Brands Hatch Getting There

With most people having satnav, there’s little to be gained from various detailed directions. It is the final few miles where a little advise can be an aid to confidence.

There are two main routes to Brands Hatch, both starting on the A20. The first, from the north, is at the A20 / M25 Junction 3 / M20 Junction 1 Interchange. The other, from the south, starting from Junction 3 M26.

Important Notes for Competitors
Use of the entrances can get confusing, as Scratchers Lane and the hotel entrances either can or cannot be used depending on the day. A basic assumption is that, if there are likely to be spectators, the hotel entrance is out of bounds and Scratchers Lane is to be used.

Scratchers Lane
The paddock entrance, via Scratchers Lane, should be used on race weekends but not the test day before, as it will then be unlikely to be open. Instead, use the main entrance via the hotel. A general rule is Weekends Only.

Hotel Entrance
During the race weekend itself where spectators are to be protected, this entrance is likely to see entrants turned away. Instead, use the entrance via Scratchers Lane. A general rule is Weekdays Only.

From the North: A20, at the M25 Junction 3 / M20 Junction 1 Interchange

North to the Paddock via Scratchers Lane

3.9 miles, around 6 minutes

  1. Exit the roundabout onto the A20.
  2. After 0.2 miles, at the roundabout, go straight on (second exit). Keep on the A20.
  3. After 1.1 miles, at the roundabout, go straight on (second exit). Keep on the A20.
  4. After 1.6 miles, turn left into Scratchers Lane (signposted Fawkham / Longfield).
  5. After 0.9 miles, turn right into a yard of industrial units. This is opposite the junction for Three Gates Road.
  6. Turn immediate left so that you are heading downhill, parallel to Scratchers Lane.
  7. The entrance to the paddock is ahead. The entrance is usually by turning right and into the paddock. At some meetings, instead, drivers will be guided straight on, bringing them into a lower area of the paddock.

Photographic Guide

4a.
Scratchers Lane is opposite the exit of a layby.
4b.
Scratchers Lane is opposite the speed camera. The lane is narrow, but not too bad.
5.
Opposite the junction for Three Gates Road is the entrance.
6.
The entrance. On pulling in, turn immediate left.
7.
For paddock entry, marshals will either guide you straight on through this gate, or guide you to the right.

North to the Paddock via Hotel Entrance

3.9 miles, around 6 minutes

  1. Exit the roundabout onto the A20.
  2. After 0.2 miles, at the roundabout, go straight on (second exit). Keep on the A20.
  3. After 1.1 miles, at the roundabout, go straight on (second exit). Keep on the A20.
  4. After 2.3 miles, at the traffic lights, turn left into Brands Hatch.
  5. Having turned in, the hotel is on the left.
  6. After 0.1 mile, are the entry pay booths.
  7. Continue straight on, passing the start / finish straight on the right. You will pass, on the right, a grandstand, various shops and another grandstand.
  8. Across from the grandstand is the Kentagon restaurant. At that grandstand, continue through the next access, then turn right and head down the steep hill, where you will see the entrance to the paddock.

Photographic Guide

4a.
Just before the hotel turn off, there is a spectator car park on the left.
4b.
The Brands Hatch welcome post can just be seen, ahead and to the left, at the traffic lights.
4c.
Turn in at the slip road and be ready to give way to traffic to your right.
6a.
The pay booths are ahead. Traffic on the left, pedestrians on the right.
6b.
To the left of the pay booths is a road leading to yellow and grey car parks, along with a camp site.
6c.
This is the other side of the pedestrian pay booths. The road ahead leads to the outer paddock, via shops, grandstands and the start/finish straight.
7a.
Pass this first grandstand and continue to the shops.
7b.
The shops, with paddock access in the distance.
8a.
Having gone through the access gate, turn right and head down this hill to enter the paddock proper.
8b.
The paddock is beyond the entrance, ahead.

From the South: A20, at the M26 Junction 3 / M20 Junction 2A

South to the Paddock via Scratchers Lane

6.0 miles, around 10 minutes

  1. Exit the roundabout onto the A20.
  2. After 0.8 miles, at the roundabout go straight on (third exit). Keep on the A20.
  3. Crossing under the M20 motorway, at the roundabout, take the first exit. Keep on the A20.
  4. After 0.9 miles, at the roundabout go straight on (second exit). Keep on the A20.
  5. After 4.1 miles, turn right into Scratchers Lane (signposted Fawkham / Longfield).There is a layby opposite the junction. You may not be able to see the signpost clearly as there is a speed camera in the way.
  6. After 0.9 miles, turn right into a yard of industrial units. This is opposite the junction for Three Gates Road.
  7. Turn immediate left so that you are heading downhill, parallel to Scratchers Lane. The entrance to the paddock is ahead. The entrance to the paddock is ahead. The entrance is usually by turning right and into the paddock. At some meetings, instead, drivers will be guided straight on, bringing them into a lower area of the paddock.

