Latest news

If you’re planning a trip to Beaulieu any time soon, there’s a lot to offer any classic car enthusiast. You could get behind the scenes of BBC’s Top Gear to see cars of all shapes and sizes driven by The Stig and co. Or, you may prefer checking out some of TV and film’s most famous motors courtesy of the ever-changing On-Screen Cars exhibition. Think Del Boy’s Robin Reliant, Mr Bean’s Mini, Bond’s Jaguar XKR, and many, many more...

But once that’s done and dusted, the real classic car buffs among you will be keen to get along to the world-famous National Motor Museum at Beaulieu.

This is a museum that’s clear about what it wants to offer its visitors. It wants to tell you the story of motoring in Great Britain through the ages and get everyone revved up about the wonderful automobile.

 

History of Beaulieu Motor Museum

First, let’s delve into the history of the Beaulieu National Motor Museum.

Set in the village of Beaulieu in the heart of the New Forest, the National Motor Museum was founded in 1952 by Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu.

He set up the museum in homage to his father, John Walter Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu (aka the second Baron Montagu of Beaulieu). John is remembered fondly within the world of classic cars as being a pioneer of motoring in the UK. Notably, he was the first person to drive a car into Old Palace Yard at the Houses of Parliament and could also claim to be the person who introduced a young King Edward VII to the wonders of the motor car.

In its early days, Beaulieu Motor Museum consisted of five cars and some motoring memorabilia that was displayed in the front hall of Edward’s home (Palace House). However, even though it was small, the collection quickly proved to be a big hit with the public. With more visitors keen to see the display, the collection soon outgrew its original home and was moved into a shed in the grounds of Palace House.

By the mid-1960s, around 500,000 people were visiting the museum every year, so plans were made to give the collection a larger, dedicated home, and so on 4th July 1972, the purpose-built National Motor Museum opened its doors to the general public. It was no coincidence that it opened in the same week the Jaguar XJ12 was launched in the UK. That was certainly a big week in UK motoring history.

 

What to see and do for classic car enthusiasts

Today, the Beaulieu Motor Museum continues to inspire visitors about the world of motor vehicles through its memorabilia, collections and exhibitions.

The collections feature everything from cars and motorbikes to photos, videos and other items of motoring interest. There’s a lot to keep classic motoring enthusiasts busy: 285 vehicles; 1.5 million photos, videos and archive items; and 46,000 motoring objects.

Meanwhile, the exhibitions cover a range of topics including the luxury of motoring, motorcycles, history of motorsports and vehicle safety through the ages. If you look hard enough, there might even be documents relating to vintage car insurance through the ages!

Looking at the collections in more detail, there’s a wide range of items on display. Here are just a few examples of what you can see at Beaulieu Motor Museum. Remember, if you’re hoping to see a particular model, be sure to ring before you travel as the collections are regularly updated.

Collections at Beaulieu Motor Museum

 

Vehicles

Just some of the cars on display include 1903 Daimler 22hp; 1914 Ford Model T Van; 1927 1,000hp Sunbeam; 1950 Austin-Healey 100M; 1969 Jensen Interceptor; 1974 Ferrari Dino. Vehicles date from the 19th century, all the way up to the modern day. Want to check out a 2012 Lotus E20? Well, you can at Beaulieu Motor Museum.

 

Motoring objects

The National Motor Museum has carefully put together a collection of items symbolising motoring on the roads and race tracks of the UK. From spark plugs and bulb horns to petrol pumps and motoring posters, the items you can find in the museum are truly varied – and each one has a story to tell about the social, design, legal and fuelling history of UK motoring. Think everything from petrol cans to cat’s eyes! The collection also includes a number of motoring-related children’s games, toys and books.

 

Photos, videos and archive items

Capturing the history of motoring from the 19th century right up to the modern day, is the seemingly never-ending supply of images, videos and archive items on display at the museum. Classic car fans may enjoy images of the earliest steam cars, motoring pioneers and celebrities. Who wouldn’t want to watch Sir Alec Issigonis sketching designs for the Mini, or footage of early crash tests in the US using a human instead of a dummy?

Highlights from the archive collection include: technical papers relating to Bluebird CN7; documents from motoring manufacturers including Ford of Britain and Sunbeam; and artwork produced as part of an AA survey of the London to Istanbul International Highway.

 

Caravan and Motorhome Club collection

Let’s not forget about all the items relating to the history of caravanning and motorhome holidays in the UK. Spanning from the 1880s, when leisure caravanning first became a thing, through to the present day, you won’t have seen vehicles like these on the UK’s roads for a while.

 

Beaulieu workshop open to owners

For many years, the workshop at Beaulieu Motor Museum has been a hive of activity, keeping the prestigious vehicle collection in good working order. The workshop engineers have tinkered with everything from Land Speed Record breaking machines to the cars featured in famous films and TV series.

The engineers at Beaulieu already have their work cut out maintaining the museum’s collection of vehicles. Now, it seems they’re up for even more of a challenge because that service is open to owners of classic cars as well.

