Our ten favourite English motor museums
15 June 2023
Museums still have a lot to offer classic car enthusiasts. They’re part of the preservation movement that keeps historic vehicles on the road; not only are venues given over to exhibits, but space is also allotted to owners to gather and display their cars. As institutions, they repair and display our past motoring heritage.
The National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, Hampshire, further defined the role a collection of classic cars should play in the hearts and minds of the public. Jon Murden, its chief executive said: “[W]e will ‘engage and inspire people with the story of motoring’. This vision is driven by our collections, the tales they can tell - social, cultural, economic, sporting and personal - and the people, personalities and character they illustrate and bring to life…In turn, these stories can create emotional and spiritual connections for generations of people - so nurturing enthusiasts and the general public alike.”.
Now summer seems to have arrived, Lancaster Insurance has compiled a list of its favourite motor museums the length and breadth of the country. By no means conclusive, we also need your help finding the best institutions in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
1. National Motor Museum
beaulieu.co.uk
Beloved, sprawling – and home to the Spring and International Autojumbles – the National Motor Museum (NMM), found in the New Forest, is a must-visit for its impressive collection of 285 cars, dating from 1875 to the present day.
Ample space is available for shows, club gatherings – and, of course, Autojumbles, inspired by the late Edward, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu’s visit to swap meets in the United States. The family’s motoring legacy is etched into the motoring landscape; his father, John, 2nd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, commissioned Rolls-Royce’s now seminal mascot, the Spirit of Ecstasy.
Backed by an enviable collection of automobilia, motorcycles and Formula 1 cars, the NMM also curates a cache of Land Speed Record machinery, impressive dioramas, and Lalique mascots. A bustling workshop maintains its fleet, but its Top Gear Experience cars, rescued from decades of on-screen challenges, remain resolutely static!
2. British Motor Museum
Gaydon, Warwickshire, CV35 0BJ
britishmotormuseum.co.uk
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the British Motor Museum brings together the combined history of MG Rover and all its descendants in a 400 car assemblage, including the former James Hull collection, guest vehicles from the Vauxhall Heritage and cars donated by members of the public.
Backed by the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust and the Jaguar Heritage Trust, the exhibits trace our car industry back to its beginnings, plus the prototypes, one-offs and development vehicles built along the way. It’s also home to the build sheets of cars produced by Austin, Morris, BMC, BL, Austin-Rover, and the Rover Group.
A separate Collections Centre, where the exhibits are restored and maintained, includes a fully fitted out workshop, as well as extensive parking and display areas for clubs, classic car gatherings, and conferences.
3. Coventry Transport Museum
Coventry, West Midlands,CV1 1JD
transport-museum.com
Coventry plays a major role in the British motor industry – and the Coventry Transport Museum charts the influence and commemorates the cars it gave the world, from the earliest veterans, via Jaguar, Rootes Group, and Triumph, as well as the lasting effect of Peugeot-Talbot on the region.
It wasn’t just cars that Coventry made, either – there’s 250 of them, to be precise – there’s also 120 motorbikes and 300 pedal cycles. It’s also the home of land speed record holders, Thrust SSC and Thrust 2, along with a 30,000 item digital archive.
4. Haynes International Motor Museum
Sparkford, Somerset, BA22 7LH
haynesmuseum.org
Varied and packed with exhibits, the Haynes International Motor Museum is an offshoot of the famous car manual provider. Divided into 15 exhibits, including a veteran car show, a Formula 1 display and a Ferrari stand, the best known is the ‘Red Room’, consisting of scarlet sports cars from around the world.
It's also home to several rare vehicles, including a Duesenberg Tourster and a Bricklin SV-1. A Breakfast Club gathering of classics is held on the first Sunday of every month, as well as volunteer talks and a yearly Autojumble.
5. Great British Car Journey (and Drive Dad’s Car)
Ambergate, Derbyshire, DE56 2HE
greatbritishcarjourney.com
New motor museums are a rarity in this day and age – but the Great British Car Journey (GBCJ) has prospered, winning a Visit England bronze award earlier this year.
The singular vision of British car fan, Richard Usher, GBCJ’s car collection spans from the likes of the pre-war Austin 7 to the modern McLaren, punctuated by other British cars of note in between.
Low-mileage and local classics are of particular interest to the collection; a fleet of 35 cars, maintained by the museum’s workshop, are part of the Drive Dad’s Car Collection, where, with an instructor, visitors can drive an exhibit around an on-site test track. Ample parking makes it a popular venue for classic car meets.
6. Lakeland Motor Museum
Backbarrow, Ulverston LA12 8TA
lakelandmotormuseum.co.uk
Tightly packed into a former mill in the picturesque Lake District, the Lakeland Motor Museum’s eclectic selection of exhibits, from a 1927 Dennis fire engine, to an Amphicar, a pair of Peel bubble cars and an ex-Lancashire Constabulary MGA 1600, draw in plenty of enthusiasts.
The curators have a keen interest in saving more recent cars, too; it recently accepted a Vauxhall Corsa from a local family, has an example of Tony Howarth’s Africar, and houses the only surviving Turner Tri-Van left in the country. Fans of TVR can also view TVR 2, the oldest TVR known. There’s also pedal cars, bicycles, scooters, automobilia and historic caravans.
It has a separate building dedicated to Sir Malcolm and Donald Campbell – the Campbell Bluebird Exhibition – commemorating their record attempts at nearby Coniston Water; well worth a look to understand their legacy.
7. Caister Castle Car Collection
Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 5SN
caistercastle.co.uk
Found in the grounds of the medieval Caister Castle in Norfolk, it has one of the largest private car collections in the country; housed in a 35,000 square foot building, it boasts 120 cars and 100 bikes.
Notable exhibits include a veteran 1893 Panhard et Levassor, the first Ford Fiesta Mk1 off the production line, and Jim Clark’s Lotus 33, chassis ‘R14’, which, fitted with a 2.0-litre Coventry Climax FWMV V8, claimed five wins in the 1967 Tasman Series.
8. Sandringham Exhibition and Transport Museum
Sandringham House, Museum and Gardens, Sandringham, Norfolk, PE35 6EH
Found in the grounds of Sandringham House, in the Royal Sandringham Estate, its Transport Museum brings together a small but fascinating mix of cars used by the Royal Family, from the late Queen’s first car to an LPG-fuelled Metrocab taxi used by King (then-Prince) Charles.
Keen supporters of the British car industry, Alvises, Daimlers and Rovers feature prominently in the Royal garages; there’s also the King’s MGC GT on display, which he ran for more than 30 years before passing it on to Prince William.
9. Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum
atwellwilson.org.uk
Wiltshire’s only motor museum offers a variety of cars from the 1920s, and hosts an annual show and road run each year for local car fans. Among its displays are two ex-British Motor Museum Minis – an ERA Turbo and an ex-Issigonis Mini ‘9X’ ‘Gearless’ prototype and a 1952 Austin Sheerline that belonged to the Atwell family and was tracked down after it left their ownership.
10. History on Wheels
Windsor, Berkshire SL4 6QY
historyonwheels.co.uk
A privately owned and eclectic collection of vehicles, History on Wheels concentrates its focus on the civilian and military vehicles of both world wars, beginning with a 1924 Amilcar and ending with a Mercedes 300SL. It also has a 30-seat cinema and regularly hosts historic vehicle gatherings.