Haynes Motor Museum — Attraction in Sparkford

An Unforgettable Journey Through Motoring History: The Haynes Motor Museum The Haynes Motor Museum is an absolute triumph and a must-visit for anyone with even a passing interest in cars. More than just a collection of vehicles, it's a beautifully curated journey through the history of motoring, presented in a way that is engaging, educational, and genuinely exciting for all ages. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted by a stunning display of automotive excellence. The museum is thoughtfully divided into zones, each with its own unique theme. Highlights include "The Red Room," a breathtaking gallery of iconic red sports cars that looks like something out of a dream, and "Memory Lane," which is filled with classic cars that will have you saying "my dad had one of those!" The sheer variety is incredible. You'll find everything from the very first automobiles to modern-day supercars, humble everyday runabouts, and high-performance racing machines. The displays are immaculate, with each vehicle presented with detailed information that tells its unique story. Unlike some museums, the Haynes allows you to get surprisingly close to the cars, so you can truly appreciate the craftsmanship and design. What sets this museum apart is its family-friendly approach. There are interactive exhibits throughout, like the chance to "paint" a Mini or try your hand at brass rubbings. The "Haynes Motorland" outdoor playground is a fantastic addition for younger visitors, with mini go-karts and an interactive garage that will keep little ones entertained for ages. The museum has clearly put a lot of thought into making the experience accessible and fun for everyone. The facilities are also top-notch. The on-site café is perfect for a pit stop, serving great food and coffee, and the gift shop is full of brilliant memorabilia. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about what they do, adding to the overall welcoming atmosphere. Whether you're a car enthusiast or simply looking for a fantastic day out, the Haynes Motor Museum delivers on every front. It's a testament to the history of motoring and a truly brilliant day out that will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the automobile. Highly, highly...

Been interested to go for a long time, finally went and it was ok. Building is fairly large, housing a good collection of old and classic cars. I personally wanted to see more American cars and rare ones, was a little disappointed at how many US cars were there. Similarly the Jaguar XJ220 display was missing that day, yet the sign remained.

The cars are beautifully looked after, and patrons are obviously kept away from touching or interacting with the vehicles. However as we were leaving a staff member did open a car up for a gent with a large DSLR camera, so not sure if he was working for Haynes or just an interested party. The staff are great and although we didn't interact with the men on the display floor, we overheard some of their conversations with others and they were pleasant and very knowledgeable.

The onsite restaurant was also a nice highlight. Nice food and theoretically you can access it without taking part in the museum.

Overall it cost us £37 for two adults and a child, which based on the sole contents of the museum is a little pricey, that said if you use gift aid you can revisit the museum again for free within 12 months.

There is zero air con in the museum and we went on a very hot day, this in fact made us rush much of the display as we were physically uncomfortable on our tour.

Also, and this is probably just me, but I personally don't find a fairly modern MG and a smart car has a place in a classic museum, maybe in 15 years or so, but obviously that is...

Haynes Museum continues to update its content meaning that there is always something new to see. Since Covid there was a new Williams F1 display with several cars telling the Williams stories as well as interactive displays and a large screen cinema showcasing the story of Williams from the beginning until the takeover in 2022. The film features interviews by Frank Williams, Patrick Head and others. It doesn't hold back about Frank's early Very fast but not very successful racing career and early frequent crashes!

The very latest display is the history of motorcycling form motorised bicycles until the modern day. There is an interesting interactive display featuring a film with riders POV together with a vibrating seat and a hot patch in the middle. not sure if that represented the engine or was a malfunctioning display! Very effective.

The rest of the displays feature a wide range of motorcars from the road and track. We think it is possible to now get closer to the cars than when we visited several years ago.

Cant forget the famous Red Room, which is a display of all Red cars and a large contingent of American cars.

Last but not least a fantastic Children's play area and there is also an opportunity for the smallest visitors to drive round the museum in a 'Little Tikes' car meaning they wont get bored after seeing too many cars!

Loads to see, regular events and a Go Kart Track outside, what not to like. They have it all covered and the ticket lasts...