Tank Driving Experiences: 11 Places to Drive a Tank in the UK

Juniper Leisure offers tank driving experiences and corporate activity days, on a private estate just outside Winchester. During their standard tuition course, visitors can drive four different tanks – the Chieftain main battle tank, the Abbot self-propelled gun, the FV432 armoured personnel carrier, and the Stormer mobile platform. Each session is led by experienced instructors, some of whom will happily share stories of their time serving in the Falklands and Gulf wars. As if that weren’t enough, bespoke packages are available which include digger and bulldozer driving too!

ACF Teambuilding and Events is one of the country’s leading providers of team buildings days and corporate events. They offer a whole range of indoor and outdoor activities at their South Bristol site, but the one we’re most interested in is the APC (armoured personnel carrier) driving experience. Now, technically, this isn’t a tank – there’s no massive gun on the top – but it’s still a seriously impressive military vehicle. During the experience, you’ll guide it round their purpose-built off-road circuit, making light work of the most challenging terrain.

Tank School, located in the scenic Usk Valley, provides exclusive tank driving days and bespoke corporate packages. Their ‘Special Forces Tank Driver’ experience puts you behind the controls of a FV432 armoured personnel carrier – plus, there’s a tour of a US military Humvee, and an AK 47 strip-down lesson. Non-driving spectators are welcome to join you for the ride, and you’ll even be issued with your own military uniform – so you’re ready to fully embrace the role of tank commander! Visit their site for full details of this and other experiences, including a tank and pub day – now there’s an intriguing combo!

SWB Motorsport has organised military vehicle experience days since 2016. Their site, just outside Bicester, is now home to two tanks – the GKN Sankey FV432 and the Alvis CVR(T) Spartan. The former is a 15-ton monster favoured by the British during the Cold War, whereas the latter – a lighter, nimbler beast – is affectionately referred to as the ‘sports tanks’! In addition to these, visitors can drive an Alvis Stalwart 6-wheel off-roader, a Leyland military truck, and a Dennis Sabre fire engine. For enthusiasts, it’s an absolute dream come true.

Tanks A Lot is Britain’s biggest tank and military vehicle experience centre. They’ve a huge collection ready to be driven over their rugged course, a half-hour’s drive from Northampton. There are four awesome experiences to choose from, but our favourite is the ‘Fully Monty’. During this full day, public session, visitors operate four tanks (or tank-like vehicles), before enjoying four more activities: clay pigeon shooting, firing flintlock and mortars, survival training, and an armoury tour. Whoever excels most then gets to crush a car in Tanks A Lot’s Chieftain Main Battle Tank!

Armourgeddon, in Leicestershire, is the UK’s home of tank paintball battles, and – in case you’re wondering – it’s exactly how it sounds! Your team of three becomes an elite tank crew for the day, driving a FV432 around a former WWII bombing range – and firing paintballs from the turret-mounted cannon! If all-out paint-based warfare doesn’t sound like your idea of fun (who are you?), they also do regular tank experiences and taster sessions. These are a chance to drive the FV432 in both open-hatch and battle-ready modes – relying solely on the periscope during your second lap!

Wicked Adventures is a tank (and monster truck!) driving specialist, located in Telford, Shropshire. That’s right: not only can visitors drive an awesome FV432 armoured personnel carrier – they can get behind the wheels of two full-size American monster trucks too! The venue offers driving experiences for kids and adults, including a parent-and-child package that’s ideal for tank-mad dads (or mums) and their little ‘uns! With professional instructors and over 80 acres of muddy tracks and fields to explore, this is THE destination for fans of the world’s meanest machines.

Turboventure is Newcastle’s most established outdoor activity centre – and it’s the only place to drive a tank in the North East. Once again, it’s our old friend the FV432. This time, you’ll be rumbling over open farmland – experiencing the ride from both the driver’s seat and the rear crew compartment. Afterwards, visitors can check out the centre’s collection of unusual military vehicles – including an amphibious M2 rig, an ex-RAF crash tender, and a Foden 6x6 gun tractor. All in all, a grand day out for petrolheads and tank enthusiasts.

Galloway Tanks & Activity Centre is situated on a working farm, overlooking Garlieston Harbour on the Solway Firth. It offers military vehicle driving, off-roading, and weapons packages – perfect for an adventurous day out in the great outdoors. In addition to their FV432, there’s an Alvis Stalwart 6x6 amphibious truck and an ATV Supacat. Combine these go-anywhere machines with archery, clay pigeon shooting, or WWII Lee-Enfield rifle firing – and you might just have South West Scotland’s ultimate stag or hen do destination!

Tank Driving Scotland – the name says it all really! Here, you’ll find the largest selection of tank driving experiences north of the border – including opportunities to drive an Abbott gun tank and a FV180 Combat Engineer Tractor. Of course, no tank driving experience would be complete without a FV432 too. At this Dundee venue, they’ll even let you crush a car in theirs! Apparently, it’s not as easy as it looks, but don’t worry – drivers receive expert instruction to guarantee ‘maximum squashage’. Phew!

Finally, we couldn’t end our roundup of UK tank driving venues without mentioning Mini Tank Elite, in Hampshire. Once again, the name gives it all away! Yes, mini tanks are miniature versions of their military counterparts, engineered in Britain and fitted with a 13bhp Honda engine. They can be independently driven by kids (and big kids) aged 8 and over – which makes the Warren Heath Woods battleground an ideal children’s party venue. Safe, fun, and totally unique – mini tanks prove that good things do indeed come in small packages.