The charming village of Beaulieu, at the head of the Beaulieu River, is home to the National Motor Museum which is a great family day out.

Over 250 stunning vehicles are on display from every motoring era, ranging from some of the world’s most iconic Land Speed Record breakers to motoring oddities such as a giant orange on wheels!

On Screen Cars displays TV and film favourites including Del Boy’s Reliant Regal as featured in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, the flying Ford Anglia used during the filming of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Wallace and Gromit’s Anti-Pesto Van. A recent addition is Dr Who’s much-loved car Bessie.

Enter the new-look World of Top Gear, featuring the original vehicles created for recent TV challenges and also by earlier presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. Experience the Top Gear Enormodrome which aims to recreate the feel of the Top Gear studio and step inside some of the unique vehicles for picture opportunities. 

Visit Palace House which has been home to the Montagu family since 1538, see the magnificent rooms and talk to costumed guides about living in a Victorian country house showing life ‘Upstairs and Downstairs’.

The 13th century Beaulieu Abbey features a film presentation and an exhibition of the daily life of its Cistercian Monk founders, leading into the picturesque serenity of the Cloisters and Herb Garden. 

Don’t miss Secret Army, an exhibition telling the story of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) which trained secret agents at the Beaulieu ‘Finishing School’ during WWll. The agents were trained at a number of large country houses scattered across the Beaulieu Estate before returning to occupied Europe to work with Resistance groups. 

Official website