The French city of Le Mans holds a legendary place in the hearts of motorsport enthusiasts – a true pilgrimage site for fans of racing history. Immortalised on the silver screen in classics like Le Mans (1971) starring Steve McQueen, the spirit of the circuit lives on not only through modern races but in the evocative celebration that is Le Mans Classic.
Every two years, thousands descend upon the Sarthe region to witness one of the world’s most iconic historic motorsport events. From pre-war Bentleys to the thundering Group C machines of the 1980s, Le Mans Classic brings the past roaring back to life – with over 700 cars racing and more than 8,000 classic vehicles displayed around the circuit. And in exciting news for fans, Le Mans Classic will become an annual event from 2026, giving even more people the chance to experience this unique celebration of motoring heritage.
Le Mans Classic is a bucket list event not just for fans but also for drivers – attracting a mix of motorsport legends, gentleman racers, and passionate collectors. The event’s 2025 edition promises even more spectacle, with historic grids, concours displays, vintage village setups, and an atmosphere unlike any other.
Interest from the UK continues to grow, with British car clubs, enthusiasts, and families making the journey to relive the golden era of endurance racing. If you’re planning to join them in 2025, here’s how to get from the UK to Le Mans for this unmissable celebration of motorsport history.
Where is the Le Mans racetrack in France?
The Circuit de la Sarthe is located in the city of Le Mans in Northwest France, a few hours west of Paris. The circuit itself sits south of the city of Le Mans, with the track taking in a number of smaller villages. Some of these villages give their names to the iconic corners of the circuit, including Arnage and Mulsanne.
How to get to Le Mans from the UK
The main section of the article. Summarise the main ways to get to Le Mans from the UK – promoting Channel Crossings first as per the MTD packages, then air and Eurostar.
There are multiple ways to get to Le Mans from the UK. If you’ve booked your package through Motorsport Travel Destinations, we then we suggest travelling by Le Shuttle or Ferry. Le Shuttle (Eurotunnel) is the most accessible as it has round-the-clock crossings. The channel crossing itself only takes half an hour, with and onward journey from Calais to Le Mans taking about five hours by car, dependent on traffic conditions.
Getting to France by ferry also offers several routes, the main being Dover/Calais. Ferries generally are the slower choice but offer the option of overnight crossings or landing slightly closer to Le Mans, and a shorter drive on the other side; Caen is only 2.5 hours from Le Mans. Depending on where your starting location is, there may be more convenient, such as Portsmouth/Caen or Poole/Cherbourg. Travellers coming from the north of the UK may even opt for the Hull/Rotterdam crossing.
International travellers or those not wanting to drive may decide to fly to France. Le Mans does have a small airfield but this will be occupied during the event so it would be best to fly into Paris’ Charles de Gaulle and catch the train down to the circuit. The Eurostar is another option to avoid the long drive down to the circuit. Starting at St Pancras in London, the Eurostar will get you to Paris in just 2h16m, then after a short transfer by metro or taxi to Paris Mont Parnasse station, the France cross country rail links Paris with Le Mans in just over an hour.
Driving to Le Mans from the UK
The majority of our customers and attendees of Le Mans will be driving to Le Mans from the UK. Naturally, an increase in traffic during this period will see congestion build up on the major routes. Travelling to Dover, whether it be via ferry or Eurotunnel, is the route we recommend to customers. Regardless of how you choose to travel, it is advised that you pre-plan your journey well in advance.
- To cross the Channel you will need your ferry/Eurotunnel booking information as well as your passport.
- From Calais it can take between five and six hours to Le Mans, sometimes even longer, depending on the day and how close to race weekend you travel
- Other journeys from different ports can vary – Caen is probably the closest and the drive from Caen port can be between two and three hours.
- If you are travelling with us, upon arrival you will be provided with maps/QR codes for maps that should take you directly to your campsite.
- It is best to avoid driving through Rouen unless you have pre-paid for the specified exemption to drive through the city (clean air ruling)
Best way to get to Le Mans from the UK: Folkestone to Calais via Le Shuttle
We recommend taking the Le Shuttle (Eurotunnel) due to speed and accessibility. From Folkestone to Le Mans it should only take around six hours dependent on traffic – the crossing itself only lasts about half an hour. However, it is the 24-hour crossings that allow flexibility with travelling as well as the option to travel using a Flexiplus ticket which allows you to travel on any crossing throughout the day.
Taking the ferry to Le Mans
Our main ferry offering is Dover/Calais. This is the most common option but other crossings we offer include: Portsmouth/Caen, Portsmouth/Cherbourg, Poole/Cherbourg, Portsmouth/St Malo, Plymouth/Roscoff and Hull/Rotterdam.
Check out the package options here.
Flights to Le Mans from UK
Flying to Le Mans is also an option, favoured particularly by people who don’t live close to a ferry terminal or don’t drive. While we don’t offer flights as part of our packages, flying into Paris and renting a car or taking the train to the circuit is very much a viable plan. This can help avoid taking a vehicle on the long journey to Le Mans.
The easiest option is definitely flying to Paris and then taking a train southeast to Le Mans. There are plenty of flights to Paris each day and most UK airports offer direct flights to the French capital.
What is the nearest airport to Le Mans?
Le Mans Arnage Airport (LFRM) is technically the nearest airport to Le Mans but it does not provide commercial flights.
The nearest international airport to Le Mans is Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). You can fly direct to Paris from most UK airports, including London (Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Southend), Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Belfast. There are no flights to CDG from Cardiff, however you can fly direct to Paris Orly Airport (ORY) from the Welsh capital.
Travelling from Charles de Gaulle airport to Le Mans
Fans attending the Le Mans 24h race will be pleased to know that there is a direct train to Le Mans from CDG airport. The journey takes around 1 hour and 40 minutes on the TGV INOUI service.
Some travellers may wish to break up the journey with a pitstop or even a night or two in Paris. If that is the case, you can catch the train from the Gare Montparnasse station, which only takes around 55 minutes.
If you choose to rent a car from Charles de Gaulle and drive to Le Mans, the journey takes just under three hours – not factoring in race week traffic.
Reserve your spot for the 2025 Le Mans Classic
Le Mans Classic is one of the most celebrated historic motorsport events in the world. In 2023, the Circuit de la Sarthe welcomed over 200,000 fans for a spectacular weekend of vintage racing, iconic cars, and timeless atmosphere.
With the 2025 edition just around the corner – and the event becoming annual from 2026 – this is your chance to be part of a truly special celebration of motorsport heritage.
Don’t miss it – secure your place at Le Mans Classic 2025 today!