Where can spectators watch this year’s Banbury Run, the premier road riding event run by the Vintage Motor Cycle Club?
Top of the list for many people will be the well known Sun Rising Hill. It is back as part of the course of the 2026 Banbury Run, which starts at the British Motor Museum, at Gaydon, Warwickshire on Sunday, 7 June 2026. However, that’s not the only place.
Three routes have been partially revealed by the event organisers, catering to the different classes and ages of motorcycles taking part. The very oldest group, dating from before 1915, have the option taking a route which does not include the long and steep Sun Rising Hill.
However, if their riders are feeling confident then they can opt for the route used by the next oldest group, the 1915 to 1924 motorcycles!
The third group, the least old motorcycles made between 1925 and 31 December 1930, have a route which not only includes Sun Rising Hill but also goes as far east as Chipping Warden – and they have to maintain an average speed of 24mph or 30mph.
The roads used on the Banbury Run are those used by test riders of the booming British motorcycle industry in the first half of the 20th century, to prove the motorcycles were capable of everyday road riding – including hills.
Sun Rising Hill is an 800-metre stretch of the A422 near Edgehill. It has a gradient of nearly 19% in places – that’s 1 in 5, although the average is closer to 10%.
The Banbury Run starts at the British Motor Museum, where there is a paddock for competing riders and an autojumble. Admission to the paddock and autojumble requires buying a ticket for the Museum which includes admission to the exhibits. Tickets bought in advance cost £18 per adult, £9 per child, and £16 per concession. The Museum opens at 9am and the first bikes will depart at 10am.
Tickets can be bought here: https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/banbury-run
Banbury Run 2026: The Routes & Classes
🔵 Route A & A1
- Oxhill
- Upper Tysoe
- Northend
- Bishops Itchington
- ❌ Does not include Sun Rising Hill
🟡 Route B
- Whatcote
- Wroxton
- Banbury
- Claydon
- ✅ Includes Sun Rising Hill
🔴 Route C & C1
- Fulready
- Banbury
- Chipping Warden
- Southam
- ✅ Includes Sun Rising Hill
A quick mental map
- All routes cluster around Banbury / North Oxfordshire / South Warwickshire
- Sun Rising Hill (OX15 6HR) is a key landmark:
- Included in B and C
- Skipped by A (so A is slightly more northerly / gentler)
Banbury Run Classes
Class A: Veteran Machines manufactured before 1st January 1915. The average speed to be maintained is 15mph, or 4 minutes a mile. The route does not include Sun Rising Hill.
Class A1: Veteran Machines manufactured before 1st January 1915. The average speed to be maintained is 18mph, or 3.33 minutes a mile. The route does not include Sun Rising Hill.
Class B: Early Vintage Machines manufactured between 1915 and 31st December 1924. The average speed to be maintained is 20mph, or 3 minutes a mile.
Class C: Late Vintage Machines manufactured between 1st January 1925 and 31st December 1930. The average speed to be maintained is 24mph, or 2½ minutes a mile.
Class C1: Late Vintage Machines manufactured between 1st January 1925 and 31st December 1930. The average speed to be maintained is 30mph, or 2 minutes a mile.
