Hethel, the home of Lotus

Since 1966, this peaceful part of Norfolk has reverberated with the sounds of some of the world’s most exciting and innovative motor cars.

To visit Hethel is to soak up the history of this famous marque, and revel in the excitement of Lotus’ future.

Experience, first-hand, the production process. Witness the track, where our class-leading sports cars are put through their paces. Walk in the footsteps of the F1 greats, who so admirably filled the Lotus trophy cabinet.

Factory Tours

Monday to Thursday throughout the year, we offer visitors a unique opportunity to tour the Chapman Production Centre at our Hethel HQ, the home of Lotus since 1966.

Recently upgraded as part of a £100m overhaul of our UK facilities, this is a fascinating two-hour tour of premium sports car production. It allows visitors unparalleled access to the manufacture and hands-on assembly of the Lotus Emira, offering a true ‘up close and personal, factory floor’ experience. 

Guests are led by a knowledgeable Lotus product specialist and fully immersed in an end-to-end experience, from bare chassis to completed sports car. The tour includes in-depth explanations and questions are always encouraged.

Heritage & Factory Tours

Only offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the three-hour Heritage Tour switches the focus to a visit to the home of Classic Team Lotus. A bespoke operation just across the road from the main Lotus HQ, it’s a separate business that’s dedicated to preserving and promoting the Lotus racing legend.

This is a fantastic opportunity to see a unique collection that includes some of the most historically significant race cars ever. Led by an experienced guide, you will witness a treasure trove of Team Lotus F1 cars driven by some of the most famous names in motorsport history – Senna, Fittipaldi, Clark, Mansell, Andretti. With it comes an amazing insight into the storied history and the technical innovations that went into creating the Lotus legend.

The Heritage Tour also includes a shortened version of the Factory Visit (as detailed above).

Factory Tour

Monday to Thursday, 10:00 to 12:00 or 14:00 to 16:00
£95 per person
Maximum 8 people per tour

Schedule for the tour AM Tour PM Tour
Arrival time (no access to site before)09:30-09:5013:30-13:50
Refreshments in Lotus Restaurant09:30-09:5013:30-13:50
Introduction to tour09:50-10:0013:50-14:00
Factory tour10:00-12:0014:00-16:00
End of tour12:0016:00
Retail shop open (card payments only)11:30-17:3011:30-17:30

Heritage & Factory Tour

Tuesday & Wednesday, 10:00 to 13:00 or 14:00 to 17:00
£140 per person
Maximum 8 people per tour

Schedule for the tourAM TourPM Tour
Arrival time (no access to site before)09:30-09:50 13:30-13:50
Refreshments in Lotus Restaurant09:30-09:5013:30-13:50
Introduction to tour09:50-10:0013:50-14:00
Factory tour10:00-13:0014:00-17:00
End of tour13:0017:00
Retail shop open (card payments only)11:30-17:3011:30-17:30

Searching Availability…

Factory and Heritage Tours involve walking for up to 2 and 3 hours respectively but we can accommodate wheelchair users also.  Please let us know in advance if you require any assistance.

Please note, visitors must be 10 years or older. Under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult at a ratio of 1 adult for every 2 children.

For more information, or to discuss your booking, please contact us on +44 (0) 3300 948 047, or customercare@lotuscars.com, 09:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday.

