Regent Street Motor Show preview: ‘Route 66 comes to the capital’ | Martin Love

As London's iconic shopping street gets ready to celebrate its 200th anniversary, you can get into the spirit with one of the country's largest free car shows

Regent Street Motor Show
Where Regent Street, London W1 (regentstreetmotorshow.com)
When 2 November
Price free

This year marks the 200th anniversary of Regent Street. It takes its name from the Prince Regent who later became George IV. He instructed his architect John Nash to design London's first purpose-built shopping street. It's now, of course, a world famous destination right in the heart of the capital. All kinds of celebrations are planned - this year's Christmas lights are said to be spectacular - but for car lovers the Regent Street Motor Show will be a high point. Now in its third year, the event is Britain's biggest free car show, with hundreds of vehicles old and new displayed along Nash's beautiful curve. As usual there will be a presentation of dozens of extraordinary pre-1905 pioneers taking part in the Veteran Car Concours d'Elegance. They then head off on their annual rally to Brighton at first light the next morning, with many competitors dressed in period costume. At the other end of the spectrum, there will also be a look into what the future holds in terms of low-carbon personal transportation. This year the show also has plenty of razzmatazz as there is an Illinois Route 66 theme - the highway is often called the 'Main Street of America'. Expect hot dogs and hot rods as you stroll down Nash's boulevard.