Concours of Elegance 2025: Celebrating Automotive Royalty at Hampton Court Palace

Set within the grounds of one of Britain’s most iconic royal residences,the event seamlessly blends motoring heritage, craftsmanship, and modern luxury into a weekend unlike any other on the concours calendar. Now in its fourteenth year, the Concours continues to attract an extraordinary gathering of collectors, enthusiasts, and aficionados from around the globe, all united by their shared passion for rare and important cars. More than a display of exotic machinery, the event represents a celebration of artistry, innovation, and elegance, with each vehicle selected not merely for its rarity but for its story, its provenance, and its contribution to the automotive narrative. In this setting steeped in history, visitors are invited to slow down, look closer, and lose themselves in a display of engineering excellence and cultural refinement.

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The Rise of the Concours of Elegance

Since its inception in 2012 at Windsor Castle, the Concours of Elegance has grown into a globally recognised celebration of motoring excellence. While many concours events are rooted in tradition, few can claim a lineage as closely tied to royalty and architectural majesty as this one. Having visited St James’s Palace, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the gardens of Buckingham Palace in earlier years, the Concours found a natural and enduring home at Hampton Court Palace, a location where its values of elegance, precision, and historical resonance are echoed in every corner of the estate. Unlike larger and more commercial car shows, the Concours has always maintained a tightly curated atmosphere, with around sixty rare vehicles invited for display and peer-judged by their fellow owners, not by a panel of external judges. This model of honouring cars through community and connoisseurship creates an atmosphere of mutual respect and appreciation that few other events replicate. It is this refined approach, marrying exclusivity with intimacy, that continues to attract owners and visitors from across the globe.

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A Regal Return in 2025

The 2025 edition of the Concours of Elegance promises to uphold the tradition of excellence for which the event is known. Over the course of three days, visitors will be treated to a display of around sixty concours-level vehicles, spanning over a century of motoring history, from the earliest brass-era pioneers to coachbuilt post-war masterpieces and modern hypercars rarely seen in public. Already confirmed for this year’s display are several 1950s Ferraris, a 1980 BMW M1, a competition-prepared Ligier JS2, and a highly coveted Aston Martin DB4 Series V Vantage, one of just fifty-five ever made. These centrepieces are supported by a wider programme of curated features, including a dedicated Restoration Showcase making its debut in 2025, which will highlight the craftsmanship behind recent ground-up restorations by the world’s leading specialists. As in previous years, the event will also feature the Levitt Concours, a class dedicated to female-owned and driven cars, alongside the increasingly popular Thirty Under Thirty showcase, which celebrates the next generation of collectors who own pre-2000 classics. Each of these classes adds a fresh dimension to the event, celebrating not only the cars but the people who care for them and preserve their stories.

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Reflections on 2024’s Highlights

Looking back at the 2024 event, the bar has been set high. The 13th Concours of Elegance welcomed over 14,000 visitors to Hampton Court Palace, all eager to experience what is now considered one of the top five concours events in the world. The Best in Show award, voted for by fellow entrants, was awarded to the spectacular 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Convertible by Inskip, an exceptionally rare American-bodied Rolls-Royce that had previously dazzled at Pebble Beach. It stood proudly alongside class winners such as a 1960 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, a 1974 BMW 3.0 CSL ‘Batmobile’, and a 1956 Maserati A6G/54 Zagato, each a benchmark of design and performance in their respective eras. But perhaps the most endearing moment of the weekend came not from a multi-million-pound icon, but from the winner of the Thirty Under Thirty class, a humble 1958 Austin-Healey Sprite, lovingly restored by its owner, Max Authers, who bolted the driver’s seat in just a day before the concours. These are the kinds of stories that define the character of the event: a celebration of passion, perseverance, and preservation as much as it is of beauty and performance.