From veteran and vintage cars to more modern classics, private owners have the chance to make the most of the motoring magic that takes place in Beaulieu’s workshop. This is a valuable service for any car enthusiast that can work hand-in-hand with the protection you get from quality classic car insurance.

Speaking about the workshop, Doug Hill, manager and chief engineer at the National Motor Museum, said: “Between us, we have built up a collective experience of more than 100 years, working on some of the finest motor vehicles in the world.

“Now we are delighted to be helping other enthusiasts to look after their own cars and preserve their historic importance.”

Activities for younger children

Beaulieu Motor Museum has something for the whole family, so it’s the perfect place to take kids and grandchildren on a day out. Here are just a few of the highlights that will keep little ones wide-eyed and full of smiles.

 

Motoring in Miniature – The Toys of your Childhood

One of the exhibitions you can see at Beaulieu Motor Museum is designed with kids of all ages in mind. For many car enthusiasts, their passion for motors started at a young age. Which is one reason why the display of more than 800 toy cars and pedal cars is so heart-warming for the young and the old.

This is a chance for you to relive your own childhood days and see the shiny toys you used to gaze at in shop windows or (if you were lucky) opened as presents on your birthday or Christmas Day.

That magic won’t be lost on youngsters, either. Tin plate cars might seem a world away from the racing computer games of today, but all kids love toys and they’ll enjoy finding out about pedal cars, dinky cars, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. They won’t want to miss the child-sized replica of the Golden Arrow Land Speed Record breaker parked up alongside the original machine.

The exhibition also features plenty of toys that will be more familiar to little ones. Lego, Hot Wheels, Scalextric and remote control cars are all on display and are sure to keep tots busy for a morning.

 

Driving Change: The Evolution of the Motor Car

Young minds are curious minds, and kids will love finding out how engines work and more about the future of car design in this interactive exhibition.

Fledgling car buffs can get all their questions answered, such as: What do gears do? How do engines work? What’s the deal with rear-wheel drive? They’ll also have the chance to meet Beaulieu’s very own crash test dummy. He’s on hand to give the lowdown on car safety (and is very friendly).

Plus, if you plan your visit at the weekend or during the school holidays, you’ll get the chance to hear one of the museum’s classic cars roar into life. That’s one not to miss.

 

Annual events at Beaulieu Motor Museum

 

Beaulieu Autojumbles

Twice a year, the museum hosts one of the best autojumbles in the world. But be warned: if you visit once, you’ll be hooked forever. As the saying goes: ‘If you can’t find it at Beaulieu Autojumble, then it probably doesn’t exist.’ This may be true, but there’s more to these autojumbles (which take place in May and September each year) than the items for sale. They are a spectacle in themselves, filled with people who are doing everything they can to keep classic cars of old in tip-top working order and on the road.

 

Beaulieu Supercar Weekend

The Beaulieu Supercar Weekend is the stuff of dreams for car enthusiasts. Over the weekend you’ll have the chance to see the crème de la crème of exclusive supercars and watch them as they take to the track and unleash their horsepower on the demonstration run. The event has grown in popularity over the years, and now boasts more than 900 cars. The question is, will you be able to navigate the crowds to get up close and personal with these impressive machines?

 

Beaulieu Hot Rod and Custom Show

Not one to do things by halves, Beaulieu is also host to the biggest hot rod and custom car show in the South of England. From stripped-down hot rods and low-rider cruisers to wacky custom creations and mega-engine bikes, the show’s line-up is perfect for petrolheads from far and wide. There are also prizes awarded to the best custom, hot rod, American car, scooter – as well as the all-important Best in Show.

Scenic route to Beaulieu Motor Museum

If you’re planning a visit to Beaulieu Motor Museum any time soon, you should make the most of the journey there and back.

Whichever direction you are travelling from to get to the museum, you will need to travel through the beautiful New Forest. This national park makes for an incredible scenic route, full of forest trails, heathland, wild ponies and other wildlife.

As well as countless beautiful, sleepy villages (Hinton Ampner and New Cheriton are always worth a visit), there are other motoring meccas for the car enthusiast. The Meridien Modena Ferrari and Maserati dealership is hard to miss as you drive through the village of Lyndhurst. These future classics might be beyond your budget, but there’s no harm in looking…

Of course, driving in the New Forest also presents its challenges – from free-roaming wildlife to narrow lanes. Make sure to drive carefully and responsibly and keep your eyes peeled for any dangers – you don’t want to be making a claim on your insurance policy for your classic car for any reason.

 

Choosing the right classic car insurance

Marvelling at classic cars from years gone by is a great way to spend a day. These vehicles are being preserved by experts and enthusiasts – and will be around for many more years to come. But it’s not just classic cars you find in museums that need protecting. Your own classic car also needs to be protected – and that means finding classic car insurance tailored to your needs.

At Lancaster Insurance, we work with carefully selected underwriters to offer both comprehensive and bespoke insurance solutions. We always put our customers first to ensure you get the service you deserve.

Using our great experience and knowledge of the industry, we can quote for virtually any classic car out there. Even models that are notoriously hard to insure.

Get an insurance quote for your classic car today.

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.