Hampton Court Palace Concours of Elegance 2018 takes place this weekend from Friday 31st August to Sunday 2nd September.

Hailed as the biggest and best Concours of Elegance yet, the 2018 event sees the introduction of a new range of features.

For 2018 new classes have been added to the concours roster, and the event promises to be a luxury experience to remember. As well as the core event, there will be a range of other classic car displays with over 1000 vehicles housed within the grounds of the palace for visitors to enjoy.

The core of the event is the display of some 60 of the worlds most exquisite cars within the Fountain Garden.

Cars in this event range from an ex Stirling Moss Maserati 300S to the one of a kind $4,500,000 Ferrari 166M/212 ‘Uovo’.

Other notable entrants also include a 1938 Bentley 4 ¼ Litre Sports Cabriolet by Erdman & Rossi, 1931 Bugatti Type 54, 1937 Aston Martin 15/98 Long Chassis Tourer, 1962, Ferrari 250 SWB Berlinetta and 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 S. More modern entrants to the concours include the legendary 1983 Ferrari 288 GTO, 1992 Jaguar XJ 220 Coupé, 1997 McLaren F1 GTR Long Tail 1998 Mercedes Benz CLK GTR LM. The youngest entrant to the concours is the 2018 Ferrari GTC4 Lusso ‘Tailor Made’ Aranci Rik. (You can find an up to date list of entrants here, however this is subject to change)

There will also be displays from classic car specialists and luxury retailers. The palace itself has a rich history, having once been home to King Henry VIII. A 500th birthday celebration was held for the palace in 2015, meaning it outdates some of the oldest cars on show by a significant margin!

10 reasons to visit Hampton Court Palace Concours of Elegance 2018:

1. The finest cars in the world

Around 60 cars will gather in the event’s Main Concours. These will tell the story of the motor car from start to finish, through the rarest and most exquisite vehicles. Starting with pioneers like the Panhard et Levassor 15hp, the Concours travels through to rarities like the race-winning Aston Martin DB3S and gorgeous Bizzarrini GT Strada 5300, and finishes with recent performance icons like the McLaren F1 GTR ‘Long Tail’ and Mercedes CLK LM.

2. The new Future Classics feature

This all-new line-up is a showcase of the Concours stars of the future, crowned by the Rolls-Royce Sweptail – the first fully in-house designed and coachbuilt Rolls-Royce in half a century.

The Sweptail is joined by the one-of-26 Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Speedster, McLaren Senna chassis number one and the one-of-seven Aston Martin V12 Vantage V600.

3. The world’s fastest four-doors in Harry’s Garage

The supersaloon showcase has been curated by Harry Metcalfe, founder of the Harry’s Garage YouTube channel and evo Magazine. This celebration of the saloon car includes only the fastest and most iconic four-door cars ever made.

In this display you’ll find the 200mph Jaguar XE SV Project 8 and the 205mph Aston Martin Rapide AMR, as well as past masters like the Lotus Carlton and the Mercedes AMG Hammer – the first saloon car to ever hit 186mph.

4. A collection of the finest Ferraris ever built

Visitors to the Concours of Elegance can see six of the most incredible Ferraris ever created, including the unique 166MM/ 212 Export ‘Uovo’. This absolute one-off was designed as the ultimate sports racing car of its day, with a lightweight and aerodynamic design inspired by its designer’s aeronautical training.

Joining the ‘Uovo’ is the last ever four-cylinder Ferrari built – the 500 TRC by Scaglietti – and a one-of-fourteen Ferrari 365 California Spyder.

5. The classics you could drive away in

Eight of the UK’s most prestigious classic and performance car specialists will be showcasing some of their latest and greatest stock at the Concours of Elegance.

Exhibiting this year are Nicholas Mee, Fiskens, Duncan Hamilton ROFGO, Frank Dale & Stepsons, Thornley Kelham, Classic Motor Cars, Bell Classics and Tom Hartley.

6. The Aston Martin DB4 Celebration

The Concours of Elegance will this year host a celebration of 60 years since the iconic Aston Martin DB4 was introduced. Assembled by the Aston Martin Owners Club, the line-up will include a DB4 prototype, an example of DB4 Series 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 plus an original DB4 GT, DB4 GT Zagato and DB4 Bertone Jet. The newly launched DB4 GT Continuation will also form part of the display.

7. The Club Trophy

The winners of some of the UK’s most prestigious Concours events will gather in Hampton Court Palace for the ‘best-of-the-best’ Club Trophy. These include Lamborghini Owners’ Club, the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club and the Bentley Drivers’ Club.

Run by the Royal Automobile Club and judged by a panel of experts led by HRH Prince Michael of Kent, the Club Trophy will go on to appear in the Main Concours event at Concours of Elegance in 2019.

8. Some of the finest timepieces in the world

The Concours of Elegance this year will be hosting a display of some of the finest timepieces of A. Lange & Söhne. The watches are endowed exclusively with proprietary movements, lavishly decorated and assembled by hand. Each year only a few thousand timepieces are crafted. Shown to the public for the very first time at the Concours of Elegance is the A. Lange & Söhne 1815 TOURBILLON, finished in platinum and limited to just 100 units.

9. Luxury Experiences

From the luxury three-course picnics offered by Tom’s Kitchen to the Champagne Taittinger bar and complimentary wet shaves from London’s oldest barber, Truefitt & Hill, the Concours of Elegance offers a huge array of luxury experiences. Guests can browse the incredible pieces on display from Augustine Jewels, art from Collier Dobson or fine scotch whisky from John Dewar & Sons.

10. Nearly a thousand incredible cars

As well as displays from the event’s Jaguar Trophy, Bentley Trophy, Octane Tour and Car Clubs, the Concours of Elegance is expecting nearly 1,000 of the most incredible classic and performance cars to gather in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace over the three days of the event.

Tickets to the Concours of Elegance can be bought in advance or on the door, with full day adult admission at £40