British Motor Museum

The British Motor Museum at Gaydon holds the world’s largest collection of historic British cars — over 300 of them, telling the whole story of the industry that once led the world. From the very first Land Rover and record-breakers to prototypes that never made it, film stars like Lady Penelope’s FAB1, and the best of Jaguar’s heritage collection, this is the nation’s garage — and an unexpectedly brilliant family day out.

The Collection

The main museum walks through a century of British motoring — Austin and Morris, Mini and MG, Triumph, Rover and Jaguar — with the designers, the factories and the workers celebrated alongside the metal. Free guided tours run twice daily and are excellent. Don’t miss the separate Collections Centre across the yard, where hundreds more vehicles from the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust and Jaguar Heritage Trust are stored in the open — its own free tours run twice daily too, and it’s a treasure hunt for enthusiasts.

Events Almost Every Weekend

Gaydon’s other superpower is its events calendar: huge one-make rallies, classic car shows, retro truck gatherings and family festivals fill the grounds most weekends through the season, when the car parks are often as fascinating as the halls. Normal tickets cover most event days, and every standard ticket converts into a free annual pass, so one visit buys a whole year of returns.

Visiting the British Motor Museum

The museum is minutes off Junction 12 of the M40 in south Warwickshire, open daily with free parking, a café and lifts to all levels. Booking online is cheapest, and there are hands-on activities and trails to keep children busy every school holiday. Motoring fans can pair it with the Coventry Transport Museum half an hour north, while Warwick Castle is just up the road for the rest of the family.

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