London to Lisbon 2026

Our adventure begins at the perfect setting that is the Brooklands Museum, home to a large amount of British Aviation and Motoring History.

Originally built in 1907, it was the first purpose-built racing circuit in the world. Many motorsport records and aviation firsts being associated with Brooklands, which soon became one of Britain's first aerodromes.

Established as a museum in 1982, the 30 acres of the original 1907 motor-racing circuit includes:

• The 1907 Brooklands Automobile Racing Club Clubhouse and Members' Hill Restaurant buildings
• The 1911 Flight Ticket Office and a 1940 Bellman aircraft hangar.
• Surviving sections of the 1937 Campbell Circuit
• The 1907 Finishing Straight and Members' Banking (the steepest section of the former racing circuit)
• The 1909 Test Hill
• A WW2 'Bofors' gun tower

We begin on the Tuesday afternoon of the 19^th May with Scrutineering at Brooklands followed by Documentation at Rally HQ, where you will have the opportunity to meet the HERO-ERA Team and your fellow competitors, and exchange preparation plans for the exciting journey ahead.

Starting from Brooklands, we venture east heading for our channel crossing; with a series of regularities and tests await you across the North & Kent Downs giving crews a great warm up for the days ahead with a late afternoon crossing to Calais seeing crews then descend on the beautiful seaside commune of Le Touquet for the first overnight halt.

Day 2 will be a relaxed start, allowing crews to recover from the previous day. However, our first full day on the continent will most definitely not be without spectacle, as our sights are firmly set on the iconic town of Le Mans taking in some of the public road sections of this historic motorsport venue before our overnight halt close by.

Departing Le Mans we head south, take in some of the stunning roads that are abound in this part of France and head to the town of Limoges on the far edge of the massive city centre, a short distance from the city park, Limoges Champ de Juillet and nestled amongst both modern architecture and many streets lined with historic buildings, ideal for a short evening stroll after dinner.

Limoges' culture is deeply intertwined with its history, particularly its long-standing tradition of porcelain production. This industry, fuelled by the discovery of kaolin clay, has made Limoges a global hub for exquisite porcelain and a major source of cultural identity for the city. Beyond porcelain, Limoges also boasts a rich history of enamel work and metalwork, earning it the nickname "the city of the fire arts". 

As we venture further south, we will descend on the vibrant and culture rich city of Toulouse, known as La Ville Rose or ‘Pink City’ due to the use of terracotta bricks in its many buildings.

Founded by the Romans in the 5^th century, Toulouse is steeped in history, and although there has been a lot of development around the city, the centre or Old Toulouse still contains vast amounts of historic buildings and has a thriving arts and music scene. Today, Toulouse plays a central role in the French Aerospace industry.

Day 5 will be the longest day of the rally, the route seeing us climb through the spectacular spine of the Pyrenees. Enjoy the snow-capped mountains, high altitudes, jagged peaks, lush valleys and panoramic vistas, along with some charming villages, each with their unique characters. 

Descending the mountains into Spain we will conclude Day 5 in Pamplona, still 450m above sea level, the city is located on a flood plain of the Arga River. Renowned for the world-famous San Fermin festival (the running of Bulls through the streets) which attracts millions of visitors each year, Pamplona is much more than a yearly event with its Medieval walls surrounding the old town and its narrow-jagged streets, where Basque-style tapas bars rub shoulders with Gothic cathedrals and abundant green spaces.

And a with a non-driving day ahead, crews have a chance to rest and recover from the longest day and have an opportunity to explore!

Relaxed and refreshed, we have another full day in-store, enjoying many of Spain’s finest rural roads taking us through several nature reserves and passing through Burgos, a UNESCO Word Heritage site, with its rich medieval architecture and famous for its Cathedral.

The construction of the Holy Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica Church of St Mary of Burgos began in 1221. Its French Gothic Architecture based on a Latin cross wasn’t completed until the 16^th Century and the Chapel of Saint Thecla was then only added it in the 18^th Century.

Venturing on, we finish the day in the northwest of Spain in the city centre of Leon, charmingly split by the Bernesga River running through it. Leon being known for its stunning Gothic Architecture and religious traditions, its highlight however being its local cuisine, featuring specialties like cecina (salted dried meat), Valdeón cheese, botillo (meat-filled pork gut), and roasted peppers. Leon has a vibrant Tapas culture and is renowned for its thriving tapas bars, where small plates of food are served with drinks, often complimentary when ordering some local wine, vermouth, or beer.

Taking in the hills and mountains we travel west into the beautiful Galicia region of Spain, often compared to Ireland or Scotland because of its green scenery. Galicia's culture is a vibrant mix of Celtic heritage, strong regional identity, and a unique blend of Spanish and Portuguese influences, particularly evident in its language, music, and cuisine. The region is known for its distinct Galician language (Galego), which is closer to Portuguese than Spanish, and its rich musical traditions, including the use of the gaita (bagpipe).

We meander our way towards the west Spanish coast, stopping on the very edge of the Atlantic Ocean in A Coruña. The town’s proximity to the ocean highlights its rich maritime history, including its connection to the Spanish Armada which departed from this very port in 1588 on their voyage against England, after A Coruña had just been retaken by the Spanish from the Portuguese in the 14^th Century.

Today, A Coruña is a thriving coastal city and a major port, popular with tourists and renowned for the Tower of Hercules, the oldest working Roman lighthouse in the world.

Day 9 sees the beginning of our journey over the border into Portugal, through its mountainous region and national parks and to a very popular overnight halt in previous editions of the London to Lisbon, the Vidago Palace.

Commissioned by King Carlos I and opened in 1910, the Palace sits in the heart of the Vidago Thermal Park surrounded by mountains and forest, with an atmosphere full of glamour, elegance and all the romanticism of the Belle Époque. Built to house the luxurious therapeutic spa, due to the excellence of the waters in the area, today it also boasts a unique golf course, designed by the famous architect Philip Mackenzie Ross.

The penultimate day of our adventure is packed with motoring history as we tackle the celebrated Caramulo Hillclimb either side of lunch at the Caramulo Motor Museum. Caramulo is a mountain town, offering winding streets lined by art deco buildings, with a namesake museum featuring rare vintage cars, old paintings, and 16th-century tapestries.

The Hillclimb has a rich history, evolving from an international event that began in the early 1900s and ran until 1993. Its current iteration as the Caramulo Motorfestival, which restarted in 2006, is held annually on the Serra do Caramulo, featuring a 2.8km (1.7-mile) course known for its fast curves and two straights, where cars reach high speeds, culminating at Cabeço da Neve at the top of the mountain.

A shorter final day begins with a morning of competition, which will take you through picturesque villages, historic towns, and natural areas that provide a sense of tranquillity and a glimpse into traditional Portuguese life. We will then make our way into Lisbon, one of the oldest cities in Europe, with a history stretching back thousands of years. Sadly, the city suffered a devastating earthquake in 1755, which consequently led to a major rebuilding effort.

Avoiding as much of the traffic as possible as we head to the final hotel of the event looking out over the estuary of the Tagus River in the city centre in preparation for the evenings Prize-Giving Awards dinner a chance to relive your journey with fellow competitors and celebrate the achievement made by crews and cars in completing the 2026 London to Lisbon.