Category: British Motor Museum

1. British Motor Museum to host two fantastic family-friendly Model Shows!

   Posted on 12:00pm Monday 16th Oct 2023

   The British Motor Museum will play host to two fantastic indoor Model shows in October, which will appeal to all the family.

   The Large Model Aircraft Show returns on Sunday 22 October, when visitors can see over 100 large static radio controlled model aircraft. Organised by the Large Model Association, this popular family show also has specialist traders selling everything in model aircraft building, from miniature propellers to small jet engines and pre-assembled models, including WW1, WW2, jets and other types of model aircraft.

   The Great British Model Railway Show takes place on Saturday 28 & Sunday 29 October, a dedicated weekend to model trains and featuring over 40 layouts of various scales and up to 30 specialist traders. The event is also one of the biggest model railway shows in the calendar and one of the best in the Midlands.

   Tom Caren, Show Manager at the British Motor Museum, said, “Both Model Shows are hugely popular and enjoyed by so many. The shows are ideal for families who are looking for something a bit different to do with their children. You can admire the range of static models, browse the trade area to find that perfect airplane or train for your collection, and speak to builders about their projects to get some handy tips and advice. You might even find some inspiration for a fresh project of your own!”

   The shows also coincide with October Half-Term, so there are plenty of other family friendly activities to enjoy at the same time. The theme is 'Roadmap to the Future' with family trails, tours and science shows exploring the ways that cars are developing as time goes on. The Black Cat Museum Trail and family craft activities are available every day. All are included in the entry fee.

   Show tickets cost £14.50 per adult, £9 per child, £12.50 per concession and £40 for a family. All tickets must be pre-booked and include entry to the Museum and the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Collection.

   For more information about the shows please call 01926 895300 or visit the website at https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/great-british-model-railway-show and https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/lma-show

2. British Motor Museum launches a range of festive lunches & dinners!

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 5th Oct 2023

   The British Motor Museum has launched a range of festive lunches and dinners, served in the roof-top Sky Suite this Christmas. The Museum offers a unique sense of occasion for any event during the festive period, whether it’s for a corporate Christmas party or a shared table with family and friends. The stunning Sky Suite, with views over the Warwickshire countryside, provides the perfect backdrop for an exclusive party or shared event so guests can enjoy a festive dining experience to remember.

   The Museum offers a seasonal private dining package, with the opportunity for drinks to be enjoyed amongst the car collection, followed by a delicious three-course festive dinner in the Sky Suite. A minimum of 80 diners is required, with costs from £37.95 per person.

   Christmas lunches are also available from 12pm – 2pm on 8, 11, 12, 13 and 14 December, and are open to visitors, local companies, Members, car clubs and community groups. Visitors can enjoy a seasonal two-course or three-course lunch with all the trimmings, glass of wine or soft drink and crackers for just £29.95 for two courses or £34.95 for three courses. (Member discounts apply). Entry to the Museum is also included that day.

   All lunches and dinners must be pre-booked. To find out more, please visit https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/christmas.

3. British Motor Museum to host a new exhibition exploring the future of the car!

   Posted on 12:00pm Friday 7th Jul 2023

   The British Motor Museum is to open another exciting and thought-provoking exhibition on 15 July entitled “Transitions: The Impact of Innovation”, which will run until summer 2024. The exhibition will explore the technologies that are bringing cars into the future and consider their effects. The car has shaped our world for the better, but also for the worse. As the motor industry strives to find cleaner, safer, and more efficient ways to get us around, the exhibition will look at what its developments mean for our cars.

   In the past, the British Motor Museum has inspired curiosity about the future of the car, and this exhibition will revisit concepts explored in the 2019 exhibition ‘The Car. The Future. Me’. However, this brand-new exhibition will bring a fresh perspective, delving into the practical thoughts and ideas surrounding these new technologies. Visitors will leave the exhibition with a greater insight into the direction car engineering will take in the years to come and how this will affect our day-to-day lives.

   The exhibition will use a combination of cars and interactive stations to illustrate areas of future development, such as how cars will be powered, their impact, the materials they use and alternative methods of control. Several vehicles will be on display, including a hydrogen-powered Riversimple Rasa and a sectioned Nissan Leaf electric car, alongside interactive elements which allow comparisons between different technologies.

   Stephen Laing, Head of Collections at the British Motor Museum, added: "We're delighted to open this fascinating new exhibition. We are in a period of radical change and can see how quickly cars are shifting. Fobs, keypads, push buttons, and smartphones have been steadily replacing the familiar key turn. Electric motors are slowly supplanting internal combustion engines, while drivers are being supplemented with autonomous controls. Transitions will look at what the car will become in the future and how the industry will take us there”.

   Access to the exhibition is included with standard Museum admission tickets. The Museum has held its visitor prices for 2023 for even greater value! Museum entry costs just £40 for a family in advance or £44 on the day, £14.50 for adults in advance or £16 on the day, £12.50 for concessions in advance or £14 on the day, £9 for children (5-16 years) in advance or £10 on the day and under 5s go FREE. There is also the option to Gift Aid or donate your entry fee at the time of booking and upgrade your ticket to an Annual Pass in return, at no extra cost.

   To find out more information about the Museum, please visit the website at https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk.

