Formula 1 Exhibition
At a glance -
Access: ⭐⭐⭐
Booking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Transport/nearby facilities: ⭐⭐⭐
More in depth -
Access:
Access from the street was step-free, once inside there was a ramp to enter the exhibition
It was quite dark, which I think was for atmospheric purposes
There was an internal life, which posed an issue as the lift doors must be opened manually. Staff were not consistently present to assist for this specific purpose.
There was an audio guide used throughout, it was a handheld device with noise-cancelling headphones; some sensors require close proximity. Subtitles available on videos.
Booking:
Booked by Feverup, fairly simple process and booked a specific time slot
Experience:
Very informative and enjoyable, different aspects allow for it to be atmospheric e.g. music and lighting
Was busy at times, would recommend quieter hours recommended for easier movement and viewing.
Friendly staff, who seemed proactive within the exhibition, assisting without being patronising.
Transport/nearby facilities
Travelled via tube via the Elizabeth Lin from Tottenham Court Road to Custom House, which was step free.
Overnight stay in the Premier Inn London Dockland, which was a short walk from the Exhibition, takes less time going through the Excel building which is fully accessible
Anyone who knows me knows I’m a huge sports fan, and Formula 1 sits firmly near the top of my list. It’s funny, because as a child I rarely paid attention to it even though it was often on in the background. But one year something clicked, and since then I’ve been absolutely hooked, long before the global wave of new fans brought in by Drive to Survive.
I’ll happily admit I’m a Lewis Hamilton fan. We’re of a similar age, and watching him burst onto the scene as a rookie, nearly winning the championship in his first season and then securing the title in that unforgettable final lap in Brazil 2008, was extraordinary. I followed the drought years, the Red Bull dominance, the surprise Brawn GP season, and of course his subsequent six titles (yes, it should be seven). I’m still hoping for another, Ferrari permitting.
Despite my love for the sport, I’ve never managed to attend a live race. So when I heard that The Formula 1 Exhibition was opening at ExCeL London, I knew I had to go to see the cars in person, and naturally I took the chance to assess its accessibility along the way.
I travelled entirely by public transport, planning my journey with the TfL “Plan a Journey” app and selecting step-free routes. The ride on the Elizabeth Line was a joy, bright, spacious, and stylishly purple (my favourite colour). Most platforms offered level access, and my mobility scooter had no issues boarding or alighting.
I also timed my visit to coincide with quieter hours, which made navigating the carriages more comfortable. The wheelchair space was easy to access, and I had enough room to turn so I could face my preferred direction. I also appreciated the onboard display showing which side the doors would open, always a bonus for reducing anxiety when travelling with a mobility scooter.
At Custom House, I followed clear signage to the ExCeL, and from there to the exhibition itself. I had booked in advance through Fever, which provided details on bag size restrictions and when to arrive.
On arrival, the outdoor queue moved at a good pace, and soon my ticket was scanned straight from my phone. To the left of the entrance was a ramp, though it wasn’t very well lit and could have been more clearly marked. Once spotted, it worked fine, and I was directed to priority access inside. A staff member offered a photo opportunity, which I skipped.
My only genuine accessibility issue came next. I was shown to a lift with heavy manual door, the kind that require someone on the outside to open it. When the lift arrived at my level, there was no staff member around, so I had to wait for another guest to kindly open the door for me. They even met me at the top to open it again.
When leaving the exhibition, I managed to push the door open using my scooter, though the fact it was glass gave me pause. This is one area where accessibility could be meaningfully improved.
Once inside, I collected the audio guide, a handheld device with comfortable, noise-cancelling headphones. The device felt a little bulky at first, but I managed to hang it from the scooter handle, and from then on it was fine. You simply point it at sensors near each display to activate the audio. A few required close proximity, but generally they worked very well. All videos were subtitled.
The lighting throughout was deliberately dim, with spotlights highlighting the cars, trophies, and memorabilia. Combined with atmospheric sounds from the audio guide, it created an immersive, almost cinematic experience.
The exhibition is divided into themed sections, history, aerodynamics, strategy, driver profiles, and more. Seeing the real cars, iconic helmets (including Senna’s unmistakable yellow), components, and tyres up close was incredible. The size of the tyres alone made me appreciate the strength and skill of the pit-stop crews who handle them in under five seconds.
The videos were a treat too, historic races, interviews with drivers and team principals, and insights from often unseen heroes such as aerodynamicists and designers. I loved the inclusion of women in motorsport: Suzie Wolff and Bernie Collins both featured prominently.
The exhibition was popular the day I visited, but fellow guests were considerate, people stepped aside or stood behind me so I could see. Staff were friendly and attentive without being overbearing, occasionally guiding people to give me space to manoeuvre or view displays. It felt genuinely supportive rather than patronising. Although someone was missing from the lift I mentioned before.
I spent around three hours taking everything in, and it felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The circular layout returned me neatly to the starting point, where I exited down the same ramp.
I would highly recommend for F1 fans, it’s a treasure trove of history, engineering, and storytelling. And from an accessibility perspective, it’s very good overall, with the one significant drawback being the manually operated lift doors.
If the exhibition comes to a city near you, and especially if you’re a motorsport lover, it’s well worth the visit.
