Last Updated on 9 June 2025 by Colette
This post features a gifted experience & affiliate links
Chaos Karts is a new, high tech go-karting experience which combines go-karting with augmented reality for an immersive real-life video game experience.
Dave, Ben and Finn popped down to try out Chaos Karts ahead of the opening weekend and all three came back absolutely buzzing – in fact Ben said it was “one of the coolest things I’ve done”.
Having not been down myself, I asked Dave to put together a write up for you so we’ve included details of their very first Chaos Karts experience as well as the answers to some frequently asked questions!
Our Chaos Karts Manchester experience
The Chaos Karts reception area is very bright and open with a number of activities for waiting guests before the track is available. There are a bank of eight arcade machines to use, each with over 2000 games to choose from, coffee, ice cream and popcorn machines, a large Kart under a Chaos Karts sign and a 3d scanner to build a virtual avatar of yourself. All of this is free of charge to use once you are booked in for your Chaos Karts session. Ben loved the arcade machine and popcorn.
Once you’ve filled out your waivers, you’re taken through to a separate room to view a safety / instructional video. The video is approx. 3 minutes long and explains what to do in the kart, what not to do and how to use the controls including how to fire at your competitors. The video also shows you how the power ups on track work and how you score points.
Next you move into the track area. Your pockets are emptied into storage boxes before you are shown to your kart. The kart is very much like a standard go kart. There is scope to change the position of your seat so that smaller and larger drivers are able to fit. I am 6’ 5” and fit into the kart at the furthest setting, although I don’t think people much taller than me would find it comfortable. Both Finn and Ben fit the cars perfectly. Once in the car there are two pedals; an accelerator and a brake the same as a standard go-kart. On the steering wheel there are buttons on each side, one to fire a weapon forwards and one to fire a weapon backwards.
The starting area is a separate smaller room where you get in the karts and fasten yourself in. There are eight karts available at any one time, the guide said they do have ten karts, but normally keep two on charge. Once everyone is ready then the track appears around you. That sounds odd but the track is projected from the ceiling onto the floor so one second the room is very dark, almost black, and you can’t see much and the next the track appears in front of you along with projections on the walls. It’s quite the trick and I must say I did not get bored of it the entire time (child that I am!).
Once the track is realised then you drive out of the staging area into another adjoining warehouse where the actual track is. The ceiling projection is the same in this area and you set off on your first race. The aim, as you might expect is to complete as many laps as possible versus your competitors. This is made more difficult, and fun, by the availability of the weapons on track and power ups. Weapons and power ups are scattered around the track at random intervals – just as they might be in a video game. Once you drive over the weapon, or power up, then it is available for you to fire at your competitors. It also disappears from the track so that nobody else can pick it up. You have a fixed number you can hold at any one time. If this all sounds like a certain computer game then all I can say is that we think in the same fashion. Put simply, it is brilliant.
The beauty of the ceiling projection is that you aren’t restricted to only one track. Each race lasts approx. 2 – 3 minutes and in the time we were on track we were able to race six different tracks. Once a race is finished, the cars stop wherever they are on track, the room goes dark for a few seconds and then another different track appears around you. Your countdown begins and you race again. Each track has a different layout, a different theme and more importantly, different obstacles to avoid (some of which move around, watch out for the crabs!).
Both Ben and Finn were raving about the experience when we were done and I have to concur, I think it was a great experience and we all want to go again in the future! If you fancy indulging in a real life gaming / karting experience then this is your chance.
Anything else you need to know? Here’s a few FAQs I’ve been asked:
Where is Chaos Karts?
Chaos Karts is tucked away by the side of the Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum on the old Granada Studios site: Chaos Karts, Lower Byrom St, Manchester M3 4FP. We parked at Stone Street car park but there’s only about 7 or 8 spaces there so it would be worth having a back up plan!
How old do you have to be?
By far the most commonly asked question when I’ve talked about Chaos Karts is “how old do you have to be?” – there seems to be some confusion about this one as some people have said that you can do it from the age of 9 but the website clearly states: “You must be at least 11 years old and be 5ft/1.5m tall to play” so I wouldn’t risk it!
If you are under the age of 18 you must be accompanied by an adult. This adult does not have to play but must book a companion ticket via the Pit Crew by emailing guestservices@chaoskarts.com
How much does it cost?
The cheapest way to buy tickets for Chaos Karts is to pre-book online. Tickets are available online from £22 per person. Tickets are available at the attraction on the day for £35 per person but I wouldn’t risk just turning up without a booking as it’s already looking super popular.
How many people can play?
You can have up to 8 players on the track at any one time so if your group is less than 8, you might find yourself competing against people you don’t know as well.
If you fancy a more typical go-karting experience, check out these places to go go-karting in Manchester
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