London to Brighton Veteran Car Run

The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, officially known as the RM Sotheby's LBVCR, is set to return to the coast this year on Sunday, November 1, 2026. This event is recognized as the world's oldest motoring event, and it’s much more than just a rally; it’s a moving piece of history. The run commemorates the famous Emancipation Run from November 1896, celebrating the moment the restrictive Red Flag Act was abolished, allowing these early vehicles to travel without being preceded by a person waving a red flag. The Royal Automobile Club organizes this annual 60-mile journey, which sees nearly 350 pioneer veteran cars make the trip from London down to our seafront.

The journey itself is a spectacle. The cars set off from Hyde Park in London, specifically Constitution Hill and The Mall, with the main start time scheduled around 7:00 AM, though some early birds leave closer to 6:00 AM. The route covers approximately 60 miles. Initially, the drivers follow the A23 or the old A23 down to Crawley, where they take an official coffee stop—usually reached about an hour and forty minutes after the start. After Crawley, the route gets a bit more scenic, utilizing secondary roads like the B2114, B2115, B2036, and A273, before rejoining the A23 near Pyecome for the final approach into Brighton.

For spectators, the best part is that the entire event is free to watch, whether you catch the cars passing through the villages or wait for the grand finale here in Brighton. The finish line is set up on Madeira Drive. The first veteran cars usually begin arriving around 10:00 AM, and the stream of vehicles continues steadily until the registration closes, typically around 4:30 PM (sometimes extending to 5:00 PM). It’s worth noting that due to local traffic management, all participating cars are required to use the one-way system in Brighton, which is a change from previous years. This annual event brings hundreds of these unique vehicles and their intrepid drivers and passengers to our city, making it a unique day out for anyone interested in motoring history.