Best Places to Watch and Not Watch the T.T. Races

It’s not just bikes battling it out during TT. Locals and comeovers have their own fight on their hands as they battle for a decent spot to watch the action.

Last year, one avid fan inserted a foldable garden chair into the orifice of another avid fan for a space. And that was just to watch at Governor’s Bridge. Lame. When watching an event in which the main objects move faster than The Flash looking for a toilet during an aggressive bout of diarrhoea, it’s important to get a good viewing spot for each 001.76 second of action. Blink and you’ll miss it. Sneeze? No point even bothering to go. God help you if you have hay fever.

So, to make sure you’re in prime position to catch the bikes as they whiz by, here’s a list of the best and worse places to watch the Races.

THE GRANDSTAND

The start and finish of the races and the only place where you’ll be able cop a proper eyeful at the riders and their machines without ending up in a post-whiplash neck cone. Because they’ll be stationary at the beginning and end. (Overlooking the racing part in the middle). The Grandstand is the beating heart of the races. It has a nice nostalgic feel from times gone by, mixed with the hustle and bustle of the TT Fan Park. An entire area dedicated to different types of fans to keep you cool on a hot TT day. Ceiling fans, pedestal fans, DC motor fans, agricultural ceiling fans, old school ‘coy Victorian lady’ fans. You name it, they’ve got it.

Besides fans, there’s a load of food and drink stalls, plus entertainment and – the most important thing of all – toilets. It’s easy to get to via Douglas as it’s not affected by road closures and there’s a big, free car park. But those spots go fast, so make sure to get there early to pop a towel in a space to save one, like you do with sun loungers on holiday.

Speed rating: Can I blink here and still see a bike going past? Yes.

BRAY HILL

I used to sell T.T. Radio headsets there to people when I was 14. It’s where I really perfected my social awkwardness. You can find this spot on Glencrutchery Road just down from the start/finish. It’s easy to get to and has lots of side roads to park on not far from the spot. There are no facilities, so take snacks. And don’t drink for 3 days prior to avoid needing the toilet. This will also help double the viewing pleasure as the dehydration will make you start seeing 2 of every bike that speeds past.

Speed rating: Avoid blinking at all costs. 

QUARTERBRIDGE

A classic. Take a pew on a grassy knoll and witness, for the first time, people using the double roundabout without confusion. If you like your food as fast as your bikes, there’s a load of (two) fast-food joints within minutes of this hot spot. Just don’t expect to get a McFlurry. The machine will be McBroken.

Speed rating: Blinking okay.

BRADDAN BRIDGE

Just a little bit further down from Quarterbridge. The wooden seating there was put together by Jesus in 10AD giving it a charming nostalgic feel that ties in nicely with the two churches either side. Just be wary that it could collapse any minute. Organised religion, not the seating.

Speed rating: Blinking also okay.

UNION MILLS

This is a pretty basic choice. Like getting a Korma from the Indian, but hey, it’s popular for a reason. There’s a nice pub and beer garden here so you can booze, eat, and relieve yourself to your heart’s content. It’s a fast section of the course for riders, so don’t be blinking here.

Speed rating: No blinking. Get yourself some of those eyelid openers from A Clockwork Orange.

THE GINGER HALL

This one’s just after the Sulby straight. Another spot with a nice pub so you have access to food, drink, bands, and toilets. It’s the player’s player of venues, everyone loves the Ginger Hall.

Speed rating: Measured blinking acceptable.

THE GOOSENECK

Another spectator favourite. It comes right after the Waterworks and Towerbends – both made up of ridiculously fast twists and turns that’d make a Twister lolly feel embarrassed. Because it’d look like just a regular, boring lolly, as its twists and turns pale in comparison to this area of the course… This is just stupid now. But on the topic of lollies, you can probably buy one there. There are facilities on hand.

Speed rating: Blinking ill advised.

RAMSEY HAIRPIN

Seeing as Ramsey has made some sort of deal with weather gods to be constantly sunny up there while the rest of us spend 99.5% of the year walking around clouded in damp misery, this spot, on a nice day, will be gorgeous. Not loads of space but worth it if you can get one. It’s right by one of the TT radio commentary points too, so if you wave you might get spotted on the radio.

Speed rating: Safe to blink. Well, you’ll probably be blinking in all the stupid sunny sun there anyway that Ramsey’s always hoarding. 

VICTORY CAFÉ

Victory Cafe is halfway up Snaefell, right by the tramline. The building itself is TT themed and gorge. Full of fairy lights, good food and drink, a hipstery clothes shop, and a mini cinema. It’s got a load of lovely, luscious green grass space outside, so you can get a good view of the bikes making their way along the mountain road in full sight of the rolling Manx hills and our Celtic neighbours on a nice day. If you haven’t been, it’s very cool. Like the equivalent of the back seat of the bus where all the self-assured, fashionable kids hang out.

Speed rating: Safe to blink.

CREG NY BAA

The Creg is like the rough geezer you find intimidating but also respect because he’s been around so long, and when you spend time with him you realise he’s actually a big softie who enjoys doing watercolour portraits of past T.T. legends on a Sunday morning. That’s how I imagine it anyway. I’ve never been.

It has its own corporate grandstand and fan zone, but there are loads of other free areas to watch around Creg Ny Baa. The stretch down from Kate’s Cottage is one of the fastest parts of the course. You can clamp your eyes on them as they motor it towards Hillberry – another good spot to watch, where there’s grandstands and parking. It’s a spot of high excitement as last lap battles are pretty common here.

Speed rating: Blinking – DON’T DO IT – but could be inevitable as you blink away the tears streaming from your eyes caused by the speed of the bikes as they pass.

YOUR SOFA

Of course, if you hate people or have crippling fear of fresh air, you can watch the races at home on your tele on TT+. You have to pay for it. But that’s the price of choosing to live a life of solitude.

Speed rating: The blinking world is your oyster.

PLACES NOT GOOD TO WATCH THE RACES

• Inside a wardrobe.
• Milntown. It’s haunted.
• Inside the pocket of a friendly giant.
• The Calf of Man.
• Mars.