Beaulieu National Motor Museum
Beaulieu, Brockenhurst, Hampshire
SO42 7ZN
Tel: 01590 612345 Fax: 01590 612624
The National Motor Museum, in the grounds of Lord Montagu's estate, houses over
250 vehicles covering all aspects of motoring. Among the exhibits - the oldest dates
from 1896 - are world landspeed record-breakers
Bluebird and Golden Arrow, Damon
Hill's championship winning Formula 1 Williams Grand Prix car, an Outspan Orange car,
Ariel and Vincent motorcycles and a large number of commercial vehicles.
Special attractions include the exhibition of James Bond cars, including the Jaguar
XKR Roadster from Die Another Day and the
world record jumping boat from Live and Let
Die. The exhibition also includes examples of
Q's gadgetry and some of the villains' trademarks, notably Jaws' steel teeth.
One of the many permanent displays is an accurate reconstruction of a 1938
garage complete with forecourt, servicing bay, machine shop and office.
Many Montagu family treasures are now on display in
Palace House, formerly the Great Gatehouse of Beaulieu
Abbey,
where visitors can meet characters from Victorian days, among them the butler, housemaid
and cook, who will talk about their lives. The old monks' refectory houses
an exhibition of monastic life, and embroidered
wall hangings designed and created by Belinda, Lady Montagu, depict the story of the Abbey from its earliest days.
The glorious gardens are an attraction in their own
right, and there are plenty of rides and drives for young and
old alike - including a monorail that runs through the roof
of the Museum in the course of its tour of the estate.
Open every day 10am-5pm (6pm in summer)