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The Biggest Classic Car Rallies in the UK
A classic car rally is a frequent sight across the UK and overseas, with motoring enthusiasts taking the chance to meet up with like-minded ‘petrolheads’ and share their common interests.
This article looks at the biggest rallies in the UK, when they are held, and which types of vehicles they usually attract.
And if you are planning to attend any of the events, but you would prefer to have someone else take care of the transportation of your prized possession, then Hamiltons Removals can ensure it arrives there safely.
The historic vehicle industry is a big contributor to the UK’s economy, with a 2020 report putting the value at £18.3 billion. This figure includes racing events, owner clubs, museums, specialist magazines – and rallies, where thousands of like-minded enthusiasts can meet up and share their passion for classic cars.
Here, Hamiltons Removals, who offer classic car transportation across the UK, look at some of the biggest events held in this country.
Vintage Car Transportation from Hamiltons Removals
At Hamiltons Removals, we can help if you want to move your prized vehicle within the UK, Europe, or further afield. While many enthusiasts like to drive their own car to rallies, we appreciate that it’s not always that simple – and we can take a lot of the stress out of the whole process by ensuring it gets there safe and sound.
The NEC Classic Motor Show
Its official title in 2025 will be the Lancaster Insurance Classic Car Show. This is the UK’s largest indoor classic car show and is usually held at the NEC in Birmingham every November. It features more than 2,500 vehicles from motoring clubs, a vast trade area, and interactive exhibits (including where children get the chance to drive small vehicles). There’s also a restoration workshop if you need any tips on maintaining your own vehicle. And it’s not just for UK cars – there’s a dedicated section for motorbikes, as well as plenty of American muscle cars.
The Silverstone Classic
Also known as the Silverstone Festival, the Classic is held at the F1 track in Northamptonshire every August. Like the NEC Classic, there’s a mixture of trade stands and exhibits, as well as some live music. However, the focus is on racing – F1 (often including some famous names from the past), GT, Sports and Touring Car events were all on the calendar in 2025. Many enthusiasts camp out at the track for the whole weekend.
Next year (2026), the format is due to change slightly when the event will be run alongside CarFest, which has many of the same elements, but the focus will be on charity fundraising.
The Goodwood Festival of Speed and Revival Meeting
The Festival of Speed is a comparatively new entry onto the motorsport calendar. It started in 1993 and takes place at Goodwood House in West Sussex (where there was a racing circuit from the 1940s-60s that was restored and improved in the 1990s).
There are plenty of different races – a hillclimb, a soapbox challenge and a rally stage – all held within the grounds but using different circuits. The Festival of Speed is usually held in July, and Goodwood also hosts a Revival meeting later in the year. Vehicles here usually date from the original track’s heyday. In both cases, there are dedicated parking areas for classic cars (even if they aren’t taking part in any races) so enthusiasts can come and ‘browse’.
The Donington Historic Festival
This festival is held at the Derbyshire racing circuit in May. Again, it’s a significant event for historic racing, attracting hundreds of world-class racing cars. However, there are plenty of opportunities for owners to attend (with their cars) if they are registered with the appropriate owner’s club. Last year, the following clubs attended – Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Ferrari, Lotus, MG and Porsche – and that’s by no means a full list.
Classic Car Transportation across the UK from Hamiltons Removals
Of course, there are plenty of other smaller rallies held across the country, many of them for specific clubs or owners. Many people like to drive their own classic cars to these events – but if you have more than one, you prefer to ensure your vehicle looks in pristine condition, or you aren’t sure you are allowed to drive it on public roads, then you can entrust it to Hamiltons Removals.
We offer covered car and single car transportation from our base close to the Norfolk/Suffolk border and have a number of purpose-built transporters which we use to ensure your vehicle arrives safely at its destination, whether that’s in the UK or overseas.
For more information on our specialist vehicle services, follow this link, email us at vehicles@hamiltonsremovals.co.uk or call us on 01379 855203.
FAQS:
What sort of vehicles can Hamiltons Removals transport?
Whatever age or type of vehicle you have – classic, antique, or vintage – we can transport it safely to its destination. And we don’t just move historic vehicles; we can help with other types of vehicles (such as tractors) as well. For more information, follow this link.
What is the legal position about driving vintage vehicles on UK roads?
You are allowed to drive a classic car on UK roads, but you must ensure it’s registered with the DVLA and maintained well enough to be roadworthy. While vehicles over 40 years old are generally exempt from annual MOT tests and car tax, you must maintain them in good condition, which may involve a voluntary MOT for peace of mind and safety.
If there have been any substantial changes made to the vehicle in the last 30 years, it may be necessary to have an MOT, even if it is over 40 years old.
If you are in any doubt about its legality or its roadworthiness, you may be better off having it transported by a specialist vehicle transporter such as Hamiltons Removals.
