11/08/2026
Gutted to hear the news about Beaulieu, National Motor Museum. I first went there when I must have been about 5yrs old at most, and ever since then the world 'Beaulieu', to me at least, just means 'car museum'.
For those who haven't heard, it's got about 4-6 years to leave the site. Apparently the family who own the land have told the museum they're not renewing the lease (I don't know any details). That'll have a pretty heavy effect on tourism in the New Forest.
Most people are now saying "Good, move it somewhere central" But from a more selfish POV, I'd hate it to move far. There is so little down at this end of the country as it is. There's Goodwood, and Beaulieu...and that's it. People just assume that because Hampshire = everything is in the south, and it's just not the case. Somerset has the Haynes museum, for example, which is also south, but that's bloody miles from here!
It'll feel like a little part of my car life has died when that place closes down. I've been there so many times over the years, as a kid, as a teen, as a young lad with a car and as a parent doing the whole process over again. 🥲
