New adventure attraction set to open will be ‘first of its kind’ in the UK – Top Gear fans will love it
IT’S good news for Top Gear fans as a first of its kind automotive resort is set to open in the UK.
Plans are being developed to transform a derelict hangar space into a new e-karting facility in Bicester.
Bicester Motion has submitted plans to Cherwell District Council to build a new karting track in Oxfordshire, which they’ve said will be “first automotive resort” in the UK.
The new, unnamed, attraction hopes to extend over two levels, complete with a mezzanine viewing area with a bowling zone, workshop and viewing area for spectators.
A series of CGI pictures show what the new e-karting track could look like with a track incorporated across two levels using ramps.
There will also be 40 new car parking spaces on the site.
It is hoped that the new attraction will be housed inside Hangar 137 – a heritage site on Buckingham Road in Bicester.
According to the application, TeamSport has been acquired as the tenant who will transform the hangar space into the family-friendly leisure facility.
The plans will reviewed by the council at a later date.
Hangar 137 was purchased back in 2013 by Bicester Heritage, who aim to repair and re-use redundant buildings on the former RAF site.
A statement on the application reads: “The heritage led business model of Bicester Motion seeks to promote leisure, tourism and business initiatives in a way that sustains what is special about the RAF Bicester airbase.
“This in turn creates something new, innovative, and inspiring, as the next chapter in the site’s history, and is supported by local planning policies.”
A total of 40 new parking spaces are proposed as part of the application which is less than the maximum parking provision of 116 accorded under Oxfordshire County Council Parking Standards as “this level of parking would be considered excessive in light of anticipated travel demand”.
The new attraction will be a 45-minute drive from Jeremy Clarkson‘s Diddly Squat Farm Shop, making it even more exciting for fans of Top Gear.
Diddly Squat Farm is the setting for Jeremy Clarkson’s TV show, Clarkson’s Farm, starring Clarkson and his farmhand Kaleb.
The shop at the Cotswold-based farm first opened in 2020, with the Amazon Prime television show airing one year later.
Items sold at the farm shop include jars of honey with Clarkson’s face on the label, bottles of lager and clothing.
There’s also a cafe on site serving dishes like hamburgers, with table seating available inside the lambing barn.
Diddly Squat Farm Shop is open from Wednesday to Sunday between 9:30am and 4:30pm.
The farm shop has been praised by visitors on TripAdvisor, with one person writing: “A must-see if you watch the TV show.”
Bicester is a 90-minute drive from London, and it is also accessible via a direct train from London Marylebone.
Other driving attractions in the UK
UNTIL the automotive resort in Bicester opens to the public, there are plenty of other places where UK holidaymaker can satisfy their need for speed.
- Earlier this year, F1 Drive opened in underneath the South Stand at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Inside there are three different tracks inspired by real F1 Circuits from around the world. Guests can book 1-1 sessions, as well as group sessions, to improve their driving skills.
- Chaos Karts opened in Manchester last year, combining standard go-karting tracks with all the fun elements of games like Mario Kart.
- Last year, the Ferrari Build and Race attraction opened at Legoland Windsor. There are three interactive zones – Build and Race, Ferrari LEGO model, and a DUPLO® build zone.
Meanwhile, this other Eden project is also set to open in Dundee.
And we’ve rounded up the five best technology-free adventure parks in the UK.