Classic Mini Shows 2024 – Top classic Mini events this year

As much as we enjoy driving our classics, a drive without a destination can sometimes fall flat, so now’s the time to get planning your classic Mini adventures for 2024! Here in the UK we’re absolutely spoiled for choice when it comes to Mini and multi-marque shows, road rallies, local club meets.

And if big events aren’t your thing, we have some great motoring museums and themed cafes to plan a road trip of your own.

If motorsport is more your cup of tea, it’s likely there will be a Mini competing somewhere every weekend of the season, whether that’s a hillclimb event, circuit race, classic rally or oval racing events.

So, where to begin? You could feasibly spend all year driving your Mini around the country and Europe to see and experience everything there is on offer, but let’s assume you’ve not an endless budget for event tickets and petrol, and your family might want to see you home at some point…!

Here’s some of our recommended classic Mini festivals and events for 2024, divided up into static shows, road trips and motorsport. Of course there are countless others that we couldn’t squeeze in, so please feel free to make some recommendations of your own over on our Facebook page.

Classic Mini Shows 2024

- Mini Fair, Bingley Hall, Staffordshire, 28 January 2024

A favourite shopping trip for all Mini enthusiasts, the British Mini Club has been hosting this season-opener for 24 years, building a loyal following of show and shine entrants, autojumble sellers and specialist clubs. When the weather is cold and damp outside, the Staffordshire Country Showground’s indoor arena makes for a great winter escape.

Whether you prefer your classic Mini factory fresh or highly modified, there will be some inspiration for your own projects here; just make sure to pre-book your tickets and arrive early to hunt down the best finds in the autojumble.

Obviously being in the midst of a UK winter, many Mini owners arrive in their daily drives, but there’s a Mini-only car park for those who brave the conditions, and usually plenty of cars for sale outside too.

- Mini Cooper Day, Beaulieu, New Forest, 9 June 2024

Home to more spelling mistakes than Castle Combe, Beaulieu’s National Motor Museum makes a great day out at any time of year. Add in the prestigious Mini Cooper Register’s annual gathering, and this is must-visit event.

If you’re especially keen on 1960s Mini Coopers, coach-built specials (Radford, Wood & Pickett, etc) and ex-Works BMC competition Minis, you’ve probably already been to this popular show. When the sun’s shining, it’s hard to beat, so why not make it into a weekend away in the New Forest with your Mini.

- MED Coffee Meet, Lutterworth, date TBC

Ok, ok, it’s not on par with the other big events listed here, but it is our own! We tried a cars and coffee meet in 2022 and around 30 Minis arrived over the course of the evening, and in 2023 it was more like 40, so we’re really pleased with how our annual summer evening is progressing.

Join us for a relaxed evening at MED HQ in Lutterworth, just off the M1 near Leicester, grab a coffee and chat to the team and fellow Mini enthusiasts. We’ll release details of this year’s meet as soon as we have them.

- Mini Fair, Stanford Hall, 15 September 2024

Another mention for the British Mini Club, and if you’ve found it to the MED HQ, we’re off the same junction of the M1 as this impressive stately home show.

Since the BMC took over this September Mini event, it’s gone from strength-to-strength and 2024 should be one to remember as we celebrate the 65 anniversary of the Mini.

Classic Mini Motorsport 2024

Name a local race circuit, hillclimb or rally stage, and you’re very likely to find at least a couple of Minis competing on some level. If you’re looking to have a go yourself, the MkI Performance Action Day at Blyton Park, 5 May, always attracts a mouth-watering selection of early Minis and trackday warriors.

The event raises funds for McMillan Cancer Support, and you can book track sessions safe in the knowledge that it’s Minis only, so you’re unlikely to get side swiped by an over-excited hot hatch.

Mighty Minis provide a thrilling spectator sport, super close action with well-matched Rover Mini Coopers. Our recommended event would be Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire on 20-21 July. This is one of the most scenic race circuits in the UK, and you’ll be able to get very close to the circuit.

