The National Motor Museum has announced it 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. It currently holds a world-reknowned collection of more than 250 vehicles.
In a statement the National Motor Museum Trust (NMMT) said it was nearing the end of its lease and was beginning the process of finding a “transformational new home”.
The current Lord Montagu said Beaulieu would “continue to develop as a leading south coast attraction”. A statement from Beaulieu also said a “significant number” of vehicles would be retained at the 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 the museum’s 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.”
In a further statement, Beaulieu said it would “continue to operate a motor museum in the future”.
“A significant amount of vehicles in the museum are either on loan or owned by the Montagu family and will continue to stay here.”
It said the estate’s motoring events, including the International Autojumble in September, would be unaffected.
“While the Trust considers future options away from Beaulieu to achieve the charity’s long-term aims, its lease at Beaulieu continues for another four years.
“After that time, there is an exciting opportunity to look to the future and reshape how the museum at Beaulieu will look and feel,” it added.
The trust said there would be “adjustments to staffing structures” for both organisations.
It said staff working within the museum building, including the workshops, are employed by Beaulieu and would not be at risk from the NMMT restructuring.
The estate is a major tourist attraction with the Palace House and remains 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.”
Credit: BBC
