Fabulous for families, perfect for petrol-heads, and less than half an hour by road from central Stratford-upon-Avon, visit the British Motor Museum for a colourful look at the country’s proud motoring heritage.
The museum, in Gaydon in Warwickshire, is packed with shiny automobiles, interactive zones, and a fleet of child-sized cars to transport the smallest members of your family around the exhibits.
What can you expect when you visit the British Motor Museum?
Visit the British Motor Museum
Banbury Road, Gaydon, Warwickshire, CV35 0BJ
What’s at the British Motor Museum?
Well, there’s the world’s biggest collection of historic British cars for a start. More than 300 classics turn heads with their graceful curves and polished-brass embellishments. Rugged Land Rovers appear to climb slopes. Sporty Morgans and McLarens almost purr as you peer inside.
The Time Road takes you on a journey from the origins of British motoring to the present day, showing off creative flair, amazing inventions and quirky fashions of the day.
Children are well catered for at the British Motor Museum, with hands-on displays, a number of cars they can sit in (and pretend to steer, of course), plus opportunities to join activities and complete trails.
There are the mini motors for children too, which left my kids utterly delighted. Pick one up at the welcome desk (there’s no extra charge). There are footplates and high steering handles for parents to use for younger children, while older ones can retract the footplate and scramble along with their feet – Fred Flintstone style.
The café, located upstairs, offers a small selection of classic dishes, plus salads, sandwiches and jacket potatoes. There are high chairs for children, baby-change facilities, and a lift to the café.
Be sure to visit the Collections Centre too – it’s in a separate building across from the main museum entrance, next to the adventure playground. It’s a storage and conservation facility, where you can see projects taking place in the workshop and tour more of the museum’s vast collection of cars.
Don’t miss at the British Motor Museum
I love a little silver-screen glamour, so was particularly drawn to the “stars cars”, containing such motors as the Bond-bashed Land Rover Defender from Skyfall, FAB 1 from Thunderbirds, and a DeLorean replica from Back to the Future 2. The children loved the chance to jump inside a scaled-up version of the Land Rover from the Shaun the Sheep Movie.
Location of the British Motor Museum
Only 25-30 minutes by road from central Stratford-upon-Avon, the British Motor Museum is located in Gaydon, just off the M40 (or go via Ettington and the Fosse Way).
British Motor Museum opening times
The British Motor Museum is open daily, from 10am-5pm (Collections Centre 11am-5pm).
The museum is closed for a week over Christmas – check the website for exact dates.
British Motor Museum price
Adults £14.50, children (aged 5-16) £9, under 5s free, concessions £12.50. A family ticket costs £40 for up to two adults and three children.
UK taxpayers can Gift Aid the cost of admission and get a 12-month pass at no extra charge.
Value for money?
The standard admission price might feel a little steep for one visit, but if you go just once more with the 12-month pass you’ll have a couple of great value days out. With the chance to attend special show days and family activities throughout the year, an annual pass to the British Motor Museum will be an excellent investment for motor-mad visitors of any age.
The Stratfordblog verdict
This question has been on repeat from my 5-year-old son: “when are we going back to the place with all the cars?”
Soon son, very soon.
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Information correct at date of publication