Karting Somerset 6 prices and offers 2025

If you’ve always fantasised about motor racing, but the elitism, politics and sheer cost of most professional events puts you off, we have the thing for you. Karting is like Formula One - but stripped back to basics. What more do you need to enjoy racing than 4 wheels, a seat, and an engine? We know that it’s unnecessary to spend a fortune on a bit of fun! And you don’t have to travel at hundreds of miles an hour to experience great competition if all of the vehicles have the same top speed. Having said that, despite the fact that can be a fantastic activity for children, it’s also possible to find karts that pack a real punch, and can go so faster than the speed limits of most roads. Both family fun and high octane intensity are on offer in the Southwest county of Somerset.

This is a classic summer holiday destination, with seaside resorts strung along the Bristol Channel coast. Some people are content to spend all day at the beach, but if you’re like us, you need a bit of excitement on your vacation too. Various beach towns in the county have incorporated karting circuits into their seafront attractions, meaning that you can enjoy a race without leaving the sound of the sea behind. While these are mainly aimed at children and families, also has a track for serious petrol heads in the interior. We’ve put together this guide so that you can take pole position for a race here, whether you’re young or old, a repeat racer or a casual competitor.

Where are the best karting tracks in Somerset?

• Yeovil: The Haynes Motor Museum near Yeovil is home to the biggest collection of historic cars and motorbikes in the UK. Looking at the exhibits is enough to give anyone the desire to get behind the wheel and go for a spin, and luckily, you can do exactly that! The museum boasts an outdoor karting track that has 370 metres of corners, turns and straights. The circuit hosts all kinds of events, from practice and training sessions, to time trials to Formula One style Grand Prix competitions. To match the occasion, there are top quality karts on offer, including single and double seater models and even reduced size for juniors. Trophies and medals await the winners, whilst all competitors can check their progress with the help of a Tag Heuer Professional Timing System. This is the best racing venue in the Southwest!

• Weston-Super-Mare: Weston-Super-Mare became a favourite of holidaymakers in the Victorian era, and it continues to welcome hordes of tourists every summer. Alongside the classic seaside attractions of ice cream kiosks and volleyball courts, there's also an indoor karting track - set right on the pier. That’s right, you can go racing above the waters of the Bristol Channel here, and you don’t have to worry about pollution because the karts are fully electric! The 300 metre long track is set over multiple levels, so there are climbs and descents to navigate as well as tight corners, and there’s even a special circuit with mini karts for the youngest members of the family.

• Minehead: The town is the location of one of the iconic Butlin’s seaside holiday resorts. They’ve been entertaining their guests since the 1930s, so you can be sure that they know how to put a smile on everyone’s faces. Just one of their offerings in Minehead is a track that’s perfect for all the family. It’s the combination of challenging corners and colourful karts that makes it unique.

• Burnham-on-Sea: Another track where you can feel the seabreeze in your hair as you whizz around the hairpins is in Brean Theme Park, outside Burnham-on-Sea. It might not be as big as a full size race track, but your kids will feel like Lewis Hamilton when they get into the seat of a go-kart here. What’s more, it’s just a stone’s throw from the beach, which gives it a real Monte Carlo feel!

Requirements to do this activity

Somerset’s seaside karting facilities are a treat for every member of the family. Most of them have both single seater and double seater karts on offer, and it’s a child’s height - not their age - which determines if they can ride or not. To get behind the wheel of the single seater ones, they need to be at least 140 cm tall, but they can ride as a passenger as long as they are over 1 metre tall. That means that even 5 year olds can get in on the action!

The circuit in the centre, at Haynes Motor Museum, boasts powerful karts for big kids and grown ups, and safer options for youngsters. From the age of 12, and a minimum height of 152 cm, you can get your hands on a powerful BIZ Evo 2 200cc, which have a top speed of 40 miles per hour. But that’s not the most powerful option, because the twin seater models have 270cc engines. The cadet ones for juniors are suitable for kids from age 8 to 12, provided they measure over 120 cm in height, and they have 120cc engines.

What are the options for organising this experience?

This sport on the seafront of holiday towns can be enjoyed alongside other classic rides and attractions, and is usually organised in combination with them. Your session will be organised according to the length of time that you want to spend on the track. When the time’s up, the chequered flag will come down and you’ll be asked to head for the pits.

Grand Prix, endurance racing and sprints are the options to choose in the karting venue. Before competing, you can book practice sessions on the track that last just 10, 20 or 30 minutes. Super Sprints, in which up to 10 drivers can compete, include 10 minutes of qualifying, followed by a race of between 30 and 50 laps. A Grand Prix is similar but involves more competitors, and several races that narrow down the competition to the final 5 racers. These events last between 1 hour 45 minutes, and 2 hours 15 minutes. An Endurance Race is usually organised in teams, and lasts several hours.

Put your foot down and come, the racing cars are ready to take you on a thrill ride!