What is the Lakeland Motor Museum?

For many fans of classic cars, planning a trip to the Lakeland Motor Museum is a dream come true!

This unique place is truly devoted to all things motoring. From getting up close to classic vintage cars and motorbikes to immersing yourself in some of the greatest moments in UK motoring history, there’s really no place quite like it.

And even if you’re visiting with someone less passionate about classic vehicles than yourself, there’s still plenty to hold their interest and keep them entertained. After all, the museum isn’t just about cars. There’s plenty to keep the whole family busy with lots of interesting exhibits and stories to bring history to life.

The museum, located in historic premises at Backbarrow in the stunning Lake District, is well regarded throughout the country and promises a thrilling visit. If you’re making a special road trip to see a specific exhibit then do check beforehand that all exhibits you want to see are open. And make sure you’ve got great classic car insurance to cover your own vintage vehicle while you’re visiting.

A brief history of Lakeland Motor Museum

First, let’s find out a bit about the history of the Lakeland Motor Museum and how it came to be in such a beautiful spot. The museum can be found today nestled in the village of Backbarrow in the Lake District National Park, just south of Lake Windermere and next to the turbulent River Leven.

However, it wasn’t always here. In fact, it was originally established in April 1978 at Grange-over-Sands as a complementary visitor attraction for the grand Holker Hall stately home. The museum was based on the car and automobile memorabilia collection that Lancashire entrepreneur and motoring enthusiast Donald Sidebottom had been collecting since the 1960s.

The collection proved to be a big hit with visitors and the museum went from strength to strength, establishing itself as one of the premier motor museums in the country. By 2006 the collection had outgrown its home and it was sold to Winander Group Holdings which also owns the nearby Windermere Lake Cruises.

In 2010, the museum was relocated to the site of the former Reckitt's Blue Dye Works at Backbarrow on the shore of Coniston Water. Today the museum holds a fascinating collection of over 30,000 exhibits, including 140 classic cars and motorbikes, all carefully assembled over the past 50 years.

What to see and do at Lakeland Motor Museum

Today, the Lakeland Motor Museum provides an inspiring journey back in time for visitors keen to learn about the incredible stories of these motor vehicles.

The collection features everything from iconic cars like the DeLorean DMC-12 and Jaguar XK140 to feast your eyes on, to a realistic 1920s garage recreation including vast quantities of motoring paraphernalia. From petrol pumps to scale models, posters, containers, badges, even brand mascots and pedal cars, there’s almost too much to take in, even for the most dedicated of fans.

Meanwhile, the exhibitions cover a range of themes including a tribute to the racing careers of Sir Malcolm and Donald Campbell and their land and water speed records, Vincent motorcycles, the Isle of Man TT, children’s pedal cars and even classic caravans!

There’s also an exhibition dedicated to motoring in the Lake District. Did you know that car makers of yesteryear used the steep Lake District mountain passes to test their latest models?

There’s so much on display that we don’t want you to miss, so here’s a quick rundown of some of the highlights. And if your visit inspires you to add to your own classic car collection, give our specialist team at Lancaster a call to discuss your classic car insurance – we love hearing about the latest acquisitions of enthusiasts.

Classic cars

Obviously, there are some real gems here and you’ll spend hours exploring the extensive car collections spanning over 100 years of motoring history. From classic Bentleys of the 1930s and the oldest surviving 1952 TVR 2 right up to modern day classics like a 1972 Ford Escort Mexico and a 1982 Ford Mk3 Capri. From Bubble cars to classic MGs, they’ve got it all!

And they are adding cars all the time – indeed last year they caused quite a stir when the museum added a 1994 Vauxhall Corsa GLS to the mix! While it raised some eyebrows the museum’s team believes it could one day become one of the museum’s rarest exhibits. After all, even the newest of cars one day becomes old. And with the model’s rapid decline in popularity in recent years it’s not hard to imagine it becoming a rarity in the future.

If you see something you like then it might even be worth putting in an inquiry as to whether it’s for sale! Last year a vintage car owner’s dream came true following a visit to the museum. After he put in an inquiry they called him back a year later and he was able to finally buy the 1987 Opel Manta that he had been searching so long for.

Campbell Bluebird

Housed in its own unique building, the Campbell Bluebird Exhibition is a fitting tribute to the speed legends that were Sir Malcolm Campbell and his son Donald. Using videos, photos and scale models the exhibition tells the incredible story of this remarkable father and son who between them set 21 world speed records on land and water.

Some of the highlights include full-sized replicas of the 1935 Bluebird car in which Sir Malcolm broke the world land speed record in 1935. Alongside it is a full-scale model of the jet engine hydroplane Bluebird K7 in which Donald Campbell tragically lost his life attempting to break the water speed record in Coniston Water in 1967.

They’ve even bought the story fully up to date with the arrival of the carbon fibre Bluebird Electric 1 which broke the British speed record for an electric vehicle in 1997. Developed and driven by a grandson of Sir Malcolm, Don Wales.

