The National Motor Museum Trust begins search for new home after shock announcement
The National Motor Museum Trust has begun the process of identifying a “transformational” new home for the world-famous New Forest attraction after 74 years at Beaulieu. The end of its current 60-year lease is approaching and isn’t set to be renewed, leaving the museum and its many exhibits – synonymous with Beaulieu – looking for a new location.
The Trust says the move will form part of a long-term strategy to secure the future of the National Motor Museum, with a focus on reimagining and reinvigorating the attraction. This will include engaging with new generations of motoring enthusiasts and diverse communities, while continuing to develop and preserve its collection for future generations.
The plan is also for the museum to greatly expand its work in learning and community engagement, including a vision for the development of a training centre for heritage engineering apprenticeships. It also aims to better fulfil the museum’s national remit by finding a suitable new home that reflects its status and provides new ways to share Britain’s motoring heritage more widely.
Over the last two years, the Trust and the Montagu family originally responsible for founding the museum have explored various ways to achieve such ambitions at the existing site through major donor investment and potential redevelopment. However, they have now concluded that the next stage of the museum’s ambitious plans and charitable purpose can best be achieved through a move to a new home. It is understood that Beaulieu will keep the cars belonging to Montagu family, but the vast majority of the vehicles and artefacts will be relocating.
The move looks set to represent a monumental milestone for the museum, the origins of which can be traced back to 1952, when Edward, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, opened Palace House to the public. Five veteran cars were displayed in the entrance as a tribute to his father, John, 2nd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu. By 1956, the display in Palace House had grown and was moved into converted wooden outbuildings to create the first Montagu Motor Museum. This proved to be very popular and, in 1959, it moved into a larger, specially constructed building.
In 1972, the Montagu Motor Museum at Beaulieu was replaced by the National Motor Museum, an independent concern separate from the Beaulieu estate and backed by a charitable trust, known as the National Motor Museum Trust. The new purpose-built building was opened by HRH The Duke of Kent in July 1972.
The Trust now has a collection of more than 250 vehicles and associated motoring items on display at the National Motor Museum. An accredited museum, its collections have been designated by Arts Council England as being of national and international importance. Its internationally acclaimed collection of more than 1.9 million items includes historically significant motoring artefacts, film footage, images, documents and books. The nearby Collections Centre houses and cares for a vast array of motoring artefacts, photographic images, a specialist reference library, and a film and video library.
In 2022, the National Motor Museum celebrated its 50th anniversary and launched a new strategy for its future development. New branding followed in 2024, but the latest announcement is the precursor to what will surely be the biggest change in the museum’s long history.
Robert MacGregor, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Motor Museum Trust 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. We want to thank the Montagu family for founding the Trust in 1970 and for their continued support as the museum finds a new home and embarks on the next stage of its journey. A new home can refresh our whole approach, enable us to make the collection more accessible, expand our educational and community impact, and ensure Britain’s motoring story remains relevant.”
Lord Montagu of Beaulieu added: “My father’s underlying ambition was to record and celebrate the story of motoring for the benefit of the nation. He founded the National Motor Museum Trust to do that, but its collections and activities have expanded beyond what anyone at the time envisaged. The charity’s long-term aims will now stand the best chance of being achieved if it can be based in a new home. I remain committed to honouring my father’s legacy by continuing to do all I can to support the trust. Wherever the National Motor Museum and its collections may be located in the future, 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.”
The Trust will now begin exploring potential locations capable of supporting its long-term ambitions while safeguarding its internationally important collection and continuing public access.
During this period, visitors to Beaulieu are assured that they will see no change. After the lease expires, things are not so clear, but the National Motor Museum has said that further updates will be provided as the process progresses. In all cases we hope the livelihoods of the staff and volunteers are not affected, and the museum continues to prosper.