Photographic Guide

5a.
The turn off to Scratchers Lane is at the exit of this layby, to the right.
5b.
The turn off to Scratchers Lane is opposite the speed camera.
5c.
Scratchers Lane is opposite the speed camera. The lane is narrow, but not too bad.
6a.
Opposite the junction for Three Gates Road is the entrance.
6b.
The entrance. On pulling in, turn immediate left.
7.
For paddock entry, marshals will either guide you straight on through this gate, or guide you to the right.

South to the Paddock via Hotel Entrance

6.0 miles, around 10 minutes

  1. Exit the roundabout onto the A20.
  2. After 0.8 miles, at the roundabout go straight on (third exit). Keep on the A20.
  3. Crossing under the M20 motorway, at the roundabout, take the first exit. Keep on the A20.
  4. After 0.9 miles, at the roundabout go straight on (second exit). Keep on the A20.
  5. After 3.5 miles, at the traffic lights, turn right into Brands Hatch.
  6. Having turned in, the hotel is on the left.
  7. After 0.1 mile, are the entry pay booths.
  8. Continue straight on, passing the start / finish straight on the right. You will pass, on the right, a grandstand, various shops and another grandstand.
  9. Across from the grandstand is the Kentagon restaurant. At that grandstand, continue through the next access, then turn right and head down the steep hill, where you will see the entrance to the paddock.

Photographic Guide

5a.
The Brands Hatch welcome post is ahead, on the right, at the traffic lights.
5b.
Turn right at the traffic lights.
7a.
The pay booths are ahead. Traffic on the left, pedestrians on the right.
7b.
To the left of the pay booths is a road leading to yellow and grey car parks, along with a camp site.
7c.
This is the other side of the pedestrian pay booths. The road ahead leads to the outer paddock, via shops, grandstands and the start/finish straight.
8a.
Pass this first grandstand and continue to the shops.
8b.
The shops, with paddock access in the distance.
9a.
Having gone through the access gate, turn right and head down this hill to enter the paddock proper.
9b.
The paddock is beyond the entrance, ahead.

Paddock Access

Via Scatchers Lane

  1. From Scratchers Lane, into the yard of industrial units that is opposite the junction for Three Gates Road.
  2. Turn immediate left so that you are heading downhill, parallel to Scratchers Lane.
  3. The entrance to the paddock is ahead.

Via the A20

  1. From the A20, at the traffic lights, turn into Brands Hatch.Having turned in, the hotel is on the left.
  2. After 0.1 mile are the entry pay booths.
  3. Continue straight on passing the start / finish straight on the right. You will pass, on the right, a grandstand, various shops and another grandstand.
  4. Across from the grandstand is the Kentagon restaurant. At that grandstand, turn right and head down the steep hill, where you will see the entrance to the paddock.

SatNav

Entering a post code into my satnav usually gets me there, but not always, so I also include GPS coordinates with this guide. What3Words are also an increasingly useful addition. I also provide coordinates and What3Words for a position within the paddock; this could be useful as a meeting point for guests.

I try to find a w3w location with at least one word that is related to motor racing; I also try to find short words or a humorous sentence. From the paddock coordinates, can you work out how the 1994 F1 champion despatched his rival?

Coordinates

Coordinates are given in the three formats:

  • DMS: Degrees, Minutes, and Seconds
  • DD: Decimal degrees
  • What3Words

Circuit Paddock Entrance Coordinates

  • DMS:                  51°21’46.08″, 0°15’51.48″
  • DD:                     51.3628, 0.2643
  • What3words:  ///pools.garden.civic

Circuit Hotel Entrance Coordinates

  • DMS:                 51°21’30.6″,0°15’10.44″
  • DD:                    51.3585, 0.2529
  • What3words: ///crash.scary.starts

Paddock Meeting Place Coordinates

  • DMS:                  51°21’38.88″, 0°15’56.88″
  • DD:                     51.3608, 0.2658
  • What3words:  ///slug.rival.hill

Page updated by Peter Tattersall, April 2023