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Category: British Motor Museum
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The British Motor Museum is one of 24 museums that have received a share of £4 million through the DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund 2025-27. The Fund brings together £2 million in match funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and independent, grant making charity, the Wolfson Foundation.
£147,700 has been allocated to the British Motor Museum which will be used to develop and deliver Grasping the Image: digital accessibility to heritage images - a project that will enhance accessibility to heritage photographs held in the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust (BMIHT) Archive. The project will run from Spring 2026 to early 2027.
The project will provide unprecedented access for visually impaired visitors and wider audiences to a historically significant collection of 20th century photographic negatives. Conservation-led, public-facing and co-created, this digital accessibility project will produce digital twins of a currently inaccessible collection using advanced digital imaging and create innovative tactile/audio models.
This project, led by the BMIHT Archive, will bring together partners including the Centre for Print Research, University of the West of England, digital heritage company Mnemoscene and community organisations including the charity MyVision Oxfordshire and local schools which specialise in providing support for children with special educational needs.
Cat Stuart-Yapp, Head of Fundraising at theBritish Motor Industry Heritage Trust, said, “We’re delighted that we have been successful in our application to receive this funding. Using advanced digital capture solutions, the project will use our extensive collection of photographic negatives to generate 3D images, which can in turn be used to create tactile models with sensors to generate audio. This means that more people will be able to encounter, experience and enjoy our collections, in more ways”.
The project will help the Museum provide practical solutions to audience exclusion from ocular-centric collections and enable more multisensory access to the BMIHT’s heritage collections for audiences who do not use sight as their primary mode of engagement and learning. The project will also enable the creation of a specially created display space onsite at the British Motor Museum, and allow the Museum to reach out to schools, community groups and organisations through bespoke travelling interactive displays.
This funding also covers the procurement of new digitisation equipment and staff training, to enhance the Trust’s digital capacity and improve the discoverability and accessibility of the archival collections.
The Wolfson Foundation is an independent grant-making charity with a focus on research and education. Its aim is to contribute to civil society by supporting high-quality projects in science, health, heritage, humanities and the arts. Since it was established in 1955, the Wolfson Foundation has awarded some £1 billion (£2 billion in real terms) to more than 14,000 projects throughout the UK, all on the basis of expert review.
To find out more information about the Museum, please visit the website at www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk
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The British Motor Museum will host six classic and modern motoring shows this spring. These will include Rustival on 18 April, Ultimate BMW Show on 26 April, Gaydon Land Rover Show on 2 & 3 May, UK Slot Car Festival on 9 & 10 May, Vaux ALL on 17 May and TUCKED at the British Motor Museum on 24 May.
Rustival, which is returning for its fourth event, is a celebration of car, commercial vehicle, bus and bike enthusiasts, and has been called 'The UK’s friendliest car show'! The show, hosted by YouTubers Ian and Carly from HubNut, Matt from Furious Driving and Steph from idriveaclassic, invites people to bring their beloved motor and their friends and family to join the display of hundreds of vehicles from every decade of motoring.
The ‘Ultimate BMW Meet’ is the UK’s largest BMW meet and the perfect event for BMW enthusiasts, uniting fans of revered classics, modern motors, and everything in between. Last year, over 1,000 BMWs attended the event, with private owners and more than 30 Car Clubs showcasing everything from everyday heroes to the rarest and most sought-after models.
The hugely popular Gaydon Land Rover Show will once again showcase hundreds of Defenders, Series 1 – 3, Discovery’s and Range Rovers from 1948 to the present day, creating the ultimate celebration of the best 4x4’s by far. At the centre of the show will be the Arena, where Dave Barker will lead an enthusiastic and knowledgeable team, providing live commentary and inviting owners, restorers, club members and enthusiasts to share the stories behind their treasured vehicles. Trade stands will also be available, selling a range of Land Rover clothing and models - perfect for enthusiasts and admirers alike!
The UK Slot Car Festival, sponsored by Scalextric, showcases a broad range of major slot car manufacturers, including Scalextric, Slot.it, Carrera, and more. Alongside displays, visitors can enjoy a large retail area selling everything a slot car enthusiast could need, from one-off collector items to newly launched products. Organisers are expecting a record attendance of up to 5,000 visitors, making it one of the most highly anticipated events on the slot car racing calendar. The Slot Car Festival will also provide visitors with the unique opportunity to meet the faces behind some of the best-selling and most beloved Scalextric products. From designers to developers, enthusiasts will have the chance to connect with individuals who bring their slot car racing dreams to life.
