Haynes Motor Museum, Sparkford

The UK’s largest collections of cars and motorcycles from around the world is in Somerset, with masses to see and do for all the family (not just petrol heads).

14 March 2023Add to My FavouritesSave

The Haynes Motor Museum is slick, red, black, white and streamlined – just like some of the vehicles inside.

Founded in 1985 by motoring enthusiast and businessman John Haynes (of the Haynes Publishing Group and Haynes Manuals fame) to house his own collection of 29 vehicles, today there are around 400 cars and motorbikes – from 19th century horseless carriages to state-of-the-art racing cars – all lovingly restored to their original gleaming glory and a truly spectacular sight. It’s the UK’s largest collection of great cars and bikes from around the world.

Park up and check out Jags, Jensen’s Interceptor and Lotus’ Elan in Great British Marques; some of the very first cars in the Dawn of Motoring; Chevvies, Caddies, Fords and Packards in the American Dream; Bubble cars and Minis in Mini Micros; the Morris story; cars from the 40s to the 70s (remember the Ford Prefect/100E?); Jaguar, Lotus, Elva, TVR and Ferrari in the Hall of Motorsport and a Red Room filled with bright red sports and touring cars.

There are always special exhibitions.  Currently, these include Williams F1 The Driver and the Driven exploring the world of Formula 1 and coming in summer 2023, Life on Two Wheels.

Little kids can drive themselves around the museum in Little Tikes baby cars. Outside, they can clamber over a play frame,  navigate a mini road system on a ride-on car or get behind the controls of a super digger in the Haynes Motorland outdoor adventure play area.

Bigger kids can find out how a car works, Paint a Mini, follow a Top Trumps trail, make brass rubbings and take a spin around the karting track where Jenson Button once practiced (you need to book that separately).

Refuel at the Cafe 750, serving coffee and fresh, locally sourced food and snacks inside and outside on a sunny terrace (also open to non-museum visitors).

Pull in at the gift shop filled with all things car/motorcycle – books, toys, gifts,  scale models, build your own engine kits – from a couple of quid upwards for both kids and adults. Open to non-museum visitors and you can buy online.

The first Sunday of the month, car and motorbike enthusiasts from the South West and beyond meet at the Haynes Breakfast Club to show off their wheels (spectator tickets available).

New for 2023:  a monthly independent market and live music.

You can even get your own car restored, serviced or MOT’d here.

 


At a glance

Open in Google Maps

Address:
Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset BA22 7LH

Website:
haynesmuseum.org

Email:
visitus@haynesmuseum.org

Telephone:
01963 440804

Follow Haynes Motor Museum, Sparkford on:

LBB Badge



This month in Dorset, Somerset & Bristol


Experiences
Experiences