Vincent Motorcycles

It’s not just about the four-wheeled variety of motor transport here at Lakeland Motor Museum – there’s plenty of space for the two-wheeled, too. Pride of place goes to the museum’s superb collection of Vincent Motorcycles. Built in Britain between 1928 and 1955 Vincent is often called the Rolls Royce of motorcycling and there’s no better place to see why.

The display includes the 1948 Vincent Black Shadow (the world’s fastest production motorcycle at the time), along with a Comet, Rapide and a stunning Black Lightning race bike.

But that’s not all! There’s also a special display dedicated to the world-renowned Isle of Man Tourist Trophy (TT). There’s everything you’d possibly want to know about this legendary motorcycle race, including a hall of fame, video displays and timeline tracing its history from its beginnings in 1907.

And if you prefer things a little more sedate then there’s a bewildering array of bicycles and pedal-powered contraptions dating from 1870 right up to the present day. From the beautiful to the downright bizarre, you’ll find it all here!

Pedal cars and caravans

Yes, you read that right. If land speed records and weird and wonderful bikes aren’t enough for you then the museum houses plenty more to keep all visitors enthralled. With a collection of over 50 pedal cars this is a very special exhibit that everyone will enjoy. From Morgans to army jeeps these children’s cars were often made with similar materials to the full-sized models they represented. It’s great fun spotting all the different makes of car that received the miniaturisation treatment.

But before you leave you must pay homage to the rich camping and caravanning history of the Lake District by visiting the collection of caravans. What a great way to gain an insight into holidays of the past with some of these vintage homes on wheels.

Events at Lakeland Motor Museum

Lakeland Historic Car Club - The Lakeland Historic Car Club meets on the first Saturday of every month at the museum and cafe. Whether you're an owner, enthusiast or just keen to see some prime examples of classic cars, everyone is made welcome. Find out more by visiting their website.

Classic Drive & Ride In Day – Held four times a year this is a great opportunity to join proud classic car owners as they bring in their pride and joy for display at the museum. If you come along you’re bound to see an incredible display of classic cars, trucks, vans and motorbikes, as well as more recent hot hatches, superminis and high-performance sports cars!

If you bring your classic along then you’ll also receive a voucher for discount admission to the museum itself. Even if your classic isn’t in a condition to attend, don’t despair. Just go along and join in the fun. You might even spot your next classic car purchase.

Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) Drive it Day – Every April the roads of the Lake District hum with the sound of classic vehicle enthusiasts taking to the roads to celebrate this special event. The museum always takes pride of place at the centre of such events. So, whether you're starting out on a classic tour of the Lakes or returning home from a Cumbrian adventure, be sure to drop in for a visit.

Practical information

The museum is conveniently found next to the Lake District's main A590 road, between Newby Bridge and Haverthwaite. Depending on your car it should only be a 20-minute drive from J36, M6 and Central Lakes (Bowness), via the A592. If you’re using modern contraptions such as sat navs then the postcode is LA12 8TA. There are plenty of brown tourism signs to help direct you when you get nearby.

Ulverston train station is just a five-mile taxi ride away, while there are regular 6 /X6 bus service stops nearby. The service is operated by Stagecoach and links Barrow, Ulverston, Windermere, Grange and Kendal.

Another pleasant idea is to combine your visit to the museum with a joint ticket with Windermere Lake Cruises and Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway. What an incredible day out that would make!

The museum is open seven days a week throughout the year from 9.30am until 5.30pm through the summer months and 4.30pm from 1 November. It’s only shut for Christmas Day.

It’s the perfect all-weather attraction. Standard admission costs £9.50 for adults and £5.70 for those aged between five and 15. Under 5s are free. A family ticket including 2 adults and up to 3 children costs £27.50.

There is a free quiz for children, as well as a riverside cafe with homemade cakes and snacks. Well-behaved dogs are welcome in all areas of the museum and in the café.

Of course, there’s lots of free car parking that you’re able to use all day. Remember though vehicles are easily damaged in car parks, so make sure you’re covered with classic car insurance.

While the cars on display might be out of your price range, there is a shop with a huge selection of gifts and memorabilia ideal for enthusiasts and visitors alike. Why not pick up a die-cast model of your favourite classic as a memento of the day?

Finding the right classic car insurance

In order to make sure your classic is maintained for future generations to enjoy, it needs to be covered by the right classic car insurance. Finding you the right cover, at the right price is what Lancaster does, and we’ve been doing it for over 35 years now!

From the nippy Mk2 VW Golf GTI to the cute and cheery Morris Minor, we work with enthusiasts to make sure their cherished classics are around for many years to come.

Choosing cover from Lancaster entitles you to a range of benefits including:

• Classic Car Club member discounts up to 25%
• Static show cover
• Historic rally cover
• Choice of repairer
• Salvage retention
• Two-year agreed valuation
• Laid up cover available for £18
• Limited mileage discounts

You’ll also have 24-hour access to our claims helpline and UK-based call centre.

Get a quote for classic car insurance today.

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.