On the first weekend of October, classic cars will line up along the clifftop at Robin Hood’s Bay. The inaugural Loxley Collection 500 UK Roman Road Classic Vehicle Tour starts here at Hotel Victoria. It’s a charity tour covering 500 miles from coast to coast along roads the Romans built almost 2,000 years ago. Every car on it was built before 1976.
What is the Loxley 500?
The Loxley 500 runs from Friday 2 to Friday 9 October 2026. It starts in Robin Hood’s Bay and finishes in Mullion on Cornwall’s Lizard Peninsula, passing through Lincolnshire, the Cotswolds and Somerset. Along the way it takes in historic landmarks, spectacular landscapes, and the communities and independent businesses that make each place distinctive.
The tour was put together by Andrew Long, owner of The Loxley Hotel Collection. He’s a keen historian and classic car enthusiast. Hotel Victoria is part of the Loxley Collection, a portfolio of premium hotels with historical significance in unique and distinctive locations. Andrew designed the tour to celebrate Britain’s heritage, linking classic vehicles with Roman roads and a route through medieval towns, cities and landscapes.
“Robin Hood’s Bay is a wonderful place to begin this adventure, with its history, dramatic coastline and strong sense of character,” he said. “The Loxley Collection 500 is centred on creating a memorable experience that showcases the richness and diversity of Britain’s visitor economy.”
Robin Hood’s Bay is a wonderful place to begin this adventure, with its history, dramatic coastline and strong sense of character
— Andrew Long
”The Robin Hood’s Bay start
Friday 2 October, from 3pm: Drivers and passengers arrive at Hotel Victoria on Station Road. In the evening there’s a three-course dinner in Osborne’s Restaurant and live music.
Saturday 3 October, by 11am: The convoy leaves the Bay and heads south across the North York Moors via Pickering and Malton. From there the next stop will be the ancient cobbled streets of the historic Bailgate in Lincoln, arriving at our sister hotel, the White Hart, where drivers and spectators will be met with the backdrop of Lincoln’s magnificent Cathedral, and castle. At 4pm the cars gather in Castle Hill Square, between Lincoln Cathedral and Lincoln Castle, for professional photographs.
With classic cars lined up against the North Yorkshire coastline, the start should be a spectacular sight for motoring enthusiasts and visitors alike. If you’re in the Bay that weekend, Friday afternoon and Saturday morning are the best times to see them.
Why start here?
Roman roads and the North Yorkshire coast go together. On Wheeldale Moor, a short drive inland, a long stretch of ancient stone road known as Wade’s Causeway crosses the heather. It has long been thought of as Roman, though historians still debate its age. A tour of old roads fits this part of the world.
The Bay also looks good behind a row of polished classics. The old fishing village drops steeply down to the sea, the North York Moors rise behind it, and the view from the top of Station Road is one of the best on the coast.
No entry fee, just a good cause
Taking part costs nothing. Instead, drivers are encouraged to raise money for a charity of their choice, so the whole convoy doubles as a fundraiser. Any car built before 1976 can enter, and exceptional sports cars and other interesting vehicles at least 25 years old will also be considered. Car trailers and support vehicles can come too if booked four weeks in advance.
Full details and entry are on the Loxley Collection 500 page.
Where the tour goes next
After the Bay, the cars stop overnight at four more Loxley Collection hotels:
Make a weekend of it
For those travelling to Robin Hood’s Bay to witness the start of this historic automotive event, why not make a weekend of your visit? With the cars leaving mid-morning on Saturday, you still have the rest of the weekend here:
- Walk down through Bay Town’s cobbled lanes to the beach and rock pools at low tide
- Follow the Cleveland Way along the cliffs to Ravenscar or north to Whitby
- Visit Whitby Abbey and the harbour, ten minutes up the coast
- Drive the moorland roads of the North York Moors while the heather is turning
- Eat in Osborne’s Restaurant, or have a pint in The Loxley Pub
Stay at Hotel Victoria
We have rooms for the Loxley 500 weekend, from Cosy Doubles to Sea View Balcony rooms looking out over the Bay. Whether you’re driving in the tour or just coming to see the cars, our team can help you plan your stay.
