Motorbike, Car and Commercial Vehicle Museums

In Brief.

The British Commercial Vehicle Museum at Leyland and the Lakeland Motor Museum near the southern end of Lake Windermere host substantial collections of motor vehicles of different types and from different periods. In both museums, the standard experience is wandering past pristine vehicles, and reading a little about them on displays.  The Lakeland Motor Museum also hosts an exhibition on Donald and Malcolm Campbell, and their land and water speed records.

A vintage MG sports car.

What's Here?

The Lakeland Motor Museum hosts an eclectic collection of vehicles, including bicycles, motor bikes and cars. For many visitors, this will include vehicles that they recognise, as well as models that are now rarely if ever seen on the road. The vehicles are well maintained, and some are accompanied by some comments on the model or the specific vehicle.  With an emphasis on speed, there are displays on the Isle of Man TT races including bikes that have been raced in them, and there is an exhibition on land and water speed record attempts, including water speed records set at nearby Coniston Water.

A Thornycroft gun tractor designed for hauling artillery.

The British Commercial Vehicle Museum occupies what was once part of a Leyland Motors factory, and the museum hosts many vehicles built in the area. Indeed, DAF Trucks are still manufactured in Leyland. The museum is organised with a chronological display around the outside of a large open space, which transitions from horse drawn buses and fire engines up to modern vehicles. The vehicles are all in excellent condition, some following extensive renovations, and several can be boarded. 

Other transport-related museums in this blog include the British Motor Museum and the Avro Aircraft Heritage Museum.

Practicalities.

Distance from Manchester Town Hall: National Commercial Vehicle Museum: 34 miles; Lakeland Motor Museum: 85 miles.

Drive Time: National Commercial Vehicle Museum: 50 Minutes; Lakeland Motor Museum: 1 hour 40 minutes.

Price: National Commercial Vehicle Museum: $; Lakeland Motor Museum: $$

Parking: Included in the entrance fees.

Food and Drink: National Commercial Vehicle Museum: there is a cafe that seems to be popular with locals; I had a satisfactory coffee and cake. Lakeland Motor Museum: there is a cafe overlooking a river; I had a hearty brunch.

Retail therapy: There is a substantial motoring themed gift shop at the Lakeland Motor Museum.

Child Friendly: There were kids on a school trip at the National Commercial Vehicle Museum, though neither museum has many things specifically targeted at kids.

Toilets: Yes.

Do it justice in: 1 hour to 90 minutes each.

Inside-Outside: 100:0


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