A dazzling display of over 130 cars and displays will take over London’s Pall Mall on Saturday 1 November, as the St James’s Motoring Spectacle returns.
Organised by the Royal Automobile Club with the permission of Westminster City Council, the spectacular and educational event serves as the perfect curtain-raiser to the following day’s RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. Best of all, entry is completely free, offering a one-of-a-kind experience for car enthusiasts and families.
With so much for all-comers to enjoy, last year’s debut event attracted close to 10,000 admirers. Building on that triumph, this year’s showcase promises to be even bigger and better.
“The St James’s Motoring Spectacle is designed to celebrate every aspect of motoring – from its origins to its exciting future,” explained Duncan Wiltshire, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club. “We’re thrilled to offer the public such an accessible and inspiring experience, right in the heart of London.”
The St James’s Concours, showcasing more than 60 unique pre-1905 pioneering vehicles. All of these historic machines – along with hundreds more – will set off for Brighton at dawn the next day. Visitors can get closer than ever to the exhibits, meet owners, many dressed in period motoring attire, and capture memorable photos of these treasures.
The Concours, however, is just one of six themed zones that will transform Pall Mall, closed to through traffic for the duration of the show.
The second focuses on education and career opportunities within the automotive and motorsport industries, designed to inspire younger visitors to imagine building the cars of the future and preserving the iconic cars of the past.
The third offers a curated display of veteran, vintage, and classic cars available for private treaty purchase through RM Sotheby’s. Later that afternoon, just a short walk away at Hyde Park Corner, the annual RM Sotheby’s London Sale will take place at the Peninsula Hotel, where important cars frequently change hands and sometimes achieve record-breaking values.
Another highlight is the fourth zone, which brings bicycles and motorcycles into the mix. With London now one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world, the display feels especially fitting and will range from veteran bicycles and early motorcycles right up to the latest electric bikes.
Meanwhile, the fifth zone marks a milestone in motorsport history: the 75th anniversary of the Formula 1 World Championship. On show will be Formula 1 cars, plus the Royal Automobile Club’s golden British Grand Prix Trophy as presented to Lando Norris on the Silverstone podium just a few months ago.
Finally, the sixth zone close to St James’s Palace delivers a suitably dramatic finale with an extraordinary display of the latest hypercars in all their high-tech glory. While few will ever own such machines, this will be a rare chance to stand alongside them and dream.
With history, innovation and wonder at every turn, the St James’s Motoring Spectacle promises a day out like no other: safe, family-friendly, and entirely free. For many, it is set to be the perfect London Saturday.
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