For sheer performance alone, the Mini Miglia race series has to be on your calendar if you’ve never seen them before. With slick tyres and powerful A-Series engines, expect large grids as we head into 2024, and incredibly close racing.

Our pick would be the Brands Hatch Mini Festival in Kent on 5-6 August, where you’ll also be able to watch the Fastest Mini in the World race and 1-litre Mini Se7ens.

On to Silverstone Festival, 23-25 August, the big one for historic racing in the UK. Arguably not the greatest circuit for spectators, but big events like this install large screens to watch the action, and there will be lots of it!

There’s also car club displays far in excess of one-marque shows, a trade village and household names playing the live music stage.

If you’re looking for historic Mini racing, the Goodwood Revival (6-8 September) stands as the ultimate weekend of pre-66 motorsport. It is quite simply incredible, and worth a visit at least once in a lifetime if you can.

Pure Mini action in 2024 may be slightly more muted than previous outings, but there will be plenty in attendance, trackside.

To get even closer to the action, try a Ministox oval race meeting. These iron-clad Minis compete on short oval circuits around the UK, on shale and tarmac, and full contact is very much on the cards.

The purpose-built race cars are piloted by 10-16 year olds, often with little fear, and there's a packed calendar, predominately in the midlands and north.

Similarly, but with more mud, Autograss has a huge following across the UK, with Minis still holding their own in many classes.

Classic Mini Road Trips 2024

- Riviera Run, Pentewan Sands, Cornwall, 4-6 May 2024

Pack your shorts, flip-flops and cider and head for this scenic Cornwall beach resort for the annual Riviera Run. The Cornish Mini Club hosts this popular annual run to the sun (hopefully), which typically attracts a great turnout of classic Minis of all shapes and sizes.

The long-running event is well worth planning in, but if you’re coming from further afield, the road trip there can be just as much fun.

- International Mini Meeting, Gieselwind Germany, 30 May-3 June 2024

IMM’s are a bit of a hidden gem on the Mini scene, held since 1978, to bring Mini enthusiasts together from all across the world. It’s essentially a four-day festival that moves from one country to another each year, returning to the UK every five years.

Expect local trips out, a chilled daytime browsing the cars and stands, and lively nightlife, where you’ll meet friends for life. But most of all, if you’ve never tried an overseas event, this makes a great road trip, so book a ferry and grab your tent.

You’ll need to book in advance, and the ticket usually includes food vouchers and all the entertainment.

- Italian Job Tour, Rome, 1-7 October 2024

The Italian Job is another well-established Mini road trip event, and for good reason – it’s incredible! Yes it’s a long way to drive a Mini from the UK, but the event gains you access to places you’d never usually experience, from Italian race circuits to locations from the iconic 1969 film.

Plus it’s usually still sunny and warm in Italy in the autumn. You’ll be treated to a carefully-planned road book each day, amazing food and visits to famous Italian landmarks, this year taking a trip around Rome.

It’s all in aid of charity, and there’s even a service team in case of any mechanical breakdowns while you’re on the main tour.

Classic car museums and cafes

A quick shout-out to some of our local meets and venues here in the midlands.

- Caffeine and Machine, near Stratford-upon-Avon, a motoring nirvana, where there’s always a good mix of enthusiast cars and owners, classic and modern.

- Heritage Motor Museum, Gaydon – the home of 621 AOK, 33 EJB and many other famous Minis. A must-visit for any British car fan, with evening mid-week meets through the year.

- Coventry Transport Museum, where you’ll find the Thrust land speed record cars.

- Great British Car Journey, Ambergate, a new museum with a wide range of British Classics on show.

- Harborough Sports, Classic and Vintage, a friendly local Sunday gathering once a month in nearby Market Harborough.

- Bicester Heritage, a preserved WW2 air base, hosts regular ‘Scramble’ weekend meets that are perfectly welcoming to classic Minis.

Stephen Colbran

January 2024