Monday 17 May 2010

British Grand Prix Short Break


Enjoy the British Grand Prix at Silverstone with Page and Moy.  Three nights, four days from GBP279.

The spiritual home of British racing, Silverstone has hosted the British Grand Prix every year since 1987. It is one of the fastest and most unpredictable circuits on the racing calendar, and the race this year promises to be a memorable event thanks to the new all-British team of Hamilton and Button at McLaren.

Enjoy a short break in Stratford-upon-Avon, an ideal base from which to enjoy the British Grand Prix weekend and a delightful contrast to the high-octane excitement of the race circuit.

Holiday Options
• 3 night package
• Pit lane Suite option

Telephone 0845 358 2639 for more details

Your Accommodation

Express by Holiday Inn
The hotel is located just off J15 of the M40. There is ample free parking and the hotel has a lounge and bar. All bedrooms have a private bathroom, satellite TV and telephone. Accommodation is on bed and continental breakfast basis.

Hotel Grosvenor, Stratford
The hotel enjoys an excellent location for easy access to the town centre on foot, or by car to the M40 motorway. There is guest parking, a bar, restaurant and lounge and all bedrooms have a bathroom, TV, telephone and tea and coffee making facilities. Accommodation is on bed and english breakfast basis.

Holiday Inn, Stratford
Superbly located in the centre of Stratford on the banks of the Avon, the hotel has a choice of bars and restaurants, indoor pool and health club. All guest rooms have a private bathroom, TV, telephone and tea and coffee making facilities. 24 hour room service is available. Accommodation is on bed and English breakfast basis.

Your Itinerary
Enjoy a short break in Stratford-upon-Avon, an ideal base from which to enjoy the British Grand Prix weekend and a delightful contrast to the high-octane excitement of the race circuit. Apart from its Shakespearean connections, Stratford is renowned for its Tudor architecture, riverside walks and ample shops, bars and restaurants. If you wish to explore further afield, Warwick Castle, the Heritage motor Centre, Hatton Country World, Royal leamington Spa and the Cotswolds are all within easy driving distance.

All hotels are within easy reach of the circuit. Check-in at your hotel is from 2pm on the day you arrive and time is then free for you to enjoy as you wish until Sunday, when we will make an early departure by coach for the circuit and the Grand Prix. The coach will return you to your hotel at the end of the race. Those arriving on Thursday or Friday will be able to visit the circuit the day after arrival for F1 practice, qualifying sessions and supporting events on our included transfers.

Silverstone
The 3.2-mile track offers a challenging mix of corners and straights and gives cars plenty of opportunity to show what they can do.

The Priory/Woodcote area is a good option for spectators who appreciate the technical aspects of driving and want to enjoy some top-quality hospitality. Cars really slip and slide around the tight bends here, making for some nail-biting moments. For pure drama, though, you can’t beat the pits straight just around the corner. Here you’ll see the cars start and finish, and watch teams attempt to shave off crucial seconds on visits to the pits.

Silverstone is also one of the better tracks for those who prefer to roam on a general admission ticket. The Maggotts-Becketts-Chapel section offers serious speeds of up to 185mph plus some subtle directional changes, and you can really feel the power of the cars. Halfway around, Stowe-Vale-Club offers several excellent vantage points and is a prime spot for overtaking. (In fact, it was at Stowe that Hamilton passed Kovaleinen in 2008.)

Originally an RAF base during World War Two, Silverstone was converted into a racing track with a reputation for speed in 1948, and hosted the first Formula One World Championship race in 1950. The track has hosted the race regularly since then, along with Aintree and Brands Hatch, and has been the exclusive venue since 1987.

Silverstone has been a happy hunting ground for British drivers. John Watson won in 1981, Nigel Mansell in 1987, 1991 and 1992, Damon Hill in 1994, David Coulthard in 1999 and 2000, and Lewis Hamilton in 2008. Memorably, Nigel Mansell picked up stranded Ayrton Senna on his victory lap in 1991.

There was a time when traffic jams caused problems on race days, but the A43 bypass has helped ease these. Another agent for chaos has been the unpredictable British weather, which in 2000 turned the car parks into mud baths. It’s not an issue for the spectators who choose to arrive by helicopter, making Silverstone Heliport the UK’s busiest airport for one day a year.

A Page & Moy Grand Prix package is a great way to see the race and explore the surrounding countryside. Your hotel will be in Stratford-upon-Avon, better known as Shakespeare country, while the Cotswolds aren’t far away and Oxford is near enough for a day trip. It’s usually possible to stroll around the grounds of the old colleges, and you don’t have to be a student to go punting on the river.

Telephone 0845 358 2639 for more details

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