British Motor Museum
BEST FOR
Ages 5+
ENTRY
from £9
WHERE
Warwick
What it’s like
Sit-in cars, push-along motors and themed trails through a huge collection of British motoring history, plus a free look round the working Collections Centre.
This is a proper car museum, not a shed of shiny bonnets you can't touch. Kids get activity sheets and themed trails to follow round, there are interactive exhibits dotted about, and younger ones can climb into a push along car and pootle about while you actually read a caption for once. The ticket price includes a guided tour of the museum and entry to the Collections Centre, where the tours run at 12 and 3 if you want to see the bit most people skip.
Book ahead and it's £9 for a child, £18 for an adult. Turn up on the day and that jumps to £10 and £21, which is an odd way to reward planning but there it is. Buy a day ticket and you get an Annual Pass thrown in free for 12 months, so if you liked it once, going back costs nothing.
They reckon on 3 to 4 hours for a proper visit, longer if you catch one of the family activities that run in the school holidays or do a full tour. Last entry's 4pm with the place shutting at 5, so a lazy late-morning start doesn't leave you much slack. The Junction 12 café does hot and cold meals with a children's menu and homemade cakes, and there's a gift shop for the inevitable end-of-visit negotiation.
Parking's free and there's plenty of it, including EV charging points out back. Wheelchairs are free to borrow from the pay desk but limited in number, so it's worth booking one ahead if you need it. Dogs have to be assistance dogs only, so leave the family pet at home.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Ages 5 and up; younger ones can still ride the push-along cars
- Last entry
- 4pm
- Booking
- Advance booking recommended for cheaper prices
- Parking
- Free and ample parking on site
- How long to allow
- 3-4 hours recommended. Longer if taking advantage of family activities or museum tour
- Food
- Junction 12 Café serving hot or cold meals and homemade cakes
- Wheelchairs
- Limited number of free wheelchairs available from Museum Pay Desk
- Dogs
- Assistance dogs only
- Getting there by bus or train
- Nearest stations: Warwick (8 miles), Leamington Spa (8 miles), Banbury (11 miles)
- Worth knowing
- Buy 1 day ticket, get 12 months free Annual Pass
- Buy a day ticket and you get 12 months as an Annual Pass for free
- Guided tours run at 11am and 2pm, Collections Centre tours at 12pm and 3pm
- Booking a wheelchair ahead is sensible as numbers are limited
- Baby changing is in the disabled toilets on the ground and first floors
- Carer tickets are free for anyone who needs assistance to visit
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Book in advance and it's £18 for an adult and £9 for a child aged 5 to 16. Pay on the day and it's £21 and £10, so booking ahead genuinely saves you money.
Is it suitable for a 3 year old?
The site lists ages 5 and up. There are push along cars for younger visitors, but the trails and exhibits are pitched at school-age kids.
How long should we allow?
3 to 4 hours to see the museum and Collections Centre properly. Longer if you want to catch the family activities or take a guided tour.
Do we need to book in advance?
You can walk up, but booking ahead gets you the cheaper price. Guided tours run at 11am and 2pm daily, so time it if you want to join one.
Is parking free?
Yes, and there's plenty of it, including coach and motor home space, blue badge parking and EV charging points.
What time does it open and close?
Daily from 10am to 5pm, with last entry at 4pm.
Is there somewhere to eat?
The Junction 12 café does hot and cold meals, homemade cakes and a children's menu.
What's included in the ticket price?
Entry to the museum, a guided tour, entry to the Collections Centre, and access to the café and gift shop.
Can children go round on their own?
No under-16s need an adult with them at all times.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
With a hearing loop, accessible toilets and Changing Places facilities. A limited number of free wheelchairs are available from the pay desk, so book one ahead if you need it.
Can we bring the dog?
Assistance dogs only.
Is the museum closed at Christmas?
It shuts 24 to 27 December and 31 December to 1 January.
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