Beaulieu National Motor Museum

Hi and welcome to Hardy Classics!

Today we are taking you for a walk around perhaps one of my favourite places, the place that inspired me start collecting classic cars, motorbikes and automobilia, of course we are taking about the Beaulieu National Motor Museum, world of Top Gear, Palace House, Little Beaulieu and much more!

Set in the heart of the New Forrest, Hampshire Beaulieu Motor Museum is the place for petrol heads in the United Kingdom. What makes this place better is that twice a year Beaulieu hosts a Spring and International Autojumble which coupled with the Bonhams Classic Car Auction, in my opinion makes this the best auto jumble in the country.

As soon as you enter the museum you are greeted with a wide variety of pre-1904 veteran cars, some of which still partake in the RM Sotherby's London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. As you go through the year of motoring you will see some real statement cars such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and classic Bugatti's.

It's not just pre-war cars at Beaulieu it has a wide selection of 60's, 70's and 80's cars such as Ford Escorts, Morris Minors and the rest!

It also has a wide variety of unusual cars such as the world famous Tangerine Car as well as the Beer Bottle Car.

It's not just cars though, some of the vintage displays are absolutely fantastic such as old shop fronts, like Sainsburys, or Harrods van but the real star if the show is John Tucker's garage filled with enamel signs, petrol pumps, oil cans, air towers to name a few. Filled with Shell, Esso, BP and other petrol brands the garage is like stepping back in time to a classic old workshop.

If you are looking for something a little faster Beaulieu has you covered with Formula One cars from different eras of motorsport right up until your modern Mercedes, Ferrari's and McLarens.

Swapping four wheels for two, Beaulieu is filled with classic motorbikes, choppers and mopeds from American Harley-Davidsons to Yamaha FS1E's to a BSA Flat-tank it's not an overstatement to say that Beaulieu has you covered.

Going a bit more glamorous, Beaulieu also have cars which star in film and television such as the Top Gear Museum, Only Fools and Horses Reliant Robin, the Ford Anglia that appeared in Harry Potter, Doctor Who's car and even Mr Bean's classic Mini.

Believe it or not there is more to Beaulieu Motor Museum than just cars, walking around the grounds you truly experience the great British Countryside, Beaulieu Manor is stunning, there is a brilliant soft-play area for the children and there is even a spy exhibition for those of you wanting to be James Bond.

I love Beaulieu and it's my favourite place in England and would recommend any petrol heads to go and is well worth the 300 mile trip I take to visit it every month.