Going to Silverstone for the British GP? Here’s what you need to know

What shall I wear? Where shall I watch? There are always certain pre-occupations ahead of a trip to the British GP.

The weather

Always a pre-occupation in this country - particularly at this time of year - the vagaries of the weather are an integral part of the British sporting summer. Whether it's Cliff Richard serenading, the Centre Court crowd whether they like it or not, Peter Alliss pointing out the nerve of the bird's nest cameraman as he traces Tiger's howitzer into a force nine gale, or the Test Match Special team getting stuck into another lovely cake, we always try and make light of bad weather.

Grin-and-bear-it stoicism in the face of lashing rain is an admirable national trait, all the more so in July. And those visiting the British GP have had to be stoic in recent years as it's rained more often than not, particularly on Fridays. Yet the long-range weather forecast suggests a heatwave later this week, so the good news is that we are set for glorious sunshine after all. Then again, if heat and humidity are heading our way, who's to say a thunderstorm won't break out on Sunday afternoon? So pack plenty of sun cream - and, just in case, a rain jacket as well.

Traffic jams

… are an inevitability when trying to squeeze the expected 140,000 race day fans through narrow country lanes on the Northants/Oxfordshire border. Having said that, the camping option and various travel schemes such as park and ride have helped make things rather less constipated than they have been.

But that's not to say there's been the occasional reverse: like in 2012, for example, when heavy rain begat mashed-up car parks and a clogged A43, Silverstone's main arterial route, which is pressed into dedicated service for the race. So it's always best to give plenty of time - and with the GP3 cars on-track by mid-morning on Sunday, it's not as though there won't be anything to look at before the main event starts.

Parking

Such was the undignified mayhem three years ago that Silverstone asked fans intending to visit for qualifying not to travel in order to preserve the car parks for race day. Changes have been made since then, with more hard-standing car parks and better drainage. Even so, the introduction of park and ride, not to mention alternative methods of transport (a dedicated train service has also been laid on, from both Birmingham and London to Milton Keynes) has taken some of the burden off nearby fields (all of which are now sold out, by the way).

Accommodation

For those not committed enough to book a hotel months in advance, this basically means camping; which, in its way, is probably an even greater statement of intent. It's also part of the growth in festival-style communing seen in recent years, with 28,000 or so fans pitching tents last year. Woodlands is the closest campsite to the track and there's also entertainment - at Whittlebury campsite two years ago, Sky Sports News HQ's very own Craig Slater had the honour of introducing rock outfit Band Substance live on stage.

Food and drink

Although lobster, strawberries and champagne are on offer for those so inclined, for most of us a trip to the British GP is all about burgers, doughnuts and hog roasts. In total, there are over 70 outlets dotted around the place catering to a wide range of tastes. Head to Copse or Club corner if you fancy a spot of Indian. Meanwhile, Silverstone report that 6,000 bottles of Champagne, 10,000 bottles of wine and 20,000 bottles of mineral water were consumed at the 2013 race, so you are unlikely to go thirsty.

Toilets

There are facilities and then there are facilities. And for some it's these facilities by which - perhaps as much as the race itself - the success of the weekend will be judged. Silverstone has, of course, been making a concerted effort to upgrade all its facilities over the last decade or so and these are no exception. But don’t judge too harshly: if 140,000 people are going to congregate in the middle of the countryside, then there's always going to be a knock-on effect.

Best places to watch

This is entirely subjective, of course. For some of us, it's entirely down to habit. If your first visit to Silverstone saw you reach only as far as Copse, then why not go back and re-live a few old memories? Especially if you arrive and the place is already packed. But when it isn't, it's well worth going for a wander; the five high-speed corners that make up the Becketts complex are often cited as one of the best, most spectacular tests of an F1 car anywhere on the schedule.

Clothing

Sun cream? Check. Pac-a-mac? Check. It's best to play it safe and cover all eventualities, particularly (and stating the obvious) when staying the entire weekend. Team merchandise will also be out in force, with even more available particularly behind the grandstands at Woodcote corner.

Entertainment

As mentioned, the festival season has increasingly become part of the British summer in recent times and Silverstone hasn't been immune, with music more and more part of the weekend’s entertainment. Madness top the bill on Thursday, with acts performing throughout the weekend. There’s a massive array of things to do: from face-painting to go-karting, riding segways to zorbing (rolling around inside a big plastic ball, in case you wondered); there’s even the chance to undergo reflexology and get a massage if it all gets a bit too much. A particular favourite, though, comes about an hour before the race starts when the Red Arrows jet in to do their thing.

Getting out again

In an attempt to persuade as many fans as possible to stick around afterwards (around 18,000 two years ago) thus minimising the potential for travel chaos - the music just keeps on playing: we’re talking now about the Grand Prix After Party, where drivers also turn up with tales of triumph and woe. And probably to have a go at playing the drums as well. By the time that’s all over, the traffic will hopefully have eased a little.

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