National Motor Museum set to move after 54 years

The National Motor Museum and its collection of more than 250 vehicles is to be relocated after more than half a century.

The attraction was opened in 1972 by Edward, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, in purpose-built premises on his New Forest estate.

In a statement the National Motor Museum Trust said it was nearing the end of its lease and was beginning the process of finding a "transformational new home".

The current Lord Montague said Beaulieu would "continue to develop as a leading south coast attraction".

Operating as an independent charity, the National Motor Museum has amassed a world famous collection of cars, motorcycles and motoring memorabilia.

More than 270 vehicles are held at Beaulieu, with 1.9m items in its collection telling the story of British motoring.

The present-day collection includes early motorised carriages, speed record breakers and famous cars from TV and cinema.

The trust statement said discussions with the Montagu family over the last two years had concluded that the move was necessary to "reimagine and reinvigorate" the museum.

It said its long-term plans included expanding its community engagement and developing a training centre for heritage engineering apprenticeships.

Trust chairman Robert MacGregor said: "We are sad that the National Motor Museum will be leaving Beaulieu but are at the same time very excited about this once in a generation opportunity to transform the museum for the future."

The museum traces its origins to a display of five cars in the entrance of Palace House, the Montagu family home, in 1952.

Lord Montagu of Beaulieu said the museum had "expanded beyond what anyone at the time envisaged" and that he would continue to "support" the trust.

"The charity's long-term aims will now stand the best chance of being achieved if it can be based in a new home.

"Beaulieu will continue to develop as a leading south coast attraction, offering a comparable range of experiences to what people enjoy today, with cars remaining very much a part of our identity," he added.

The estate is a major tourist attraction with the Palace House and ruins of the former monastry also open to the public.

Figures from the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions show it had 310,384 visitors in 2025.

Earlier this year a £600,000 redevelopment of the museum's entrance hall and upper gallery was opened.

Beaulieu described it at the time as "one of the most significant changes to the National Motor Museum since it was built."