Goodwood House Motor Racing Festival of Speed Golf Sculpture Park Goodwood UK

Goodwood Festival of Speed & Motor Sport at Goodwood

Motor racing arrived at Goodwood in 1936, introduced by the 9th Duke of Richmond who followed his first private hillclimb with the construction of the Goodwood Motor Circuit in 1948. The first Festival of Speed at Goodwood was held in 1993 and since then has evolved into one of motor sport's top events, affectionately described today as motor racing's equivalent of Ascot or Wimbledon. The Festival of Speed is a true celebration of the history of motorsport and during the event in Mid-July annually you can expect to see a huge range of historic racing cars and motorcycles alongside the very latest Formula 1 machines.

Alongside motor racing events and getting up close to the world's greatest racers, numerous exhibitions and rallies are held within the grounds of the Goodwood estate during the motor sport festivals. Interactive enterainment includes driving simulators, 4x4 driving and the Junior Festival of Speed amusements alongside the Cricket Pitch perfect for kids between 2 and 12 years. Here they'll meet all the Wacky Races characters with opportunities for BMX and Skateboard fun.

A big attraction during the festival is always the Hillclimb which runs through the Festival of Speed weekend on the 1.16 mile parklands road course. The course commences at the gate lodge to the south of the park. Racing cars and bikes range from historic cars of the great racing era including F1, Le Mans, MASCAR, Indy and Touring Cars to the best of current F1 teams and an outstanding selection of racing motorcycles. The earliest cars racing are pre-1914 pioneer racers. A detailed map of the Hillclimb is on the Goodwood Motorsport webguide. Many famous names of the racing world are involved and the Hillclimb really is an opportunity to see your favourite rider up-close. Other Festival of Speed highlights include the the FoS-Tech pavilion where the latest technology in motoring is on display and the Cartier 'Style et luxe' concours d'elegance which showcases the very latest in the world's most beautifully designed cars.

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Goodwood Revival

As well as the July Goodwood Festival of Speed, later in the year in September the Goodwood Revival kicks off. The focus during this festival is motorsport during the 1950s and 1960s. This is your ultimate vintage motorsport festival, a window into the glamour motor racing heyday, and what better place to hold it than Goodwood with its largely untouched race track since it was first raced in 1948. The Goodwood Revival attracts huge crowds and offers a mix of vintage racing, numerous vintage cars and motorcycles on show as well as aircraft and plenty of entertainment with an emphasis on glamour. The Goodwood Revival captures the spirit of the post-war period too, with a host of entertainment within the grounds including bands playing 1950s music, a historic fairground and many visitors tend to dress up in the fashions of the 1950s and 60s. For details on forthcoming festivals at Goodwood see the estate's comprehensive webguide.

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Goodwood House & George Stubbs

Standing splendid in the South Downs, Goodwood House is a stunning quintessentially English country house which began life as a Jacobean house but was considerably developed through the 18th century incorporating classic and Palladian styles, then later from the 1800s with additional Regency Apartments. Architecturally Goodwood is wonderfully unique. Acclaimed for its outstanding art collection, inclusive of both British and European art and featuring the great George Stubbs and others such as Canaletto, Goodwood is adorned with both French and English furniture of the finest quality. A visit to Goodwood House is a journey through numerous styles and themes including Regency (note the great Regency State Apartments built by the 3rd Duke of Richmond and designed by James Wyatt) as well as Edwardian architectural and decorative styles and the history of horse racing and cricket. Acquisitions from France and Scotland have been numerous through Goodwood House's history. The first English commission paintings of Canaletto depicting London scenes are here at Goodwood as are fireplaces and chairs designed by William Kent.

The first class painting collection includes many portraits of the family or related royals. Fans of the Stuart period will marvel at the work by Van Dyck and Lely (his famous 'Henrietta, Duchess of Orleans' is here at Goodwood) and the painting 'Horse Racing on the Downs at Goodwood' by the acclaimed animal painter George Stubbs is a highlight. Stubbs studied the anatomy of horses and the animals he painted, capturing the accuracy of their movement in a revolutionary naturalistic way. He is considered by many an art critic as a revolutionary painter. Portraits by Joshua Reynolds and Romney as well as work by John and George Smith of Chichester also feature.

Goodwood House, Goodwood, Chichester, West Sussex PO18 0PX. Tel. 01243 755040 for recorded information prior to visit. Open from 1pm to 5pm on most Sundays and Mondays from March end to the beginning of October, and during August for 4 or 5 days during the week. Guided tours are available on some days. For detailed opening times which do vary see the Goodwood House webguide right.

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Cass Sculpture Foundation

The Sculpture Estate at Goodwood is open to the public with over 70 specially commissioned ever changing sculptures on display all set within 26 acres of the beautiful South Downs landscape of Goodwood. All the sculptures are available to purchase. Sculptures are large scale and many famous sculpture names have and are exhibited here including Andy Goldsworthy, Anish Kapoor, Elizabeth Frink and Antony Gormley amongst others.

Two hours is recommended by the Foundation for any visit and the Sculpture Park remains open into November, Tuesdays to Sundays and Bank Holiday Monday from 10.30am to 5pm, last entry 4.30pm. For current sculptures on display see the Sculpture Estate's webguide.

Cass Sculpture Foundation, Goodwood, nr. Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 0QP. Tel. 01243 538449.

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Golf at Goodwood & Goodwood Flying School

Goodwood's sporting facilities are extensive, with both golf and flying training available on the estate. Golf came to Goodwood in 2006. The Downs Golf Course here is already in the World's Top 100 golf course list and also on-site is a second Park Course. Together the courses offer 36 holes of unbeatable golf and Goodwood Golf has a rather modern membership system using a credit system with a pay when you play emphasis rather than high joining fees. Golf is increasingly becoming more accessible and Goodwood is at the forefront of this drive!

View the Goodwood Golf webguide for an extensive guide through each of the holes on both the Downland and Park Course. Tel. 01243 755144 for golf membership enquiries. A pro-shop is also on-site.

Aviation and flying training has long been established at Goodwood since early 1940. During the Second World War Goodwood Aerodrome was known as RAF Westhampnett. A number of high profile sorties flew into combat from here which included Douglas Bader on his last wartime flight. Today the Goodwood Aero Club are on-site and a choice of flying training courses are available. The club stages very popular Vintage Fly-in events and Air Displays in summer giving visitors the opportunity to get up-close and see vintage aircraft in action. Details of courses and flying events are via the Goodwood Estate's webguide. Vintage Aircraft are a major feature of the September Goodwood Revival Event.

Chichester/Goodwood Aerodrome, Goodwood, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 0PH. Tel. 01243 755061.

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