Terms & Conditions

  1. General
    1. In these terms and conditions “We” means Group Lotus Limited whose registered UK address is at Hethel, Potash lane, Norwich, Norfolk, NR14 8EZ
    2. These terms and conditions apply to any contract that we enter into with any individual who is acting in a personal capacity as a consumer.
  2. Price
    The price payable for service that you order is as set out in our website and is payable in the currency stated. The price includes value added tax or any other relevant sales tax.
  3. Payment
    1. payments will be made in full when you book your tour on our website. Upon confirmation of payment you will be sent an email confirming your booking with us.
    2. if you have been provided a voucher this can be redeemed against a tour of your choice as long as any difference in value has been settled.
  4. Our duties:
    1. We will ensure that all of our staff are appropriately qualified and trained and that all risk assessments have been undertaken.
    2. We shall ensure that you are given a safety briefing at the start of your day.
  5. Your obligations
    1. You will comply at all times during the day with any instructions given by us or our staff;
    2. You will not bring any animals on to our premises;
    3. Photography or filming is forbidden in all areas of the Lotus HQ except within the visitors’ Retail Centre and at Classic Team Lotus.
    4. You must attend the safety briefing at the commencement at the start of the day;
  6. Participant’s requirements
    1. You confirm that on the day that your booking is due to take place that you:
      • are at least 10 years old, (under 18’s to be accompanied by an adult as a ratio or 2 to 1)
      • are in good health and free from any medical condition or illness that could affect or impair your ability to walk round for up to 2 hours; this includes Covid 19 symptoms
      • are not under the influence of alcohol, illegal substances or any medicines that might affect you.
  7. Our liability for injury
    1. Whilst we will take every care to ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable day, we do not accept any liability for any loss, injury or damage that you may suffer whilst on our premises, although nothing within this clause excludes our liability to you in respect of loss, injury or damage that has been caused by our negligence.
  8. Your right to cancel Your order is protected by the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 and you have the following right to cancel:
    1. You may cancel your contract with us at any time up to the beginning of the seventh working day before the date of your tour, you do not have to give us any reason for cancelling your contract and the contract will be cancelled without any financial penalty.
    2. To cancel your contract you must notify via e mail to lotusdrivingacademy@lotuscars.com
    3. If possible to rebook your tour we will do so if not,  we will offer a voucher to be redeemed within the next 12 months
    4. Once you have notified us that you are cancelling your contract in accordance with paragraph 8.1 above, any sum debited to us will be refunded to your account as soon as possible and in any event within 30 days of your cancellation.
  9. Our right to cancel or re-schedule
    1. We may only cancel the event in the following circumstances.
      1. If we are unable to fulfil our obligations for any reason beyond our reasonable control, including, without limitation, Covid restrictions, industrial disputes, unavailability of staff due to illness, flood, fire, explosion or accident;
      2. We reserve the right to re-schedule or cancel any booking up to twenty eight (28) calendar days before its scheduled date.
    2. If we have to cancel the event for any of the reasons set out in paragraph 10.1 above, we shall notify you in writing (whether by post or e mail) and;
      1. offer you an alternative date for your booking; or
      2. offer you an open voucher allowing you to agree a further date with us for your booking during the 12 month period after the date that your original booking was due to take place.
    3. We accept no liability for any indirect or consequential loss, damage, expenses (including loss of profits, business or goodwill) or incidental costs that you may have incurred as a result of our cancellation such as (but not limited to) your cost of travel to and from the venue and accommodation. If you are booking accommodation either before or after the event, we strongly recommend that you book accommodation that allows you the right to cancel without penalty at short notice.
    4. Nothing within paragraph 9.3 is intended to limit any rights you might have as a consumer under applicable local law or other statutory rights that may not be excluded.
  10. Your right to re-schedule
    1. We understand that you may need to change the date of the booking on your order form. As a result, you have the right to re-schedule your booking for any reason provided that you notify us at least twenty eight (28) calendar days before the scheduled date. Your right to re-schedule is subject to the conditions set out below.
      The exception to the above is in the case of developing Covid 19 symptoms (as per NHS guidance) at any time up to and including the day of your event. You need to advise us by email and we will issue a voucher that will allow you to re-book for up to 12 months either after you have tested negative for the disease or have recovered. We may require proof that this is the case.
    2. If you re-schedule in accordance with paragraph 10.1 above, we shall send you an open voucher, which has to be used on a date to be agreed by both parties, but in any event within 12 months of the original scheduled date for your booking.
    3. Once you have been issued with an open voucher in accordance with this paragraph and agreed a revised date for your booking, you have no further right to re-schedule.
    4. In order to avoid any doubt, if you decide to re-schedule your booking, that does not give you any further right to cancel your order in accordance with paragraph 9.
  11. Our right to end your booking summarily
    1. We reserve the right to bring your booking to an immediate end if:
      1. You fail to meet any of our Participant Requirements (as defined in paragraph 6);
      2. You commit a serious breach of your obligations as set out at paragraph 5;
      3. You act in a manner that we reasonably believe to be a danger to the health and safety of you and/or others;
      4. If during the course of the day you start to exhibit Covid 19 symptoms
    2. If we terminate your booking in accordance with paragraphs 11.1(i)-(iii) inclusive, you shall not be entitled to any refund of the price paid.
    3. If we terminate your booking in accordance with paragraph 11.1(iv), our liability is limited to offering you a voucher offering you a 20% discount on a further booking, that discount being eligible for 12 months.
  12. Indemnity
    1. You agree to indemnify us, our employees, agents and any associated company from and against all actions, proceedings, claims and costs arising directly or indirectly as a result of any breach by you of these conditions.
    2. We agree to indemnify you from and against all actions, proceedings, claims and costs arising directly or indirectly as a result of any breach by us of these conditions.
  13. Privacy You acknowledge and agree to be bound by the terms of our privacy policy.
  14. Enforceability of these conditions If any part of these conditions are deemed to be unenforceable by any Court, that shall not affect the validity of the remaining conditions.
  15. Governing law The contract between us shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with English law and the English courts shall have jurisdiction to resolve any disputes between us.