Vaux ALL, a celebration of all Vauxhall, Opel and Bedford models, is the fastest growing Vauxhall/Opel event in the UK, with more than 35 clubs and over 800 exhibitor vehicles expected. A firm favourite returning is the main arena, where professional commentator ‘Our Tim’ Watson will be interviewing guests, discussing the clubs and sharing stories of Vauxhalls. There will also be a range of trade stands offering parts, car care products and models.
TUCKED at the British Motor Museum is a collaboration between TUCKED Automotive, Petrolheadonism.club and the British Motor Museum. Showcasing a fantastic fleet of some of the UK & Europe’s best car builds and highly modified show cars, at TUCKED, variety is king. Any and all car enthusiasts are invited to join the show to celebrate the UK scene.
Tom Caren, Show Manager at the British Motor Museum, stated, “It’s great to kick off our 2026 events calendar with 6 fantastic classic and modern motoring shows for our visitors and enthusiasts to enjoy this spring! These shows literally sit at the heart of our events season and really reflect the values of the British Motor Museum!”
Show entry, including access to the Museum, is just £18 for adults in advance or £21 on the day, £16 for concessions in advance or £19 on the day, £9 for children (5-16 years) in advance or £10 on the day and under 5s are FREE. There is also the option to Gift Aid or donate your entry fee and receive an Annual Pass in return at no extra cost. Prices vary on Annual Pass Exempt Days – Ultimate BMW Meet and TUCKED at the British Motor Museum. To find out more information about the shows, please visit the website at https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/ To find out more information about the shows, please visit the website at https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/
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Step into a Christmas to remember at the British Motor Museum from the 5 to 30 December. From their brand-new 12 Cars of Christmas trail to a hands-on sleigh-building workshop, there's festive fun for everyone to enjoy!
The 12 Cars of Christmas sees six mischievous elves hiding in historic motors and six festively decorated cars making up the 12 Cars of Christmas! Children can help find the elf-culprits responsible for decorating these Christmas cars and set off on the trail to match each elf to their merry motoring masterpiece!
Santa's Holiday Hangar takes place from 6-7, 13-14 and 20-23 December, when children can stop by the Holiday Hangar and design and build a sleigh from a range of craft materials to take Santa around the world, using their imagination. Will they design a fast sleigh to get the job done quicker or a big sleigh to carry the biggest presents?
The Science of the Sleigh takes place from 20 - 22 December with Professor Pickle and Doctor Pumpkin getting into the holiday spirit! Children can join them in the not-so-secret lab as they dive into a raft of holiday experiments to uncover the science behind the season.
The Winter Access Day takes place on 22 December, when visitors can discover a day-long showcase of accessible activities and initiatives, bringing a welcoming visitor experience to the widest possible audience, including an accessible festive Science Show! The Museum will also be open later, to give everyone the chance to get in on the action.
Twixmas Crafts runs from 28 - 30 December with a range of LEGO® activities. Whether children are dreaming up a fun festive mosaic or building something completely unique, the Museum has mountains of LEGO® bricks ready for their imagination to run wild. The Museum will be closed between 24 - 27 December and 31 December - 1 January inclusive.
Emma Rawlinson, Lifelong Learning Officer at the British Motor Museum, said, “This Christmas, we’re inviting families to enjoy a range of festive fun activities from our brand-new 12 Cars of Christmas trail to a hands-on sleigh-building workshop! All the holiday activities are included in the admission price too, creating a great-value day out filled with Christmas memories. Book your tickets today, and let your holiday adventure begin!”
Museum entry is just £46 for a family in advance or £52 on the day, £17 for adults in advance or £20 on the day, £15 for concessions in advance or £18 on the day, £9 for children (5-16 years) in advance or £10 on the day and under 5s are FREE. There is also the option to Gift Aid or donate your entry fee and receive an Annual Pass in return at no extra cost. To find out more information about the activities, please visit the website at https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/christmas-family-activities
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The British Motor Museum is celebrating having won the prestigious Royal Automobile Club Historic Award in the Museums & Collections category. The results were announced at a glittering ceremony on 20 November at the RAC Club in Pall Mall with Formula 1 presenter Lee McKenzie. The annual Awards, which are awarded by the industry’s leading motoring organisation, the RAC, recognise outstanding achievements within the British historic motoring and motorsport world. The British Motor Museum fought off strong competition from motor museums across the country.
