Stay at Silverstone? My short break in the fast lane at Formula 1's famous racing circuit
Once a close friend of King Henry II, he ended up on a very different path - standing firmly for the Church and refusing to bow to royal pressure.
Their fallout turned deadly when Henry supposedly cried out: "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?"
Four knights took that literally and Becket was killed.
Just three years later, he was made a saint and a small chapel was built for him, tucked into the greenery of Northamptonshire.
The site would go on to become the heart of British motorsport, Silverstone Circuit, and one of its most iconic corners was named in his honour: Becketts Corner and Chapel Curve.
Overlooking that spot is Escapade Silverstone - a sleek modern retreat for racing fans, wellness seekers, and anyone curious about what it's like to fall asleep beside a Grand Prix circuit.
Doors to the luxury property opened in March - in the year the British Grand Prix celebrates its 75th anniversary.
Here, as I discover on a weekend break, you're not just near the track - you're on it.
Escapade's 60 residences line up alongside some of Silverstone's most exciting sections. The development includes 184 bedrooms, spread across a mix of trackside, countryside, and dual-aspect properties.
Each residence comes with a private terrace, EV charging point, and flexible living arrangements that can be adapted depending on party size. From your balcony, you can watch cars scream past - or, if you're on the quieter side like me, enjoy the stillness of the forest.
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The dual-aspect residences give you the best of both worlds - track views from one side and expansive countryside vistas from the other.
Residences range from one to four bedrooms, with contemporary interiors using warm timber, metalwork, and rich fabrics. There's a focus on comfort without compromising on motorsport character. If you're in prime position, you can draw the curtains in the morning and see a GT3 Cup car tearing through the corners.
Main restaurant, The Gallery, doubles as an art space, with pieces curated by Renata Fernandes, including works by former F1 driver Stefan Johansson.
One piece that stops you in your tracks is a glittering, jewel-encrusted helmet donated by the family of Brazilian racing legend Ayrton Senna. No one at Escapade brags about price tags - it's not that kind of place - but a staff member, half-embarrassed, let slip it's worth close to six figures.
Art is a key part of the Escapade experience. There's a rotating programme of exhibits across the site, including original paintings, sculptures, photography, and digital works inspired by speed and racing. Many of the artists showcased are motorsport-connected.
Escapade doesn't just lean into the racing theme - it lives it. There's a buzz to the whole place: movement, design, speed, stories.
"That'd make a good morning run," jokes one of my party, commenting on the track's neat 5K distance. At dawn the next day - before the engines fire up - we have the chance to run it. I clock it in 27 minutes. Not quite Lewis Hamilton's record breaking one minute 24 seconds, but in my defence, he had a car.
A post-run yoga session follows on a sunny deck - a welcome stretch after a late night at the bar. The morning wellness programme runs alongside more performance-focused treatments designed by Formula Health. Led by F1 osteopath Gemma Fisher, the sessions are based on techniques used to optimise driver performance - and now extended to guests.
The wellness offering is substantial. The gym is open 24/7 and looks directly onto the Silverstone circuit. The pool and sauna sit just above it, with floor-to-ceiling glass that brings the track into view while you recover. Treatments range from restorative therapies to high-performance conditioning.
After lunch, we are ushered into the pit lane. One by one, we climb into three monsters: a Ferrari F430, a McLaren 620R, and an Aston Martin Vantage. The twist? We are driving - with a pro in the passenger seat.
I'm paired with Toru Nakano, a calm and quietly confident former Japanese racer who's done everything from FJ1600 to British Formula Vauxhall. He talks me through the whole lap: when to brake, when to push, when to just trust the car.
It's hard to explain what it's like to drive a race car on the actual Silverstone circuit. The noise, the speed, the sheer focus it demands - it's like nothing else.
When I finally climb out, heart still thumping, I realised I'd barely noticed how fast we were going - until my legs remind me.
Escapade is open all year-round, not just on race weekends. Outside of Grand Prix season, the site hosts everything from private events and team training camps to wellness retreats and corporate stays.
The setting is designed to adapt - equally suited to high-octane activity or total downtime, with the flexibility to suit solo travellers, families, or large groups.
And it isn't just about the adrenaline. It's designed to feel like a home from home - one with front-row seats to motorsport history. The residences are self-contained and can be booked for anything from a private holiday to a race team base or corporate retreat.
The idea is to offer a new type of motorsport hospitality - one that's immersive, long-stay, and design-led. It also points to something bigger.
Motorsport fans are after more than just a ticket these days - they want to feel part of it. Here, you're within touching distance of the most powerful machines on Earth. You don't just hear the rumble - you feel it as they whizz by.
And somehow, all of this sits - appropriately - on land that once honoured a man who refused to bow to power.
Get there
Room only stays from £129/€150 per night. Call +44 01327 320 468 or visit escapade.silverstone.co.uk for more. This is a PA feature, and Joe Hadden's travel was hosted.
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