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Beyond the Cars: A Lifestyle in Harmony

While the cars are the centrepiece, the Concours of Elegance is a lifestyle event in every sense. It attracts a highly discerning audience from the worlds of fashion, horology, design, and fine art, many of whom return year after year not just for the automotive displays, but for the broader cultural experience. Exhibitors include luxury watchmakers, interior designers, private aviation companies, and couture brands, all of whom present pieces as exclusive as the cars themselves. There is an unmistakable sense of rhythm to the event, guests linger over glasses of Charles Heidsieck champagne, explore gourmet food gardens, or enjoy intimate panel talks with designers and engineers. The palace gardens, shaped over centuries, lend a sense of calm and permanence to proceedings, allowing guests to savour their surroundings without rush or intrusion. Every detail, from the placement of the cars to the curation of the entertainment, is considered with elegance in mind. Here, automotive excellence is not presented in isolation, it is part of a larger narrative about style, heritage, and the pleasures of a well-lived life.

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London Luxury Chauffeuring: A Journey in Style

Ensuring flawless arrival and departure for VIP guests and collectors is London Luxury Chauffeuring, whose discreet and professional service has become synonymous with many of Britain’s most exclusive events. For the Concours of Elegance, LLC provides a level of transport that mirrors the standards of the vehicles on display. Whether collecting clients from a townhouse in Belgravia, a suite at Claridge’s, or a private arrival terminal at Farnborough Airport, the fleet of Rolls-Royce Phantoms, Bentley Flying Spurs, and Mercedes S-Class saloons offers comfort, elegance, and complete discretion. Each chauffeur is meticulously trained in etiquette, security, and situational awareness, ensuring that every journey, from hotel to palace, is as smooth as it is stylish. In an environment where presentation is paramount, LLC’s presence offers peace of mind and an unbroken sense of refinement from door to destination.

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Self-Drive Prestige: Living the Experience First-Hand

In addition to chauffeured transfers, London Luxury Chauffeuring offers attendees the opportunity to experience high-performance driving through its bespoke self-drive supercar hire service. Timed to coincide with the Concours weekend, this exclusive offering allows guests to step beyond the role of spectator and take the wheel of the very types of machines they admire on the lawn. Available models include the Ferrari 296 GTB, a mid-engine plug-in hybrid that redefines Maranello’s design language, the McLaren 720S, celebrated for its intuitive handling and race-derived aerodynamics, and the Lamborghini Revuelto, the bold new V12 hybrid redefining the Sant’Agata legacy. Each vehicle is meticulously maintained and prepared, with all hire arrangements handled privately and with utmost discretion. Whether as a gift to oneself, a corporate gesture, or a weekend enhancement to the Concours experience, this offering allows for a deeper connection between driver and machine, and between admiration and action.

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An Event That Rewards Reflection

Part of what sets the Concours of Elegance apart from other motoring events is its pacing. It does not rush, shout, or overwhelm. Instead, it invites quiet contemplation and conversation, an atmosphere in which stories are shared as often as engines are started. Whether you are standing beside a one-of-one Ferrari built for a crowned head of Europe or chatting with the grandson of a car’s original engineer, the event fosters encounters that resonate. The cars are treated not merely as trophies, but as historical artefacts, living sculptures, and symbols of an era’s ambition. Every engine note and hand-formed curve speaks to a world where craftsmanship still matters and design has meaning. That ethos is echoed across the gardens, from the concourse entries to the hospitality marquees, creating a holistic experience that lingers long after the final car departs.

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Looking Ahead with Purpose

As the Concours of Elegance continues to evolve, it does so with purpose. Its commitment to curation over commercialisation, to quality over quantity, and to storytelling over spectacle, ensures that it remains a benchmark not only in the UK but across the international concours circuit. With each edition, new chapters are written, whether through the unveiling of a newly restored classic, the arrival of a long-lost prototype, or the retelling of a personal journey connected to a car. For London Luxury Chauffeuring, continued involvement in the event reflects a shared dedication to excellence, poise, and hospitality. Whether transporting royalty, collectors, or first-time visitors, their contribution helps ensure that every experience connected to the Concours of Elegance meets the same standard set by the cars on display.