18 of the 137 circuits we list will take a 4 year old, across 17 counties.
This is the part that catches people out. Nearly every circuit sets a minimum height alongside the minimum age, and both have to be met. A child needs to reach the pedals with enough leg left to brake hard, and see over the wheel, and a kart has almost no adjustment. Among the tracks that take 4 year olds, the minimum runs from 100cm to 100cm. Measure your child before you book rather than after you arrive.
16 other circuits do not publish a height minimum for this age. Worth ringing before you travel.
12 circuits open up at this age that would not take a 3 year old:
Aviemore, Highland
A 550-metre outdoor circuit at Aviemore with the Cairngorms as a backdrop, and one of the more interesting layouts in Scotland — six metres wide for overtaking, sweeping bends on positive camber, undulations, and a long straight down one side.
Brentwood, Essex
Brentwood Karting runs an 825-metre floodlit outdoor circuit at Warley Gap, about fifteen minutes' walk from Brentwood station and half an hour from central London. It holds the International Rental Karting Award for Best Customer Experience.
Price not published
St Sampson, Guernsey
Karting Guernsey is on Victoria Avenue in St Sampson, Guernsey. It has a 440m outdoor circuit with floodlights for evening racing, and a separate electric track for small children.
Liskeard, Cornwall
Kartworld is the karting operation at Adrenalin Quarry, an outdoor activity park beside the A38 at Menheniot near Liskeard in east Cornwall. The main track is an 800m all-weather circuit, and a separate 80m track is used for the smallest drivers.
Price not published
Purfleet, Thurrock
Lakeside Karting sits on the A1306 Arterial Road at Purfleet, about half an hour from central London and a few minutes from Lakeside Shopping Centre. It holds the International Rental Karting Award for Best Customer Experience, and is run by Lets Go Active, who also operate Brentwood Karting.
Price not published
Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire
Rye House at Hoddesdon is one of the best known circuits in British karting, and the operator leans on that history, describing it as the track where champions began their careers. It runs a main GP circuit and a separate bespoke junior circuit.
Maidenhead, Windsor and Maidenhead
Absolutely Karting Maidenhead is an indoor centre at The Arena on Stafferton Way, close to Maidenhead town centre. Its circuit is built over two levels: adults can drive the lower section alone or the full double-level layout, while younger drivers use the top track.
Grantham, Lincolnshire
Ancaster Leisure is an outdoor multi-activity site at Wood Lodge near Ancaster, north-east of Grantham, where karting sits alongside paintball, airsoft, archery and laser tag. Its outdoor track can be run as a 1,200m International circuit, a 700m Brooklands layout or a 600m Club circuit, with a separate junior circuit and a small electric track for young children.
Mexborough, Rotherham
Avago Indoor Karting is an indoor track on the Swinton Bridge industrial estate, on the Swinton side of Mexborough between Rotherham and Doncaster. Sessions are sold by the lap, with a standard session of 30 laps.
Bangor, Ards and North Down
Eddie Irvine Sports is an indoor karting centre on Balloo Road in Bangor, County Down, about 15 minutes from Belfast. It has been open since 2003 and is owned by former Formula 1 driver Eddie Irvine.
Stourbridge, Dudley
Full Throttle Raceway is an indoor karting venue on The Stourbridge Estate off Mill Race Lane in Stourbridge, a short drive from Dudley, Halesowen and Birmingham. Two separate tracks share the building, giving over 400 metres of circuit under one roof.
Gloucester, Gloucestershire
JDR Karting is an indoor karting and activity centre on the Madleaze Trading Estate off Bristol Road in Gloucester, a few minutes' walk from Gloucester Quays. The main circuit is a 300-metre tarmac track with three banked corners, where laps take around 25 seconds. Senior drivers use Sodi SR4 karts with Honda 200cc engines.
Lichfield, Staffordshire
Midland Karting is an outdoor karting centre on Wood End Lane near Lichfield, laid out on part of a former airfield. It runs three separate circuits: a Premier Circuit for adults and older juniors, a Kids Circuit, and a Family Circuit used for the youngest drivers.
Walsall, Walsall
PMG Karting World is a multi-level indoor karting venue on Bloxwich Road in Walsall, West Midlands, which also offers axe throwing, interactive darts and laser tag.
Price not published
Ballymena, Mid and East Antrim
Raceview Karting is an indoor hire kart track on the Woodside Road industrial estate in Ballymena, County Antrim. It opens Thursday to Sunday, with evening sessions through the week and longer hours at weekends.
Price not published
Worcester Park, Greater London
Surbiton Raceway at Worcester Park runs three separate outdoor tracks, which is more than almost anywhere else we list, and it means the age bands are properly catered for rather than fudged with restricted karts.
Price not published
Brent Cross, Greater London
TeamSport Brent Cross is on level 4 of the Blue car park at Brent Cross Shopping Centre in north-west London, and combines indoor electric karting with an eight-lane bowling alley. Rather than one long circuit it has a 200-metre Starter track, a 350-metre Main track, and an Extended layout that links the two into a 550-metre, 18-corner lap.
Price not published
Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne
TeamSport Newcastle is an indoor electric karting venue at Armstrong Works on Scotswood Road, about two miles west of the city centre. It has two tracks: a 500-metre multi-level main circuit with 12 corners and a 200-metre starter track.
Price not published
Our guide to karting with children covers all of this in more detail, including what they should wear and whether it is safe.