4. The British Motor Museum celebrates its 30th Anniversary with seven days of celebrations!

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 22nd Jun 2023

   On 1 May 1993, the British Motor Museum, known at the time as the ‘Heritage Motor Centre’, opened its doors for the very first time. Purpose-built to hold the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust’s collections, the Museum was created with one goal, to preserve the motoring history of Britain, now and into the future. A charity from the start, public support has helped the Museum collect, conserve and share the collections to inspire this generation and the next.

   To celebrate this milestone anniversary, the British Motor Museum is hosting a 30^th Anniversary Celebration week from 14-20 August, packed with activities and events featuring old favourites, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. A Raffle, which will raise funds for the Museum’s future plans, offers a rare opportunity to take a ride in one of five legendary vehicles from the collection, including Huey, the first pre-production Land Rover and the Ford Anglia from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Tickets cost just £5.

   A selection of the Museum’s famous cars will be put through their paces around the Museum grounds from Monday to Friday in Cars on the Move, offering visitors the chance to glimpse them in action. On 14, 16 and 18 August, visitors will have the opportunity to ride in a range of vehicles driven by the Volunteer team, including the 1952 Riley RMA and the 1960 Standard Ensign.

   For one week only, the Welcome Gallery in the Main Museum will be playing host to “Our Story – 30 Years of the British Motor Museum”, a unique display featuring photos and materials from across its 30-year history. Bonnets Up, Doors Open will also take place every day, from 10:30 to 11:30 and from 14:30 to 15:30, when visitors can see inside the bonnets, boots and even doors of a selection of cars. The Volunteers will also be giving a selection of History Talks from Monday to Friday. In addition, there will be a special MG Centenary Tour, running on 17 and 19 August, to commemorate 100 years of MG, another significant motoring milestone for 2023.

   The summer activities and family tours have a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths) theme, and the popular Science Shows return for the anniversary event, running from 17-19 August. Children will learn and laugh along with the Museum’s brainy scientists as their experiments explore friction, electricity and more!

   A designated Access Day will take place on 16 August to provide a pleasant and enjoyable visitor experience for the widest possible audience.  ‘Quiet hours’ will run from 9am to 10am and 5pm to 6pm, with lowered lighting levels and the audio-visuals turned off. Touch and Access Tours and Object Handling Workshops will also be held, allowing visitors to get hands-on with the cars and artefacts. Meanwhile, out on the Northern Arena, Young Driver will be offering accessible 15-minute taster sessions that visitors from 10 to 110 can enjoy – regardless of accessibility needs! Plus, there will be an air-drying clay activity in the Learning Space.

   A 30^th Anniversary Quiz Night will take place on the evening of Friday, 18 August, with a BBQ dinner and rounds covering general knowledge, music, movies and the last 30 years of the Museum’s history, plus a cash prize for the winning team! Finally, in the tradition of the Gaydon Gatherings, there will be a 30^th Anniversary Breakfast Meet on Sunday, 20 August. Anyone can turn up in any vehicle, car, bus, lorry, motorbike, scooter, tractor, etc. Delicious breakfast is available to buy inside the Museum's Junction 12 Café, or you can grab a light bite to eat outside. 

   Jeff Coope, Managing Director at the British Motor Museum, said, “Since that first day, 30 years have passed, the collections have grown dramatically, and millions have passed through our doors to discover the history of the motor industry in Britain, through over 400 historic British vehicles and our amazing archives. We’re proud of how far we’ve come and excited about our plans for the future.  There is a wide range of activities available for the Anniversary Week, and there’s really something for everyone. We’re looking forward to celebrating with you”.

   For more information about the Museum, please call 01926 895300 or visit the website at https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk.

5. British Motor Museum invests further with an additional flexible event space - South Wing 5

   Posted on 12:00pm Monday 19th Jun 2023

   Award-winning leading Midlands conference and events venue, The British Motor Museum has extended its South Wing following continued expansion in line with client demand. Within only six months after an initial £70k investment, the conference centre has been developed further to offer South Wing 5. This spacious room seating up to 110 delegates boasts natural daylight and direct vehicular access making it an ideal space for conferences, product launches and exhibitions. South wing 5 is complemented by South Wing 1-4 which are excellent breakout spaces to create a self-contained event experience.

   Direct vehicular access offers exceptional ease of loading right up to the event space itself minimising the time and effort in arranging the logistics and delivery of large-scale display product and associated equipment. The South Wing offers five conference spaces totalling 477sqm of flexible conference and exhibition space. Each room in the South Wing is fully air-conditioned and equipped with the latest data projectors and benefit from the Museum’s free 1Gbps Wi-Fi.

   The South Wing offers a range of flexible spaces comprising South Wing 1, 3 and 4 each offering space for up to 50 delegates. South Wing 4 offers additional scalable event space and can be divided into 2 smaller rooms, via a partition wall, each with its own entrance. South Wing 2 offers a smaller more intimate space taking up to 16 delegates theatre style.

   Toby Batchelor, Head of Commerce at the British Motor Museum commented, “We are delighted to announce South Wing 5 which further demonstrates our commitment and investment and even greater choice for our clients. This large modern event space further extends the South Wing and offers several scalable break-out options for delegates. We pride ourselves in supporting a unique delegate experience and to this end we provide all British Motor Museum conference delegates with free access to the adjoining British Motor Museum collection which is easily accessed directly from the South Wing”.

   For more information about the event and meeting spaces available please visit britishmotormuseum.co.uk/conferences/spaces