Although I didn't go last year, I went the 8 years running before that with a group of my mates. The best way to do it very much depends on what it is you want from the day out. I'll be honest, you'll have very little idea what's happening in the race unless you listen to the radio or rent a kangaroo TV, but then it's similar to rugby in so much as you go to the ground more for the atmosphere and watch TV for the view and replays.

The last time I went was the first time I'd paid for reserved seating having gone general admin before that. We found that as they've developed the track they've binned off the general admin areas. It had reached a stage where we had to enter the track at about 5:50am carrying a load of deck chairs to have any chance of getting a reasonable view (I'm not being pedantic here. Much later than that and you'd be behind thousands of people with little chance of seeing the track.

It's very different to most sports in that you're allowed to take food, drink and chairs into the circuit. If you don't you'll pay ~£4 a pint and about £7 for fish & chips. If you're in general admin you will need chairs.

Personally, if you're going with family and it's your first time I'd definitely pay the extra for the reserved seating. It'll allow you to walk around the track and see the teams' display stands. Some of the stuff on show is very interesting. Last year's cars, technical demos and of course pit girls, although there's a lot less of that kind of stuff these days - on my first visit at 14 years old I was given free packs of cigs from lots of scantly clad lovelies. I was too young to appreciate it

Feel free to drop me a PM if you want any more specific info

Just a wee addendum. Buy ear protectors!

There's new engines this year so it might be slightly different but nothing can prepare you for the sound of 20 F1 cars screaming by you. It's not even a nice engine noise, it's a horrible, ear ripping screech that will see you running for the stalls buying ear plugs at £10 a shot. Do yourself a favour and buy some off ebay ahead of time for 50p, or better still, buy something along rlthese linesrl as you'll then be able to wear ear phones at the same time so that you can listen to the radio.

I was about to say that you can rent something called Kangaroo TV but it looks like rlthey've quit F1rl so I don't know what the situation will be next year. I'm sure something will take it's place but I usually just take a cheap radio and either tune into radio 5 or radio silverstone.

If your budget will stretch to it I can thoroughly recommend the Becketts corner stand. Not only are you right in front of one of the most famous corners in motor sport but you get to see a lot of the 'new' infield track. Failing that, Luffield is also very good. If it's wet, you'll see a lot of overtaking there.

Finally, the advice above about traffic is spot on. Get there early or you'll queue for hours. We usually stay over at one of the camping sites but if I were leaving on Sunday and it was sunny, I'd stay on for the concert after the race and let the worst of the traffic clear off. You'll have to put up with Tony Jardine but that's ever so slightly less painful than the queues back to the motorways.

You can buy little radios at the shop. Think I was £6. If you are not camping then you could use your phone for one of the radio apps. Also they give out earplugs, just the foamy ones but they are good enough to keep it loud without deafening you.

There are quite a few screens around. We could see one from all three places we sat. The screen locations are on the circuit map so you can check that when you are booking.

Have to say though it might be a heck of a long weekend if you don't actually like it! Do you like racing and just find F1 boring? If so you might enjoy the GP2 and Porsche as they have more action, but if you don't like racing at all then I hope your FIL appreciates the effort!

Thanks again!
No I was being a tad mischevious, I find the cars and the technology amazing and I like watching the start (for any crashes!), the finish and when you get some battles between 2 drivers! It's sadly the bits in between that bore me! But then that's watching on TV at home without the atmosphere and the other things going on at the track so I'm sure there'll be enough to keep me interested. And the father-in-law loves it, it's mostly for him but I couldn't pass up the chance to go myself too since it's something I've never done and would probably unlikely to do without someone who's really into it.

I was fascinated as a kid by the Senna/Prost/Mansell battles, and wish F1 was a little more like it was back then!