Best Motor Museums in the UK

This museum holds the world’s largest collection of historic British automobiles, with over 300 cars in it! It has a great focus on the British motor industry, showcasing the birth, decline and rebirth of the industry and the cars it produced, as well as the people whose creativity and skills played a part in designing and building them. Visit the ‘Time Road’ display, beginning in 1896 to discover how motoring has changed over the years, from the first driving test being taken to the first motorway being built. Or visit the ‘Sports Cars’ section to get a close-up view of your favourite cars from much loved British manufacturers like McClaren and Aston Martin. There is something for everyone in the family with the ‘Under the Skin’ interactive zone, where the little ones can get involved and find out what goes on underneath the bonnet of your car.

Located within the New Forest National Park in Beaulieu, this museum has a collection of 285 vehicles and tells the story of motoring on British roads and racetracks. From some of the earliest motor carriages to classic family saloons, the collection of cars, motorcycles and motoring memorabilia has something for everyone. Do you have a taste for the finer things in life? You can experience the golden age of luxury motoring and see some of the most desirable cars ever built. Or do you have a need for speed? See the adrenaline-fueled world of motorsport in the ‘Grand Prix Greats’ display, which celebrates the history of F1, whilst the ‘Road, Race & Rally’ covers sports cars from rallying, hill-climbing, and the consumer market. Experience the ‘World of Top Gear’ display to see what many of the battered, modified, and ruined cars from the show! James Bond fans can visit their new exhibition, ‘Bond in Motion – No Time to Die’.

Learn how Silverstone became the home of British motor racing. Get up close to iconic racing cars and bikes from over 70 years of racing. Walk the ‘Heritage Track Trail’ to learn about the circuit and walk parts of the original Grand Prix circuit. Or put together your own racing bike using what you have learnt about the amazing technology that goes into racing taught by experts from McClaren and Suzuki. Discover cars and motorcycles that have competed and even won at Silverstone, including the iconic MotoGP and Formula 1 machines. Formula 1 fans can even see race car driver Lewis Hamilton’s suit, boots, and lid! End the day with a thrill by immersing yourself in some of the circuit’s most iconic moments on the ‘Ultimate Lap of Silverstone’ in the special-effects cinema.