The circuit was 1 mi (1.6 km) long, and ran on existing paths through the park, including an infield loop past the lake.

20 cars entered the first London Grand Prix on 17 July 1937, a race eventually won by Prince Bira in his ERA R2B Romulus at an average speed of 54.36 mph (87.48 km/h).

The circuit's location within Greater London made it a popular venue for both film and television settings, The Italian Job filmed on the startline at Crystal Palace for the scene showing initial testing of the Mini Cooper getaway cars and in the paddock area for the scene where a security van is "blown-up".

The circuit was also used in Ron Howard's film Rush, to recreate the last corner accident between James Hunt and Dave Morgan,[3] and for parts of the UFO episode "The Responsibility Seat".

The first known contemporary motion picture having captured the postwar Crystal Palace circuit is Joseph Losey's 1957 film noir classic, Time Without Pity, featuring driver Leo McKern lapping in a Mercedes 300 SL coupé.

The event was attended by some of the star drivers and cars from the past; Bentleys, Bugattis, Ferraris, Porsches, Jaguars and many Lotuses raced the circuit once more.

Following discussions with local council and the London Development Agency, sprint racing again started at the park, with the two-day event held 30–31 May 2010.