Unusual Customs in English Counties
This article explores some of the more unusual customs and traditions found across different English counties—such as Kent’s Sweeps Festival, Hampshire’s Shick-Shack Day and Tichborne Dole, and Buckinghamshire’s ceremonial mayor-weighing. While these customs may surprise new residents, they add colour to the local culture and heritage.
The article, written by Hamiltons Removals, a national removal company, also includes links to their UK-wide removals services for homes and businesses.
This article is a three-minute read.
There are plenty of customs and traditions you may be expected to follow – or at least be aware of – should you ever decide to move overseas. However, there are plenty of unusual events across the UK too. Here, Hamiltons Removals, a national removal company based on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, share a few of them.
UK Removals with Hamiltons Removals
Hamiltons Removals can help with moves to all parts of the UK, including Scotland, Wales, and our home counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. For more information about our domestic removals service for homes and businesses, follow this link.
Kent
While many villages celebrate May Day with dancing around the maypole, in Kent, and particularly Rochester and Whitstable, it is young chimney sweeps who take centre stage. This is because, historically, they only got one day off a year – May 1 – and used to parade through the town to celebrate it. The practice of such youthful employment has long gone, but the parade (known as the Sweeps Festival, pictured) continues along with plenty of other musical events, particularly folk music.
And if you are considering removals to Kent, you should also be aware of the Biddenden Maids. This pair of conjoined twins (from the 12th century) bequeathed five plots of land to the Kent village, known as the Bread and Cheese Lands. The income from these lands was used to pay for an annual gift of food and drink to the poor every Easter, a tradition which continues to this day on Easter Monday, when tea, cheese, and bread are given to local widows and pensioners (non-locals have to pay for them).
Hampshire
Shick-shack day is marked throughout Hampshire on May 29, the birthdate of King Charles II. People used to wear oak leaves and leave them on door knockers to commemorate the time the monarch hid in an oak tree to escape detection by Oliver Cromwell’s forces in 1651 (although the tree itself was actually located in Shropshire).
In Hampshire day it’s known as shick-shack day to reflect the religious theme to the occasion; shick shack was a derogatory term form non-Conformists who weren’t members of the Church of England. In other parts of the UK the custom is known as Oak Apple Day. As well as wearing oak leaves, there are parades, fetes and visits to local pubs.
And for those thinking of removals to the Hampshire village of Tichborne, there is a gift-giving ceremony there too. The Tichborne Dole involves handing out donations of flour, which have been blessed by the local parish priest, from the front of Tichborne House. The tradition dates back to the 12th century (c. 1150) when it was started by Lady Mabella Tichborne who, on her death bed, instructed that a donation of farm produce be made to the poor each year.
The Dole stipulates that adults from the parishes of Tichborne and Cheriton are entitled to claim one gallon of flour, and children half a gallon each.
Buckinghamshire
Most places in the UK mark the election of a new mayor, but probably none in the same way as the people of High Wycombe. Here, the people of this Buckinghamshire town watch as the mayor and other councillors, and sometimes the MP and other civic representatives – are ceremonially weighed at the start and finish of their term in office (usually in May).
If they are heavier at the end, it’s the cue for jeering and booing on the basis that they have been enjoying themselves too much at the taxpayers’ expense. If they have lost weight, they are applauded. It is believed to date back to a mayor in the 17th century who had a reputation for drunken misbehaviour.
And Palm Sunday is known as Fig Sunday in Buckinghamshire and some other counties. In the past willow catkins adorned houses and were worn as buttonholes for churchgoing. In addition, figs (and sometimes a local recipe for fig pudding) were eaten on the day. Some of these traditions still persist.
All this information should come in useful if you are interested in removals to Buckinghamshire.
Hamiltons Removals – a National Removal Company
Whether you are interested in removals to Kent, Hampshire or Buckinghamshire, Hamiltons Removals can help (and we help people move to international destinations too). You can call us on 01379 855203 if you have any questions or start the moving process by opting for one of our video surveys.
Image: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/OATHON
FAQs
What is the general process for a Hamiltons Removals move within the UK?
After the initial survey (which can be done online), our sales office will arrange a surveyor’s site visit for a more comprehensive quotation based upon your individual requirements.
If you opt to use our packing service, our packing team will arrive the day before the removal team and will prepare and pack all your possessions to ensure trouble-free transport to your destination.
Which UK destinations can Hamiltons Removals help you move to?
Hamiltons offer domestic and commercial removals packages to all villages, towns and cities in the UK – whether that’s the major metropolises of Birmingham, London or Manchester, or the towns of High Wycombe or Rochester, or the villages of Biddenden or Tichborne.
What other services do Hamiltons Removals offer apart from the basic moving package?
We can help with specialist moves which may involve vehicles (including classic cars) and machinery, animals, or valuable antiques. If you need any items put into storage then we have two Safe’n’Stored sites at Harleston and Aldeby. We also offer insurance packages and packing and unpacking services.
And if your move is likely to be complex, or involves a lot of valuable items, then we have high-end removals specialists as well.