consistency and tyre management count, not just a handful of flat-out laps — which is exactly why club racers keep coming back.

Who Should Visit

Hire-kart sessions are open to everyone from 8 to 80, so it works for families, mixed-ability groups and first-timers alike — a safety briefing plus helmet and race suit are included, and no experience is needed. Juniors from age eight race the cadet karts, while adults move up to the 390cc karts.

It is equally set up for groups: arrive-and-drive, endurance races, stag and hen parties, birthdays and corporate days are all catered for, and the on-site conference room means a company can combine racing with a meeting. For the more committed, Ellough Park also runs owner-driver racing and a junior academy, so it is a venue you can grow into rather than visit once.

Planning Your Visit

Ellough Park Raceway is on Benacre Road, Ellough, near Beccles, Suffolk (NR34 7XD), and typically operates from around 10am to 9pm. On site there is a café serving cooked food and drinks, changing rooms, lockers, free parking and a conference room. As an outdoor circuit it does run in the wet — floodlights mean evening racing is part of the appeal — but it is worth calling ahead if severe weather is forecast.

Advance booking is recommended, particularly for weekends, race weekends, parties and corporate days. Prices are mid-range for UK outdoor karting; always confirm current rates, session times and age or height requirements directly with the venue before you travel, as they change through the year.

Frequently Asked Questions