Transport museums
The Midlands was the cradle of Britain's transport revolution, and Warwickshire sits at the heart of that story. The county and its near neighbours were home to the engineers, manufacturers and entrepreneurs who put Britain on wheels - building the cars, motorcycles and aircraft that defined the 20th century and shaped the modern world. Within easy reach of each other, three world-class transport museums pay tribute to that remarkable legacy: the British Motor Museum at Gaydon, with its unrivalled collection of historic British cars; the National Motorcycle Museum near Solihull, housing over a thousand machines spanning a century of two-wheeled brilliance; and the Coventry Transport Museum, whose land speed record cars, iconic Jaguars and extraordinary breadth of collection make it one of the finest transport museums on earth. Together they form a transport trail of genuine international significance - and a compelling reason to spend a day, or several, exploring this corner of England.
British Motor Museum
Location: Gaydon
Address: Banbury Road, Gaydon, Warwickshire, CV35 0BJ
Speciality: World's largest collection of historic British cars
The British Motor Museum at Gaydon is home to the world's greatest collection of historic British cars, a staggering assembly of more than 400 vehicles spanning the full arc of British automotive history. From the pioneering horseless carriages of the Victorian era to the jet-age concept cars of the 1960s and the iconic sports cars of Jaguar, Aston Martin and Land Rover, the collection charts both the industrial achievement and the cultural romance of the British motor industry. Interactive exhibits allow visitors to explore design and engineering processes, while the restoration workshop offers a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of conservation. Celebrity vehicles - including Lady Penelope's FAB1 from Thunderbirds - add a note of popular culture glamour to a museum of genuine scholarly significance.
Midland Air Museum
Location: Coventry
Address: Coventry Airport, Baginton, Warwickshire, CV3 4FR
Speciality: Historic civil and military aircraft; the Sir Frank Whittle Jet Heritage Centre
The Midland Air Museum occupies a site adjacent to Coventry Airport that could scarcely be more appropriate: it was here, in the Midlands, that Frank Whittle developed and tested the jet engine that would transform aviation forever. The Sir Frank Whittle Jet Heritage Centre, the museum's flagship facility, houses a large collection of jet aircraft and engine exhibits paying tribute to the local genius who patented the turbojet in 1930. Beyond the Whittle collection, the museum displays a wide range of historic civil and military aircraft, from wartime Spitfires to Cold War V-bombers, spread across hangars and an open-air site. The museum's two largest aircraft - an Avro Vulcan and an Armstrong Whitworth Argosy - make an immediate impression on arrival, their enormous scale a reminder of Britain's mid-century aerospace ambition.
Coventry Transport Museum
Location: Coventry
Address: Millennium Place, Hales Street, Coventry, CV1 1JD
Speciality: World's largest publicly owned collection of British road transport
Coventry Transport Museum houses the largest collection of British-made road transport held in public ownership, with more than 240 cars and commercial vehicles, 100 motorcycles and 200 bicycles - a reflection of the city's extraordinary contribution to the history of transport. The collection includes some of the most iconic vehicles ever made: Queen Mary's 1935 Daimler Limousine, a Standard Roi de Belges and the world land speed record breaker Thrust SSC which together with its predecessor Thrust 2 form the centrepiece of the museum's spectacular Land Speed Record Gallery. The story told here is as much about people and place as it is about engineering - Coventry was once the undisputed capital of the British motor industry, and the museum's galleries trace that remarkable rise with pride and candour. Admission tickets include unlimited return visits for twelve months, making this one of the best-value cultural destinations in the wider Warwickshire region. Entry is free.
National Motorcycle Museum
Location: Solihull
Address: Coventry Road, Bickenhill, Solihull, B92 0EJ
Speciality: World's largest collection of British motorcycles
The National Motorcycle Museum occupies an eight-acre site at Bickenhill, near Solihull, and holds the world's largest collection of British motorcycles spanning a century of manufacture, all restored to their original specifications. The collection grew from the private passion of self-made millionaire Roy Richards, who began acquiring fine examples of British bikes in the 1970s and opened the museum to the public in 1984. Five exhibition halls trace the full story of the British motorcycle industry, from its origins in 1898 through to competition machines of the modern era, including famous racers such as "Slippery Sam" - winner of five consecutive Production TTs on the Isle of Man. Conveniently located close to the NEC and Birmingham Airport, the museum attracts enthusiasts and casual visitors in equal measure, and the breadth and quality of the collection make it a genuinely unmissable destination for anyone with an interest in engineering, design or the romance of the open road.
Warwickshire's museums - find your story
Warwickshire's museums span two thousand years of history, from Roman cavalry forts and medieval abbeys to the birthplace of rugby and the workshop of the world's greatest playwright. There is far more to explore than any single visit can cover - discover our broad choice of museums.