London to Brighton Veteran Car Run

London to Brighton Veteran Car Run

London to Brighton Veteran Car Run

London to Brighton Veteran Car Run

The Run takes place on the first Sunday of every November and commemorates the Emancipation Run of 14 November 1896 which celebrated the passing into law of the Locomotives on the Highway Act, which raised the speed limit for 'light locomotives' from 4 mph to 14 mph and abolished the requirement for these vehicles to be preceded by a man on foot. The early law required the man on foot to carry a red flag but that requirement was abolished in 1878. The Locomotive Act was still widely known as the 'Red Flag Act' and a red flag was symbolically destroyed at the start of the Emancipation Run as it is today just before the start in Hyde Park.

This year the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, sponsored by Bonhams, is celebrating the 118th anniversary of the very first Run. Today, it represents a rare opportunity for participants to take their extraordinary automobiles on this historic 60-mile journey from Hyde Park in central London to the seafront in the Sussex resort of Brighton.

The Bonhams Veteran Car Run is free to view all the way along the route. Public are unable to gain access to the paddocks in Hyde Park, Crawley and Madeira Drive due to safety reasons, but the cars can still be admired from the sidelines. The Run takes place from 6.56am (sunrise) to 4.30pm.

Popular Viewing Locations

London – Hyde Park Corner
London – Westminster Bridge
Croydon, South London – South End
Redhill, Surrey – A23 Brighton Road
Crawley, West Sussex – Honda dealership, A2219 London Road
Staplefield, West Sussex – B2114 Cuckfield Road
Cuckfield, West Sussex – B2036 High Street/South Street
Burgess Hill, West Sussex – B2036 London Road
Brighton, East Sussex – Preston Park, A23 Preston Road
Brighton, East Sussex – Madeira Drive
Official Paddocks

London: Hyde Park
Official Start
6.56am – 8.45am
500 veteran cars congregate from 6.00am in Hyde Park ready to start the 60 mile journey from London to Brighton.

The Harrods Stop at Crawley
8.15am – 1.45pm
New to 2020, the Crawley stop has moved from the High Street to the Honda dealership five minutes walk north on the A2219 London Road. It is mandatory for all veteran cars to stop in Crawley so it is a great opportunity for the public to view the cars at close quarters in the dedicated public viewing area.

Brighton: Preston Park
The Official Finish
10.01am – 4.15pm
Preston Park is the final checkpoint and official finish for the veteran cars. After this point the cars travel to Madeira Drive.

Brighton: Madeira Drive
The Ceremonial Finish
10.01am – 4.30pm
Madeira Drive is the final stop and ceremonial finish line for the veteran cars. The cars begin to arrive at 10.01 with the slower cars arriving as late as 4.30pm.