Truth be told, we’re not a hugely sporty bunch in the Secret London office. We have one avid Arsenal supporter (I won’t name him in case you refuse to read his content ever again), but otherwise our collective interest basically starts and ends with Wimbledon and England football matches. That said, I don’t not care about Formula One (Team Papaya) and, as such, I was afforded the pleasure and privilege of a Friday night at Escapade, Silverstone’s luxury trackside hotel.
I covered the opening back in February, swooning over its gorgeous interiors and trackside views – and was then very kindly invited to check it out first hand.
We were greeted by the lovely front of house team, who somehow knew exactly who I was, and immediately felt at home. We were shown to our room, did a bit of gawping at all its fun features, and then made our way to dinner.
What to eat and drink at Escapade Silverstone
I want to caveat this by saying that I’m a pregnant, onion-intolerant coeliac – so my options are always limited (I promise I do have joy in my life). But the staff at the hotel’s Gallery restaurant knew this before I even sat down, and made sure to talk me through the menu. Some things were great, others not so – but I must stress, this is more of a me problem than a them problem.
I started with an heirloom tomato salad, while my husband tucked into asparagus and poached eggs. We both really loved these dishes – we were off to a great start.
My main was a little disappointing, but I had something off-menu so it wouldn’t be fair to call them out on it. My husband, though, had ”the best pasta of [his] life” – a squash ravioli with black garlic and truffle. He wouldn’t stop rubbing it in my face either.
I got him back when dessert came around—what is marriage if not always trying to one-up each other?—as, while his was nice (a dark chocolate and hazelnut sphere with tonka bean and banana ice cream), mine was better. I had a white chocolate crème brûlée with strawberries and basil, served with sorbet – and it was absolutely divine.
Drinks weren’t much to write home about, and by this I just mean the selection was a little thin on the ground. Although admittedly we didn’t indulge in any wine, and that was kind of their Thing. Ordinarily I would have, but ordering a bottle with a bump is generally frowned upon, or so I’ve heard. (I still think about turning the sommelier away from our table and how it must have been the most heart-wrenching rejection of his life. Guarantee he forgot about it in 2.5 seconds.)
The rooms at Escapade Silverstone
We headed back to the room for a drink on the balcony, admiring the quiet track a literal stone’s throw away that would be whirring with action the very next morning. The room itself was, er, roomy – we had a toilet each which seemed excessive, and a living room and kitchen area that would have been perfect for longer stays. We stayed in the One-Bedroom Trackside Residence, but other options are available, including stiller countryside views or spaces with up to four bedrooms.
Each room is decked with stunning motorsport-inspired artwork, and everything was just very sleek. The kitchen was stocked with basic equipment – mini fridge, espresso machine, plates, glasses, cutlery, etc. A moment for the fancy light switches, too, which had different pre-programmed settings for different times of the day.
The beds were super comfy too, and once we’d discovered that it was lights out and away we went.
Breakfast at Escapade Silverstone
Breakfast was a simple buffet, but it definitely exceeded our expectations. Of course all the usual stuff was there for the taking—bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs—but there was also a great selection of vegetarian options, including vegan bacon and mushroom sausages. They even had gluten free toast and croissants for me – you should have seen my face when our waitress said the C word.
And I must dedicate this next paragraph to the butter. My husband and I both got a little bit too excited when it made an appearance at breakfast because we’d spent a weird amount of time raving about it the night before. So, shout out to Netherend Farm Salted Butter, you are the Greatest Of All Time. (Not an ad.)
How to get to Escapade Silverstone
The website first prompts you to book a helicopter shuttle, which, sure, could be fun – but you can also reach Escapade by car or by train. The closest train station is Wolverton, which is 10 miles away from the hotel, and has direct services to and from London Euston.
We drove, which can take around 90 minutes from London if you’re lucky, and meant we got the perk of parking in our own private garage with electric charging cables and a button-operated door. Our filthy Ford Kuga looked right at home, as you can imagine.
Can you stay at Escapade Silverstone during race weekends?
You can, but not without an event ticket – and expect prices to be inflated, too. If you’ve got the money though, it’s well worth it for Escapade’s proximity to the action during big events like MotoGP or the British Grand Prix, especially if you bag a Trackside Residence. If not, just get yourself a table at The Gallery or Roof Deck for views of a massive nine(!) thrilling corners.
How much does it cost to stay at Escapade Silverstone?
You can stay for as little as £123 a night (£153 for bed and breakfast), which I believe to be an absolute bargain – but of course this can drastically ramp up depending on when and how many people you’re staying with. For example, a Three-Bedroom Trackside Residence over the British Grand Prix weekend will set you back a small, ahem, £42k. Take a look at their website to explore your options – I think you’ll be surprised (again, the dates will determine whether this is in a good or a bad way).
The final lap remarks
Our stay went by in a flash and left us wanting more: the staff were incredible, the rooms were the perfect level of luxury without feeling pretentious, and that view won’t be something I forget in a hurry (and that’s even when the closest we saw to a race was a couple of joggers getting in their morning miles as we were sipping our morning coffee).
We’re looking forward to visiting again so we can enjoy the rooftop bar, or maybe have a dip in the pool. Alas, we headed back home to our three-year-old and showed him all the photos of the fast cars we’d seen on our wonderful little escapade without him. Next time, bud.