2025 has been another fantastic year for the Museum with the launch of so many successful and innovative initiatives focusing particularly on young people and education. The Museum’s STEM Career Days programme has been extended to home-educated youngsters, who made up a quarter of attendees for this year’s event. A national initiative mounted in collaboration with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders saw four motor industry apprentices being trained to drive the Museum’s 20HP Thornycroft of 1904 in the 2025 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. Aimed at helping even younger people is the Museum’s “Brick Bank” which has collected over two million unwanted LEGO® bricks, to incorporate into packs and redistribute to local Community Pantries.
Bucking the stereotype of traditional petrol heads, the British Motor Museum Collections and Education Departments are managed by two exceptional young women; Claire Broader (education), and Cat Boxall (curatorial) whose dedication and love of the collections shone through during their tour with the Judges earlier this year.
Duncan Wilshire, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club, said: “I have simply the greatest admiration for all the winners here tonight. In their own contrasting and compelling ways, they truly enrich Britain’s historic motoring scene. Many congratulations from everyone at this Club, where we continue to make more motoring history every year. We offer a home and a backdrop to these Awards rich in history and tradition with, as ever, an eye to a soundly sustainable future. We’re also delighted to bring together all our expert judges who, really, had the hardest task – examining the huge number of brilliant nominations.”
The Royal Automobile Club started its Historic Awards in 2019, acutely aware that the UK’s historic motoring clubs, events, associations, companies and special individuals deserved recognition for their unsung achievements. Since then, more than 170 contenders have been accorded merit as finalists, chosen by judges invited solely for their expertise and independence of outlook. The Awards extend the Club’s 128-year pedigree in recognising motoring accomplishments and celebrating success through its trophies and medals.
For more information about the Awards please visit www.royalautomobileclubhistoricawards.co.uk. To find out more about the British Motor Museum please visit www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk
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The British Motor Museum is proud to announce that it will be the new home of the physical Autocar Archive. Autocar is the world’s longest-running car magazine and its archive has been available to access digitally since 2023 through a partnership with Exact Editions.
Following the completion of that project, a new home has been sought for the physical copies and future bound volumes of its title, which turned 130 years old this week. The Archive at the British Motor Museum was the obvious choice.
Autocar’s own volumes will shortly join the Museum’s existing collections, one of the world’s largest and most outstanding archives of magazines, photographs, drawings, motoring literature and film covering the motor car and Britain’s motor industry.
Following the digitisation and combining of its respective physical archives, some gaps have been identified in the collection. Autocar and the Museum are inviting readers and collectors to contribute to the physical archive to make it whole. In the future, researchers visiting the Museum in person will also be able to search Autocar’s digital archive through a dedicated terminal.
As part of the launch, Autocar editor-in-chief Steve Cropley and editor-at-large Matt Prior walked the Museum for a special immersive episode of their My Week in Cars podcast, which is published on 5 November on all major podcast channels.
Stephen Laing, Head of Collections & Engagement at the British Motor Museum said: “Our internationally recognised collections of cars, objects and archive material tell the myriad of stories behind the development of the car; the people who designed, built and sold them; and the growth of the motor industry since its inception. As the world’s longest-running car magazine, Autocar has provided a continuous commentary on the motor car for a century and more. Together we can continue to capture the stories from today and those in the future.”
Autocar editor Mark Tisshaw said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with the British Motor Museum for this very special project. The Autocar Archive tells the history of the motor car in real time back to 1895 and the digitisation of the archive was a huge moment for the brand in making this accessible to all. There is no better place for our physical archive to reside, being so close to so many of the cars we have told the story of over the past 130 years. We would love to hear from any readers or collectors who can help make the archive a complete one and would urge anyone who would like to contribute to this project to reach out to the British Motor Museum.”
A complete set of What Car? magazines, Autocar’s sibling title at publisher Haymarket Automotive, has also been donated to the British Motor Museum’s Archive as part of this partnership. What Car? dates back to 1973 and all future bound volumes of What Car? will head straight to Gaydon in the future. If you can help contribute to the physical archive or for more information on what gaps need filling, please contact https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/explore/museum-blog/archive-news-the-autocar-archive
To find out more information about the Museum, please visit the website at www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk
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