Indoor & Outdoor Go Karting

Should I buy this experience?

Who it's for

For a fun and convivial experience shared with friends or colleagues, you can't beat go kart racing. It's fast and furious, whilst being great value for money and accessible to many. We reckon you should go karting at least once in your life!

Who it's not for

If you don't like the idea of driving anything at all, karting won't be for you. Similarly, if you have zero competitive spirit, we'd avoid the Grand Prix-style experiences, where you compete in a series of races.

Go karting racing experiences FAQs

• Will I be racing in the go-kart?
• Will I be on an indoor or outdoor karting track?
• Can you race go karts in the rain?
• Do the seats in a go kart adjust?
• I wear glasses. Can I still go kart racing?
• Do you have 'arrive & drive' sessions?
• Are these go karting race experience events marshalled?
• Can I see my lap time?
• How fast do the go karts used on these experiences go?
• What happens if I hit a tyre wall?
• Do you have go-karts for kids?
• Are go karts easy to drive?
• Will I just be going round and round an oval circuit?
• Can you give me any tactics for go kart racing?
• Do I need a licence to go on a go karting race experience?
• Do I need to have a real competitive streak for karting?
• Is go-karting a stepping stone to F1?
• Are go karts road legal?
• Can I go kart racing in London?
• Where can I go on a go kart racing experience near me?

Will I be racing in the go-kart?

Most of our go kart experiences are 'Grand Prix style', so YES you will be racing against each other. These experiences run as a series of races, with warm up and heats, all leading to a Grand Final to determine the podium finishers for the best karters.


Will I be on an indoor or outdoor karting track?

We offer karting experiences on both indoor and outdoor tracks. The advantage of indoor is that you can go karting whatever the weather. The outdoor tracks tend to be longer, more challenging and have that real motorsport feel to them. Some are floodlit so you can still race after dark.


Can you race go karts in the rain?

If your go kart centre is indoor, then you'll be racing come rain or shine. As for outdoor karting experiences, the event organisers will determine if it is safe to race or not in the event of inclement weather. And of course, the policy is to rebook you in for another date if this happens.


Do the seats in a go kart adjust?

Yes they do. They slide just like a car seat, so go karters of different heights are easily catered for, from around 5ft to 6'6" in standard adult karts. Please see individual kart experience pages for requirements specific to that location.


I wear glasses. Can I still go kart racing?

Yes. In fact it is better to wear glasses that contact lenses. Helmets are compatible with wearing glasses too.


Do you have 'arrive & drive' sessions?

Yes we do. This is where you simply head to the go kart centre and join in an open session on the track. That's to say there are no organised races, you just race against the clock, trying to post the fastest lap times and overtaking any other karters out there at the same time!


Are these go karting race experience events marshalled?

Yes. Safety is the priority at all centres. A pre-race briefing will explain race etiquette and the safety rules, including recognising any marshalling signals or instructions that may given during the sessions.


Can I see my lap time?

Most centres have large screen scoreboards showing lap times. If you're racing, it will also show you position in the race. Many centres will even print out our lap times for you, as a memento of your karting prowess (or a sore reminder of your pitiful performance!).


How fast do the go karts used on these experiences go?

This all depends on the track and the operator. Please check each page for the full details of what karts are used, but generally, the adult karts used for hire can reach around 40-45mph when unrestricted. And when you're just centimetres from the floor, hooning it around tight corners, that feels stupidly fast.


What happens if I hit a tyre wall?

The tyre walls are constructed around the go karting track to stop karts running off the track. If you do mess up and hit the tyre wall, the marshals will assist and help you get back out on the track (go karts have no reverse gear!). It's all part of learning how to kart race!


Do you have go-karts for kids?

Yes we do. Several of our main go kart racing experience suppliers also offer go karting for kids. They are run using smaller, less powerful go karts that are ideal for kids to drive.


Are go karts easy to drive?

Yep. There are just two pedals - the throttle and the brake, not forgetting your steering, of course. The karts do actually have gears and what are called centrifugal clutches, which is why during your safety briefing, the instructors will ask you not to have your foot on the throttle and the brake at the same time.


Will I just be going round and round an oval circuit?

No, that would be boring wouldn't it! Even the smallest indoor karting track has been designed with some challenging racing lines for you. You'll be negotiating chicanes, hairpins and bends, with a nice straight so you can go full throttle. Some of the larger indoor venues even have bridges and flyovers for multi-level go karting fun. And if you're outdoor, you have the natural undulations of the terrain that can make for blind crests, sloping corners and more.


Can you give me any tactics for go kart racing?

'Slow in, fast out' is what we'd say. It's all about smooth throttle control and taking wide lines in to corners, to come out nice and tight to the kerb. Nail that racing line stuff and you're sure to bag yourself a place on the podium.


Do I need a licence to go on a go karting race experience?

Nope. Karts are all dead easy to drive too, so no previous driving experience or a licence is needed. You just need the confidence to drive one of these things!


Do I need to have a real competitive streak for karting?

It certainly helps. If you're on a Grand Prix style go kart racing experience, there's no denying it will get competitive out there. It's a lot less competitive on the arrive and drive style experiences, as there are no actual races run, as you're more competing against the clock to post your own best lap times.


Is go-karting a stepping stone to F1?

Indeed it can be. Amongst many others, a very young Lewis Hamilton started racing go karts before working his way up to Formula One. If you really take to this go karting lark on one of our experiences, who know where it might take you?


Are go karts road legal?

Nope. You need to have an MoT and things like lights, indicators and all the rest of it to be a road legal vehicle, so we'll leave the go karts on the track where they're much more fun!


Can I go kart racing in London?

Yes you can! We've got indoor karting in West London and North London, both easily accessible by public transport.


Where can I go on a go kart racing experience near me?

We work with individual go kart tracks and a chain of nationwide centres, to offer you go kart racing experiences around the country. Just some of our current locations include:
• Brighton
• Bristol
• Basildon
• Chatham
• London - W3
• London - N18
• Crawley
• Birmingham
• Reading
• Leeds
• Liverpool
• Nottingham
• Surrey
• Sheffield
• Newcastle
• Preston
• Wiltshire
• Wigan

Up for a whizz around the track? Book your go kart racing experience now!