British Motor Museum, Gaydon (Warwickshire)
The world's largest collection of historic British cars offers a diverse and family-friendly glimpse into the rise, fall, and rebirth of the British automotive industry – from the popular "Time Road" to the interactive "Under the Skin" zone. The Jaguar section showcases a small selection from the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust's collection of around 150 vehicles, including the 1988 Le Mans-winning XJR-9 and the only surviving XJ13. Land Rover enthusiasts will be delighted by a tracked LR "Cuthbertson," the Range Stormer concept car, and Defender film cars from "Skyfall" (Bond) and "Tomb Raider." The "Collections Centre", housed in a separate building, features around 250 vehicles from the reserve collections of the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust and the JDHT, offering visitors the chance to watch restorers at work.
Brooklands Museum, Weybridge (Surrey)
The museum is located on the grounds of Brooklands Motor Circuit, which opened in 1907 as the world's first permanent racetrack. With over 50,000 objects, historic buildings, classic cars, and aircraft, it covers over a century of automotive and aviation history. Highlights include the 1924 Napier-Railton, powered by a 24-liter aircraft engine, in which John Cobb set an enduring lap record of 143.44 mph in 1935, and the first Concorde built in England, whose cockpit and cabin can be visited. A parade of 100 Grand Prix cars from all eras will commemorate the first British Grand Prix held here 100 years ago on August 8, 2026. As part of the event visitors may experience a virtual drive on the historic circuit in a McLaren Formula 1 car converted into a simulator. Brooklands was notorious for its bumpy banked turns and wasn't reopened after the war.
National Motor Museum, Beaulieu (Hampshire)
The National Motor Museum was founded in 1952 by the 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu in the heart of the New Forest National Park as a purely private collection. With over 285 vehicles – from the earliest motorized horse-drawn carriages to Formula 1 cars – the site, which was redesigned and opened to the public in 1972, is still considered one of the world's most important automobile museums. Among its many highlights are world record-breakers such as the Bluebird, Golden Arrow, and Sunbeam 1000 hp. But there are also cars from film and television to marvel at, such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mr. Bean's Mini, and the "flying" Ford Anglia from Harry Potter. Motorsport fans can expect a mix of Formula 1 and rally cars, as well as racing cars from founding sponsor Ford, ranging from the Sierra RS Cosworth to the GT40. In March 2026, the new "Driven: Britain's Motoring Story" section opened, as part of a £600,000 project that gave the entrance hall a new ambience and also included a complete redesign of the upper galleries.
Aston Martin Heritage Trust, Drayton St Leonard (South Oxfordshire)
This small but lovingly displayed and somewhat hidden museum was opened in the late 1990s. It uses a barn originally built in 1392 by the monks of Dorchester Abbey to tell the story of Aston Martin's over 110-year history within a 600-year-old timber-framed building. The collection includes such diverse models as the 1921 A3 – the oldest surviving Aston Martin – concept cars like the V8 Vantage Concept, the Group C prototype Nimrod, and the whimsical Cygnet V8 based on the Smart Fortwo. Due to the limited space, the exhibits are regularly rotated. The museum offers guided tours led by knowledgeable staff. Online booking (amht.org.uk) is required to secure a 90-minute time slot.
Silverstone Museum, Silverstone Circuit (Northamptonshire)
Located directly at the main entrance to the circuit in a restored World War II RAF hangar, the museum uses the historic structure to illustrate Silverstone's evolution from a military airfield to the "Home of British Motor Racing." The creators place a strong emphasis on virtual experiences. In addition to 60 interactive displays where, for example, pit stops can be practiced, visitors can rent a state-of-the-art racing simulator or control a Scalextric Silverstone slot car track with just a joystick. "The Ultimate Lap" offers a 360-degree cinematic experience, accompanied by sound bites from legendary commentators such as Murray Walker. The main hall houses a regularly updated collection of vehicles – including Formula 1, Le Mans, and touring car icons, as well as historic racing cars and motorcycles from Sheene to Rossi.
Haynes Motor Museum, Sparkford (Somerset)
This museum, one of the largest of its kind in the UK, was founded in 1985 by John Haynes, founder of the Haynes publishing house and creator of the famous Haynes workshop manuals. Located on the site of a disused sawmill, it now displays over 400 vehicles. In more than 15 exhibition areas, visitors encounter numerous design icons and technological milestones. The "Red Room" houses a gallery of over 50 red sports cars, while "Ferrari: Man and Machine" also features all things red prominently. "American Dreams" traces 100 years of US automotive history. Formula 1 fans will be thrilled by a collection of Williams models, and "Morris Story," housed on the site of the original Haynes workshop from 1985, chronicles the history of Morris Garages (MG) from its beginnings in 1915 to the present day.
Jim Clark Motorsport Museum, Duns (Scottish Borders)
This lovingly curated museum preserves the memory of one of the greatest racing drivers of all time: Jim Clark (1936–1968). At its heart are four of his most memorable racing cars: the Lotus 38, in which he won the Indy 500 in 1965; the Lotus 33, in which he secured his second Formula 1 World Championship title that same year; a rare Lotus 35 Formula 2 car; and the Lotus Cortina, which the Scotsman drove so masterfully in British touring car races. Also on display are overalls, racing helmets, and around 100 trophies. Along the 50-mile-long "Jim Clark Trail," visitors can explore the charming landscape of the Scottish Borders, along quite scenic roads visiting sites closely linked to Clark's personal life and early racing career. These include his birthplace and the family home of farmer/sheep breeder Clark, as well as two military airfields converted into racetracks after the war, where young Jimmy first earned his racing stripes.
Photos: British Motor Museum, Brooklands Museum, National Motor Museum, Aston Martin Heritage Trust, Silverstone Museum, Haynes Motor Museum, Jim Clark Motorsport Museum
