13 circuits in South West, compared on the things that actually differ: what a session costs per minute, how long the track is, and how young drivers can be.
Bristol, Bristol
An indoor circuit in east Bristol running Sodi GT5 karts, with a double-level layout for drivers tall enough to use it. Being under cover, it runs the same in February as in July — the obvious pick locally if you don't want a session called off for weather.
Price not published
Sydling St. Nicholas, Dorset
An outdoor circuit in the Dorset countryside near Sydling St. Nicholas, running Sodi GX390 hire karts that the operator quotes at up to 50mph. Free parking, grass picnic areas and viewing all the way round make it an easy place to bring people who aren't driving.
Price not published
Dunkeswell, Devon
750 metres of smooth tarmac at Dunkeswell Aerodrome in east Devon, averaging eight metres wide — broad enough that overtaking is a real option rather than a hopeful lunge.
Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset
Grand Pier Go-Karts, branded Glo Karts, is a 300-metre indoor track with eight bends inside the main pavilion of the Grand Pier at Weston-super-Mare, lit with UV lighting.
Price not published
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.
Sparkford, near Yeovil, Somerset
A 400-metre outdoor circuit beside Haynes International Motor Museum, laid on the museum's own test track. Petrol karts on tarmac, and a layout with proper braking zones and room to overtake.
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
Chippenham, Wiltshire
M4 Karting is an indoor kart track inside Hangar 88 on the former Hullavington Airfield, north of Chippenham in Wiltshire. The circuit is 268 metres long with seven corners.
Woodbury Salterton, near Exeter, Devon
Raceworld is a 400 metre indoor circuit at Woodbury Salterton, a few miles outside Exeter, and it has been trading since 1994. The layout mixes fast straights with flowing and technical corners and includes a flyover bridge.
Price not published
Little Rissington, Gloucestershire
Rissington Kart Club races on an outdoor circuit at the former RAF Little Rissington airfield in the Cotswolds, reached by a lane between Upper Rissington and Great Barrington. It is a Motorsport UK recognised club for owner-drivers, with no hire karts.
Club racing — see fees
Christchurch, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
South Coast Karting runs the outdoor Chapel Gate Circuit at Parley, on the edge of Christchurch near Bournemouth Airport. The track is 580 metres long with 14 corners.
Bournemouth, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
TeamSport Bournemouth is an indoor electric kart track on Wallisdown Road, on the Bournemouth side of the boundary with Poole. The 450-metre circuit has 10 corners and runs over more than one level.
Price not published
Bristol, Bristol
TeamSport Bristol is an indoor kart track at Avonmouth, on the north-west side of the city near the M4/M5 interchange. The 800-metre circuit has 10 corners laid out over more than one level.
Price not published
Cost per minute is calculated the same way everywhere: session price divided by minutes on track. Where a track sells sessions in bundles we show its best rate, since booking more up front is usually cheaper. Compulsory extras are listed on each track's own page.
The youngest age accepted anywhere in South West is 3 , at Kartworld at Adrenalin Quarry. Height matters as much as age — most circuits also set a minimum of 130cm or 140cm, and a child who meets the age but not the height will be turned away at the gate. Each listing shows both.