Heritage Motor Centre

Heritage Motor Centre

The World's Greatest Collection Of British Cars
The motor car is over one hundred years old and is one of the world's most influential inventions. The Heritage Motor Centre tells it's story, from some of the very first cars to take to British roads, right up to the latest designs.

Home to the world’s largest collection of historic British cars, visitors can uncover the story of the British motor industry with fun and interactive exhibitions. Great for all the family with children’s activity packs and special school holiday activities. There are free guided tours twice a day and a selection of outdoor activities including children’s play area, picnic site, 4×4 Experience, and Go-Karts. Facilities include onsite café and gift shop.

In 1981 about 100 cars from the collection – now known as BL Heritage – were transferred to a new location at Syon Park in London. The rest of the collection, together with the archive, were stored at Studley in Warwickshire. In 1983 the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust was formed to secure the collection for the Nation. Also in that year the British Commercial Vehicle Museum was opened in Leyland, a new museum dedicated to showing the trucks and buses from the collection. A little later, when Ford acquired Jaguar, the Jaguar and Daimler vehicles were separated and managed by the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, eventually in a new museum in Coventry.

Today, the car collection is nearly 300 strong. It takes in smaller manufacturers such as Morgan, via niche producers such as Land Rover, to the mainstream producers such as Austin and Morris. The Trust also works closely with the heritage arms of Britain’s major car concerns, including Ford, Jaguar and Vauxhall, to bring some of their historic vehicles to the museum for visitors to enjoy.

VISITORS INFORMATION:

Museum Opening Times
Open: Daily 10.00am – 5.00pm
Closed: 24 December to 1 January inclusive

Admission