Navigating the inner-city streets of England’s capital can be a daunting task, especially if you’re behind the wheel. But in West London, car enthusiasts have a haven at the Duke of London.

During my recent visit to the UK for the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed, I was excited to check out this renowned London car spot.

Located in Brentford, near the historic Brentford Docks, the Duke of London is a unique classic and collectable car hub. Established by Merlin McCormack in 2014, it has grown in size and popularity, recently relocating to a new facility. While some areas are still under construction, the showroom and epic rooftop are already open.

My visit coincided with a special event showcasing Oilstainlab’s ‘Half11,’ which had competed at the Festival of Speed the previous week. Speedhunters took its first look at this creation while it was still under construction in 2021. It’s now complete, and I’ve shot a full feature – look out for that soon!

Arriving around 7:00pm, I was immediately drawn to a Lamborghini Countach, basking in the summer evening sun. I’d be back up here soon enough, but first I wanted to check out the indoor displays starting a few levels down.

On Level 6, you’ll find a mix of cars, both for sale and being stored. These vehicles might not be the Duke of London’s crown jewels but they are still impressive.

One floor up, on Level 7, the space is enclosed and houses some exceptional cars, along with the in-house café. Here, I spotted a Bullitt Mustang, a Morgan, a pair of old-school Range Rovers, and several classic BMWs.

The selection also included a variety of bikes and a quirky Barbie-themed three-wheeler. When did you last see one of those?

My favourite car on this floor? That would be the groovy (yes, that’s the only word to describe it) Meyers Manx.

Moving up to Level 7.5, you’ll find cars encased in climate-controlled plastic bubbles to ensure their protection from the elements. The Duke of London has plans to eventually keep all its stored cars like this.

After exploring the lower levels, I made my way to the rooftop. By now, it was filled with attendees, many of who had arrived in their own cars. Unsurprisingly, the space was teeming with Porsches, from vintage 911s to modern variants, including less-celebrated but equally-cool-in-my-mind models like the 944.

If I could’ve chosen one car to take home though, it would be this stunning 964 Carrera 2 with just the right amount of modification.

While all this was happening, the team at Tico’s were onsite cooking up some delicious hot dogs for everyone. It would have been rude not to indulge.

The best part about this event was the remarkable variety of cars, particularly the classic gems like this mint Volvo P1800S, an E38 BMW, and an Aston Martin V8 Vantage. The adage ‘they don’t make them like they used to’ still rings true.

Meeting fellow enthusiasts is one of the joys of car culture. Few hobbies bring together such a diverse group of people, and the atmosphere at this event was perfect for that.

Spending my last night in England surrounded by stunning machines was the ideal farewell before heading home to South Africa.

If you’re a Londoner or just visiting the city and looking for a cool place to hang out, you might want to put the Duke of London on your to-do list.

Stefan Kotzé
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