The Entire Guide to the best places to watch the Isle of Man TT

The Isle of Man TT Races return next month, but where should you watch? We spoke to TT experts, fans and racers themselves to pick these must visit spots…

Bray Hill (bottom of…)

Wanna understand what the TT is about in 10 seconds? Stand at the bottom of Bray Hill and find out!

Less than a mile into the course, Bray Hill runs through Douglas. Lined with houses, it’s bumpy, downhill and not exactly straight. The sight of a 240bhp superbike barrelling down here, with a full tank of fuel and cold tyres, is a sight to behold.

Its location means it’s easy to access, though you might need to get up early to get a front row spot (or know a friend of a friend with a house on the course). All of the riders we spoke to say that it’s a ‘must watch’ location. And they know just how spectacular it is! 

Harold’s Farm (and Gorse Lea)

Head out of Douglas and hedgerows replace houses. Just after the sixth milestone lie some of the most demanding and unforgiving right handers on the course.

Immediately before Gorse Lea lies ‘Harold’s’ a 170mph kink that can be viewed from the farm of Harold Leece, whose hospitality over the years has created livelong memories for TT fans.

It’s the classic TT experience, as fans ears’ prick up to the sound of a single howling bike in the distance, breaking the silence of anticipation before flashing past in a split second. Harold’s and Gorse Lea are corners where you can really appreciate the skill and bravery of the riders, and the absolute accuracy which defines the very top runners.

Harold’s is fairly easy to access from the outside of the course, although you’ll have to get there pretty early to grab a good spot. Harold passed away a few years ago, but the family continue his legacy. They put on some hospitality, with homemade drinks and sandwiches, and although there’s no cost to watch there, it’s good form to make a donation, which goes to charity after the TT. 

Mountain Mile

The TT is unique in too many ways to even mention, but the make up of the course is really what defines it. One moment the bikes are howling past everyday houses, schools and offices, the next they are flashing between the hedgerows or gunning flat out down the Sulby straight.

But the Mountain section is so, so special and worth the effort to experience. Access and facilities are often not the best, but the hardiest fans get the biggest rewards. Take a hike up to the Gooseneck and you can get really close to the action. It’s a great spot for photographers, who can get that iconic view looking out to the bays to the west of the island.

Better facilities can be found at Bungalow, where the view extends for over a mile. Here you have the new(-ish) Victory Café, complete with Joey Dunlop memorial statue. The Monster Energy bridge allows access to both sides of the road, while the famous Snaefell Mountain Railway tram from Laxey stops here. It’s a great spot, but getting in and out while the roads are closed for racing isn’t likely to happen – so make sure you take plenty of supplies.

Grandstand

The Grandstand isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but we think it’s a great place to watch at least one race.

It costs extra to watch here, but you’ll be able to see the bikes depart from the startline, before witnessing all the teamwork going on in the pits, as well as all the emotion and the podium celebrations. Big screens help you follow the action, while you’re right next to the paddock and fan zone, so you can really get a feel for the event and see the podium finishers being interviewed after the race.

Go down the pub

There are some legendary pubs on the TT course, and they can be a great way to experience the racing.

Sulby Glen hotel and the famous Creg-ny-Baa are landmarks on the TT course, but our favourite is at Ginger Hall (you’ll notice it because it has all the Entire Cover Insurance banners outside). Some of the pubs set up viewing areas (often with a small charge) and they’ll all be absolutely rammed.

It’s a completely opposite experience to sitting on the desolate Mountain Mile, but still very much another way to enjoy the event. They’ll often have live TV pictures for you to follow and with plenty of local ale on tap it can be a very pleasant way to spend a TT day. Just don’t drink and ride!

Home!

So far we’ve assumed you’re making the trip over to the island for the races, but we recognise that for most that’s a once in a lifetime trip.

Fear not, because the wonders of modern technology mean that you can follow the action from anywhere in the world. In fact, if you want to know exactly what’s happening being glued to your device is probably the best way to stay in touch.

The advent of the internet gave dedicated fans the opportunity to hear the circuit commentary through a live stream of the iconic Manx Radio coverage, which in itself is guaranteed to give fans around the world a real flavour of the event. We then got excellent nightly highlights on ITV4, and live real time timing through the TT website.

These remain brilliant ways to follow the races at no cost but, if you want true immersion, the TT+ live pass brings live TV coverage of every race. It’s an amazing service, even more impressive when you consider the territory covered by the races. It costs £23.99 and, as well as live coverage, gives access to archive races, features and documentaries for a year. Even if you are attending in person, TT+ is a great way to enhance your trackside experience. You can find out more online.