Family Day Out Review Series: National Motor Museum Beaulieu

The National Motor Museum Beaulieu  was a big hit for our vehicle-fan toddler. So was for daddy and mummy too. Here’s why Beaulieu is a great place for everyone.

The toddler’s favourites:

Monorail – train on elevated tracks! Also going through the building of the museum. Fun to watch it too, but a ride is mandatory.

“WHEELS” – it’s a ride, sitting in a little pod whilst we can listen to the history of the wheel. Toddler cares only about having a ride in the dark though, singing the Wheels On The Bus to himself. Exciting!

Getting to “drive” old cars – great fun for the toddler (good photo making opportunity for mummy).

Craft station – in one corner of the museum kids can sit and create different cars related art. Not very busy.

Playground – designed for the little car lovers: tractor, bus and oldtimers to climb on and “drive”. Plus an ice cream hut. Good luck parents 😉

Palace – no, not the boring paintings of boring people, but the garden, where the kids can try and play old victorian games such as hoop and stick, quoits, skipping rope and bagatelle.

Mummy’s favourites:

Vintage cars – lovely old cars and history: Harrods’ first electric delivery car, Lalique mascots on display and caravan car from the 60’s.

On The Big Screen Exhibition – famous cars from famous movies on display.

Palace – loved the kitchen with victorian equipment, the secret staircase and the staff on site dressed as maids. Also caught a funny little show in front palace where the driver was about to teach the lady how to drive an automobile.

Golden Arrow – a fantastically Art Deco looking car from 1929, which set a new speed record in its days.

Daddy’s favourites: 

World of Top Gear and simulator – do we need an explanation here? 🙂 Original Top Gear car designs on display including some of the best: pensioner’s car and Fiat Panda limousine.

Racing cars – it’s a rather cool part of the museum: old and and some recent (well, some 15-20 years old) racing cars exhibited alongside with the history of car racing and memorabilias.

Bluebird – a famous gas-engine car which set a new World Land Speed Record in 1964.

I strongly recommend to arrive early, as it can get really busy. It’s not cheap, tickets are £25 but the kids got in for free and there’s plenty to do. There’s a cafe too for nibbles and some ice cream huts scattered around.