Motoring
5 of London’s best karting tracks
Want to spin some laps in the capital? These are the top tracks to practice your karting skills.
Karting: the most accessible motorsport of them all. No racing licence required (until you get up into the big leagues anyway), no need to buy kit or the kart itself and the chance to race for well under £100.
But if you’re a Londoner, what are your best options if you’re itching to get out on track? The capital has a tidy selection of indoor and outdoor tracks for casual racers, while some championship-level kart circuits lie just outside of the M25.
Here are the city's top five karting tracks.
01
Revolution Karting
The windy track at Revolution Karting makes for some great racing
© Revolution Karting
Closest station: Mile End tube
Address: 422-424 Burdett Rd, Mile End, London, E3 4AA
Opening hours: Monday (Closed), Thursday-Friday (12am to 9pm), Saturday (10am-9pm), Sunday (10am-8pm)
Located just a 10-minute walk from Mile End tube, Revolution Karting is the only proper outdoor track in central London. The facility boasts 36 electric karts which can reach speeds of 45mph along the 750m track. And while you won’t catch many pros honing their art here, Londonites need look no further if some quick and dirty outdoor karting action is what you’re after.
02
TeamSport Mitcham
TeamSport Mitcham
© TeamSport
Closest station: Mitcham Eastfields
Opening hours: Monday-Sunday (9am-11pm)
TeamSport is the king of UK indoor karting, boasting 22 tracks throughout the land. Five of those are in London, with the best one located in Mitcham, south-east London. They have two 400m state-of-the-art tracks that can be combined to make a whopping 800m international circuit, where 20 karts can then go head-to-head. 9 challenging corners, one nail-biting flyover and multiple levels create a circuit like no other and will guarantee to create a day you’ll never forget.
03
Capital Karts
Set your sights on Capital Karts, the largest track in the UK
© Capital Karts
Closest station: Canary Wharf
Address: 15 Cabot Square, London E14 4QS
Opening hours: Monday-Friday (11am-11pm), Saturday to Sunday (9an - 11pm)
Next up, hit up the finest and fastest indoor track in the UK. Race in an iconic Canary Wharf venue in next-generation super-powerful electric karts that go to speeds of up to 45mph. With a track length of over 800 metres, and races with up to 20 drivers, Capital Karts' track offers the ultimate go-karting experience for both novices and experienced drivers alike. They also have a bar that serves food and drink, so you can grab a bite after a hard shift of burning rubber.
04
Rye House
A bird's-eye view of the Rye House track
© Rye House Karting
Closest station: Rye House
Address: Rye Rd, Hoddesdon, EN11 0EH
Opening hours: Monday-Sunday (9:30am-5:30pm)
Slightly pushing the boundaries of ‘London’ here, given that Rye House lies outside of the M25, but it would have been foolhardy not to mention this top-level facility that’s a mere 36-minute train ride from Liverpool Street station. None other than Lewis Hamilton began his career here, and the track is a staple of a number of UK karting championships. Everything about Rye House screams ‘Pro’, so make the trip out if you’re looking to get some serious karting action in.
05
Daytona Sandown Park
Daytona Sundown Park
© Credit: Daytona
Closest station: Esher
Address: More Lane, Esher, KT10 8AN
Opening hours: Monday-Sunday (9am-9pm)
Located in leafy Surrey, Daytona Sandown Park is the only National Karting Association and Motor Sport Association-approved track to be found within the M25. Drivers can tackle the outdoor circuit in either 390cc Sordi RT8 or 125cc DMAX two-stroke karts, while none other than Fernando Alonso has even graced the track with his presence. And if it’s good enough for Nando…
MORE: Check out our best go-kart tracks from across the UK.